STI Care Now

STI Care Now

Nova Scotia Health’s STI Care Now program offers free, confidential self-testing kits and virtual care to Nova Scotians aged 15 years and older seeking testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV & Syphilis testing or HIV screening. Our team also provides assessments for HIV pre-exposure prophlyaxis (PrEP), a medicine people at risk for HIV can take to prevent contracting HIV; and Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP), a medicine people at risk for chlamydia, syphilis and to a lesser extent gonorrhea- can take to prevent these infections. Additional support can also be provided through our program’s dedicated patient navigator.

How to Get Started

To find out if this program is right for you, complete the STI Care Now At-Home Test Kit: Request Form by answering a few screening questions.

If you are eligible, a free self-testing kit will be mailed to you, along with a prepaid label. You can also drop it off at any Nova Scotia Health Specimen Drop-off location. If you requested bloodwork, a requisition will be emailed to you, and the link to book an appointment.

Do I need to see a provider to order this test?

No, most people will be able to complete testing and treatment virtually through STI Care Now. If an in-person assessment is needed based on your screening answers or test results you will be referred to a provider in your area, and our team will help coordinate your care.

If you are unsure where to start or have questions, please book an appointment with the patient navigator.

Self- Testing

Your kit will be customized based on your answers about your symptoms and sexual health history. Your kit may include:

• Urine (pee) collection tube
• Genital swab
• Rectal swab
• Throat swab
• HIV self-screening test

Information sheets and step-by-step instructions will be included in your kit to guide you through sample collection, returning your kit, and reporting your HIV Self-Screening Results.  

Other Testing:

Our team will email you a bloodwork requisition, if requested. After you have received it you can book an appointment.

How do I get my results?

• After submitting your Request Form, you will receive a confirmation email once your kit has been shipped.
• Kits typically arrive within 3–7 business days. They are in unmarked packages with only your shipping information visible on the outside.
• Once you mail or drop your kit off, processing usually takes 3–7 business days.
• You will be contacted directly by email or phone with your test results gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV or syphilis.
• HIV screening results can be reported using the HIV Self-Testing Results Form.

Treatment and Consultation

If your test results indicate a gonorrhea or chlamydia infection:

• A pharmacist will contact you to review your results and treatment options.
• If medication is needed, the pharmacist will provide a prescription and directions for accessing treatment.
• If additional clinical care is needed, you will be referred to a provider.

If your test results indicate a positive or indeterminate result from you HIV self-test:

• Report your results using the HIV Self-Testing Results Form.
• A pharmacist will contact you to review your results and next steps.
• Our team will work with you to coordinate urgent blood work.
• If additional clinical care is needed, you will be referred to a provider.

If your test results indicate a positive or indeterminate result from your HIV or syphilis bloodwork:

• A pharmacist will contact you to review your results and next steps.
• Our team will work with you to coordinate a referral to a provider.

If you indicated that you would like to have an assessment for HIV PrEP, DoxyPEP or with our patient navigator a member of the team will reach out to you to coordinate a consultation.

Questions?

For questions about the STI Care Now Initiative, please contact: STBBIQuestions@nshealth.ca

If you have questions about our privacy policies and practices, please contact Privacy:

• By calling: 1-833-213-1634.
• By e-mailing: privacy@nshealth.ca or
• Please contact our Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) officer at foipop@nshealth.ca