panties said:
Can someone who has been tested in the Vancouver area please describe what happens when one gets tested for STDs at a CDC clinic.
- is it anonymous or do they need your BC Health card
- is it only a blood test or a physical exam as well
- how long does it take
- how soon do you get results and how are the results communicated to you.
- are they snoopy about your sexual encounters
- cost if any
I just had my tests done 10 days agao.
1)No health card, no ID. They identify you by the name you give them. Remember this name and it's spelling.
2)They blood test and give you the STD test. The STD test is now back to one surgical swab put into the end of your wiener. It use to be two swabs so be thankful that it's only 1. It definitely feels "interesting" but it's not even close to the end of the world.They also take a urine sample. Don't urinate 4hrs before the test (follow their directions as I may be wrong).
3)You call a special telephone number in about 1 week from the test. They ask your name (you remembered your name and it's spelling right) and they tell you over the phone if you are positive or negative for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphillis and NGU.
4)They ask you if you have had sex with sex trade workers or intravenous drug users. They do ask a bit about your sexual history. They don't give a rats ass about the morality, they want to know in order to stop disease. Tell them the truth.
5)Cost is ZERO.
6)The clinic off of Cambie St by VGH is busy, I rolled the dice and was lucky enough to get a drop in exam early on Saturday morning. Other than that it was going to be close to two weeks for an appointment.
7)The Public Health Nurse was awesome. Not judgemental at all and very easy to talk with.
The BC Centre for Disease Control has a GREAT website.
www.stdresource.com . Read it and learn.
I was sorta sweating buckets but got the news today that I was negative for any STD's. I feel mentally relieved and it has made me very much reexamine my actions.