Reply #1 toymachine's post
I have visited the one in Wanchai quite a lot. The service is free for HKID holders, regardless of nationality. They test for the usual suspects, like syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV/AIDS, probably chlamydia as well.
At the time of your first visit, a staff member will conduct a short interview, mainly asking whether you like men or women, etc. You will get a registration card that you'll need to show during future visits.
Following registration, you sit down in a waiting area until your name is called. You first see a doctor, who will ask what you've been up to. To decide what tests you need, they'll have to know whether you had oral sex or penetrative sex. The doctor will tell you what tests you need.
Back in the waiting area, you again wait for your name to be called. The tests are administered in different rooms. First of all they will take a blood sample by sticking a needle in your vein. You've probably had that done in a hospital or doctor's clinic before. For the oral test, they take a few throat swabs, not too deep so not uncomfortable. For the LB test, they have to insert a thin thingie a few times. It's not deep, but still a bit uncomfortable.
After all the required samples have been taken, you will need to wait for about 30-45 minutes, after which the doctor you saw the first time around will tell you the result of the rapid tests they did. The definitive results and the result from the blood the test will take about three weeks. You need to go back in person to get the result. I've never tested positive, so I don't know whether they proactively contact you in the event of a positive result (they do ask for a phone no.), but I assume they would, since their goal is to stop any disease from spreading.
My experience is positive. You need to have some time on your hands, but it's all free. If I'm going for the afternoon session, which starts at 2 p.m., I try to get there by 1:30. They have some numbered seats, and the registration line will start from Seat No. 1. If you get there by 2 p.m. or later there will be quite a few people ahead of you. | |
