Confidentiality
Our service is confidential. Your personal details will not be given to anybody without your consent.
Registration
When you attend for your visit you will need to complete a Registration form including your name and contact details. It is important that these details are correct to enable us to contact you if we should need to. Please inform us of the preferred way for us to contact you, for example by phone or mail. Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time to complete this form.
What do I need to know before I arrive? What could impact on my test results?
Men, please do not pass urine for 2 hours prior to your appointment if you wish to be screened for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) as this may affect our ability to detect an infection.
If you don’t have any symptoms and you want a Sexual Health Check following unprotected sex we suggest waiting for two weeks. This is because for infections such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea there is an incubation period of up to 2 weeks. If you do develop symptoms please phone us and ask to speak with a nurse who can help you decide if you need to be seen earlier.
What will I be tested for?
Everyone who attends the clinic will be offered the same routine tests although in certain circumstances additional tests may be advised. You may see a doctor or a nurse.
Genital skin examination
The doctor or nurse will examine the genital skin looking for signs of infection such as genital warts and genital herpes.
If you are too embarassed to undergo an examination you can provide self-taken specimens for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea
Female testing
Routinely, swabs are taken from the vagina, cervix and urethra to detect infection. Using our microscopes we are sometimes able to see thrush, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas and gonorrhoea on the day of attendance. We also send samples away to the laboratory for further testing. To diagnose Chlamydia we must send swabs or urine to the laboratory as this is never able to be seen under a microscope If you practice oral or anal sex, swabs may be taken from these areas too following consultation with you.
Male testing
A urine sample is taken for Chlamydia and a small swab may be taken from the tip of the urethra (opening at the tip of the penis). This sample may be looked at under the microscope to diagnose non specific urethritis or Gonorrhoea and a sample may also be sent to the laboratory. If you practice oral or anal sex, swabs may be taken from these areas too following consultation with you.
Blood tests
We offer routine screening for HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis. Hepatitis A and C are offered when appropriate.
What about my test results?
Some results may be available on the day you attend. Results from samples sent to the laboratory usually take up to 10 days to return. If any of your results come back as positive we will contact you. This is why it is important for us to have your correct details. In some situations you may need to re-attend for your results or for treatment. This will be discussed with you at the time of your consultation.
