How Long Does STD testing Take at Urgent Care Centres?

If you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it’s normal to have a sense of urgency to get trusted medical support. Thankfully, when it comes to testing for sexually STIs, you’ve got options. There are a few places you can get tested for an STI in Canada. You can visit your healthcare provider, a sexual health clinic, a local public health unit, a walk-in clinic, or an urgent care centre.

It’s important to note that STI is the updated term for STD, which stands for sexually transmitted disease. The reason for the change is that infections often don’t develop into a disease, making the term STD inaccurate. 

When you choose an urgent care centre for testing, it’s helpful to know what to expect, like what happens and how long it will take to test. Here’s what you need to know about STI testing at urgent care centres in Canada.

What to expect during STI testing at urgent care centres

The first factor to note when getting tested for an STI is that every infection has a “window period,” which is the time between contracting an infection and when a test may show a positive result. Depending on the STI and test, this period can range from a few days to a few weeks. Your healthcare provider will be able to tell you if you’re within the window period for testing when you review your sexual history with them. 

This is how the appointment usually starts: Your healthcare provider will ask you a few questions about your sexual activity so they know which type of testing or physical examination you need. 

They may ask about:

• Your symptoms
• Your recent partners and your relationship to them
• The types of sex you’re having

Depending on your answers, your healthcare provider will determine which STI you may have been exposed to and select the best test for you.

Types of STI tests include:

• A urine sample to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and/or trichomoniasis
• A blood sample to test for hepatitis B and C, HIV and/or syphilis. Blood tests are used to test for herpes when swabs are not possible. 
• A cotton swab test to take a sample from your throat, vagina, penis, or anus to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, and/or trichomoniasis

Your healthcare provider may also perform an external exam on your genitals to check for bumps or sores to determine if you may have herpes, syphilis. and/or genital warts. They may also use a speculum to access the vagina or cervix for a human papillomavirus (HPV)  swab test.

Common STIs tested at urgent care centres

Some infections are “reportable,” meaning your local public health unit will receive reports of positive test results to allow health authorities to monitor the STI rates in the region and identify outbreaks. Reportable infections include HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis B and C.

Some clinics offer anonymous HIV testing report results, meaning they don’t share any identifying information about you when reporting to their public health unit. In those instances, only you, the public health nurse and your healthcare provider will know about your results.

Types of STI testing available at urgent care centres

Urgent care centres use three types of tests to detect STIs: blood tests, urine tests, and swab samples.

Your healthcare provider may also perform an external examination, particularly if symptoms are present. Based on your symptoms and sexual activity, they will suggest the best test for you.

Here are the tests used to check for the most common STIs:

• Chlamydia: A urine sample or a swab of the affected area 
• Gonorrhea: A urine sample or a swab of the affected area
• HIV: A blood sample, which may be available through rapid testing via a finger prick at some clinics
• Hepatitis B: A blood test
• Genital herpes: A swab of the affected area
• Syphilis: A blood test or a swab of the affected area
• Trichomoniasis: A swab of the infected area
• HPV: Physical examination or a swab of the affected area

Importance of timely STI testing

The best way to look after your health and wellbeing (and that of your sexual partners) is to get tested once a year — more if your situation has changed, such as:

• You have a new sexual partner
• You noticed any bumps, discharge, rashes, or urinary symptoms 
• You or your partner is engaging in sexual activity with other people
• You had sex with someone who has an STI 
• You had sex without a condom with someone who wasn’t recently tested for STIs
• The condom broke during sex

STI testing should be part of your healthcare routine — just like going to the dentist. Not getting regularly tested for STIs can lead to a whole lot of problems. Since many people don’t experience STI symptoms, they don’t know they have an infection unless they get screened. But untreated STIs can have major consequences, such as infertility or leading to serious disease.

Factors affecting the duration of STI test results

Waiting for test results is never fun. The turnaround time for STI results depends on laboratory processing times since most tests are sent to labs for analysis.

Here’s how long you can expect to wait for results:

• Chlamydia (urine test or swab sample): 1–2 weeks
• Gonorrhea (urine test or swab sample: 1–2 weeks
• Genital warts (physical examination): Immediately
• Herpes (physical examination): Immediate swab if herpes is visibly present. If not visible, blood tests for HSV (herpes simplex virus) exposure can take around 1-2 weeks.
• Hepatitis B or C (blood test): 2 weeks
• HIV/AIDS (rapid test via finger prick test): 5 minutes
• HIV/AIDS (regular blood test): 1–2 weeks
• Syphilis (blood test): 2 weeks

Cost of STI testing at Canadian urgent care centres

In Canada, STI testing is free. All you need is a valid health card. Since STI testing won’t cost you anything and is relatively accessible, it’s easy to commit to regular testing to keep you and your sexual partners safe and healthy. 

What to do with a positive test result

If your STI test results are positive, tell your current and past partners immediately if you’ve engaged in sexual activity in the last two to six months. If you have any concerns or need assistance with approaching the subject, talk to a counsellor or the healthcare provider who performed the testing. They’ll be able to advise on the best ways to tell your partner without shame.

You’ll also need to seek treatment from a healthcare provider. Most STIs can be treated and cured. For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured by taking antibiotics. 

If you have any questions about STIs and/or symptoms but you don’t know where to start, speak to a primary care provider, like a doctor or nurse practitioner, on Maple. Available 24/7/365 over secure text, audio, or video call, primary care providers on Maple can help you figure out your next steps, like whether you need to go to urgent care, and you can rest assured knowing all your data is available within the app. 

Providers on Maple are available within minutes and can talk to you about any symptoms you may have, offer advice on having safe sex or talking to a partner about STI testing, and help you find a place to go for testing.

Taking control of your sexual health is empowering, and with the right resources and support, you can navigate any challenges with confidence and peace of mind. Remember, open communication with partners and timely medical intervention are key to maintaining your health and well-being. Don’t hesitate to connect with one of our trusted providers for guidance and support whenever you need it.

Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency, like chest pain or difficulty breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.