The STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Care Now Initiative is a newly launched service offered by NS Health to those seeking appointments at the STI clinic in Halifax and the Sexual Health Clinic in Truro. The initiative is designed to help people 15 years and older get tested and treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia, through free at-home testing kits and virtual care. In-person appointments for people who are not experiencing any symptoms remain available to book through the clinic. Please see their contact information below to contact the clinics for in-person appointments.
To see if this program is right for you, use the STI Care Now At-Home Test Kit: Request Form to answer a few questions. If you qualify, a free at-home testing kit will be mailed to you along with a prepaid label to mail it back to us.
What to Expect
Do I need to see a doctor?
At this time STI Care Now at-home testing kits are being offered in communities serviced by the Truro Sexual Health Clinic (Northern Zone) and the STI Clinic in Halifax (Central Zone). Nova Scotia Health will continue to offer in-person physician assessment and treatment of STIs at these locations. If you are asymptomatic and suspect you may have been exposed to someone who has an active gonorrhea and chlamydia infection, you may be eligible to receive a free at-home testing kit in the mail. If you qualify, a free at-home testing kit will be mailed to you along with a prepaid label to mail it back to us, or instructions as to where to drop the kit off in either Halifax or Truro.
In most cases your care and treatment will be handled virtually. If an assessment is required you will be referred to a provider in Halifax or Truro.
Testing:
The free at-home testing kit will be tailored to you based on your symptoms and sexual history. Some of the tests may include:
- urine (pee) tests (do not pass urine for 1 hour before you are tested)
- genital swabs
- rectal swabs
- throat swabs
We have developed information sheets for self-collection of samples which will be included in your at-home testing kit as well as instructions for how to return your kit to us – either by mail-back or drop-off.
Treatment:
If your tests indicate you have a gonorrhea or chlamydia infection, a pharmacist will talk to you about medicine when they provide your result. If you need medicine, the pharmacist will write you a prescription.
How do I get my test results?
Once you submit the STI Care Now At-Home Test Kit: Request Form, you will receive confirmation once your kit has been mailed to your address by our team. The kit arrives to your shipping address 3-7 business days after that. Once it is received back to us the processing takes 7-14 business days. When the results have been processed you will be contacted and notified of your results through email or phone.
For more information on the STI Care Now Initiative, or if you have questions or concerns for our team please email STBBIQuestions@nshealth.ca.
For more information regarding the collection of your personal health information or privacy relating to the STI Care Now program, please contact Privacy@nshealth.ca or call 1-833-213-1634.
