Confidential STI testing in George
Laboratory-based screening for men and women, done at the practice with Ampath in the same building. No referral is needed, results are discussed with you and only with you, and you can book online or walk in during consulting hours.
Possible HIV exposure in the last 72 hours?
Do not wait for a routine test. PEP must be started within 72 hours, and sooner is better. Call the practice or go to an emergency unit today. Testing happens as part of that same consultation. Our PEP guide sets out the full protocol.
What we screen for
Which of these apply to you depends on your history. The doctor goes through that with you rather than running everything by default.
HIV
4th generation laboratory test, with pre- and post-test counselling
Syphilis
Serology
Chlamydia
NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test
Gonorrhoea
NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test
Trichomoniasis
Laboratory testing
Hepatitis B and C
Serology
For men and women alike
Until now this service was described on our women's health page, which was the wrong home for it. STI testing is not a women's health service, and putting it there meant half the people who need it were reading a page written for somebody else. Both doctors see patients for sexual health, and you can ask for either when you book.
Testing is laboratory-based rather than syndromic, meaning you are tested for specific infections rather than treated on the basis of symptoms alone. The reasoning behind that, and what each test can and cannot tell you, is set out in our STI testing guide.
HPV is a separate matter. It belongs to cervical screening rather than routine STI screening, and is done as part of a Pap smear.
Cost and medical aid
The billing splits the same way it does for any blood test: the consultation, the sample collection, and Ampath's laboratory work. The practice side is published on our fees page. Ampath quotes their laboratory fees on the day, because those depend on which tests are run and are set by Ampath rather than by us.
Most schemes cover the consultation as a normal GP visit. Cover for the laboratory work varies by scheme and option, and some panels require the tests to be linked to a doctor's request with the appropriate diagnostic codes. Reception can check your scheme's rules before you book, and the medical aid pages set out what we know scheme by scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral or an appointment for STI testing?
No referral is needed. Book a consultation online or call reception, and walk-ins are seen during consulting hours between booked appointments. Testing is done at the practice and samples go to Ampath, whose laboratory is in the same building.
Is STI testing confidential?
Yes. STI testing follows standard medical confidentiality. Results are discussed with you and only with you. Where a partner needs to be informed, we talk through how to do that rather than doing it for you or without your knowledge.
What does a full STI screen actually test for?
At this practice a comprehensive screen covers HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and hepatitis B and C, using current laboratory-based methods including NAAT for chlamydia and gonorrhoea and a 4th generation HIV test. Which of those apply to you depends on your history, and the doctor will go through that with you rather than running everything by default.
Is HPV testing part of an STI screen?
No, and this is a common misunderstanding. HPV testing is part of cervical screening rather than routine STI screening, and it is done as part of a Pap smear. If cervical screening is what you are after, see our women's health page or the cervical screening guide.
How soon after exposure can I be tested?
It depends on the infection, because each has its own window period during which a test can still be negative. That is a clinical question rather than a general one, so tell the doctor when the exposure was and testing will be timed around it, sometimes with a repeat test later to confirm.
I may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours. What do I do?
Do not wait for a routine test. PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, must be started within 72 hours of exposure and the sooner the better. Call the practice or go to an emergency unit today. Testing happens as part of that same consultation. Our PEP guide sets out the full protocol.
Can men come here for STI testing?
Yes. STI testing at this practice is for men and women. It was previously described mainly on our women's health page, which was a poor place for half the people who need it, and this page exists to correct that. Both doctors see patients for sexual health, and you can ask for either.
Will my medical aid cover STI testing?
The consultation is billed as a normal GP visit and most schemes cover it. The laboratory work is billed separately by Ampath, and cover for that depends on your scheme and option, with some panels needing the tests to be linked to a doctor's request and appropriate diagnostic codes. Reception can check your scheme's rules before you book. Our fees page carries the practice-side rates.
Book a confidential appointment
Suite 12, Prince Vintcent Square, Gloucester Avenue, George Central. Weekdays 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturdays 09:00 to 13:00. You do not need to say why you are booking.
This page describes a service. It is not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a consultation.