Cowichan District Hospital has started a new on-demand STI testing service at its lab, giving clients a way to check for sexually transmitted infections without first booking with a nurse or doctor.
That change matters now because the service is meant to make testing quicker and easier for people who may otherwise put it off. Hannah Green, one of the medical lab assistants at the CDH lab, helps clients through the process, and they can either book an appointment online or walk in without one. Most results can then be viewed through MyHealth or Health Gateway, so the test does not end when the sample is taken.
The new setup is built around routine testing, which Island Health describes as something people should do every three to six months, especially if they have new or casual partners or have had a change in sexual activities. It also cuts out a step many people may find inconvenient: there is no need to see a nurse or doctor first just to get tested.
But the system does not remove clinical follow-up entirely. If a result is positive or uncertain, a nurse will contact the client, while negative results are not followed up. That means the service speeds up access for many people, but it still sends the cases that need more attention back into the health system.
Clients can also follow up by telephone or through their regular health-care provider. Over time, the service at CDH will be evaluated, and Island Health says it could be expanded to other sites in the future. For now, the new lab option gives people one more direct way to get tested, which is the point of the launch.
