Test and Post STI Sampling

Access to STI screening in Powys is about to get easier.

STI home testing is a convenient and discrete way of testing for sexually transmitted infections. Current test at home kits involve testing at home and getting the results at home. Proposed changes to STI home testing means that the test will still be taken in the privacy of your own home then sent to a lab for analysis. The results will then come from the PTHB with help and support on hand if required.

Trial Period

Hywel Dda health board began trials of TaP (Test and Post)  in 2018. TaP can be used to test for the two most commonly contracted STIs Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Test kits can be ordered via the website www.friskywales.org There’s an easy to find Testand Post page with details of the service. To receive a kit through the post you have to follow a simple link to answer a straightforward questionnaire with the option of answering in Welsh or in English. The questions help the selection process and also help to support people under the age of 16 and victims of domestic abuse who are then signposted to appropriate support.

Findings

By the end of Year 1 Hywel Dda had had 2000 responses with a 91% completion rate. The test results for Chlamydia were surprising with results coming back as 7.7 % positive with the national normal range for Wales at 4.6 % The majority of tests were from women at 85% with 15% returned from men. The majority of tests returned were in the 16-24 and 25-34 age ranges. The two most popular reasons for using the service were lack of time to go to a clinic and being too embarrassed to see someone in person.

Proposals

Welsh Government are considering the option of widening initial pilot to include Powys and Betsi Cadwalladr University Health Board. As of February 2020 PTHB have 50 trial test kits. There is a need to ensure that testing is supported by services in Powys and BCHUB and that effective pathways are in place. The anticipated number of requests for Powys in Year 1 is 1000. This would benefit Powys residents as current cross border services aren’t accessible to Powys residents. The aim is to be able to offer STI services in Powys rather than pay for an out of county provision. Current reasons for visiting out of county sexual health services are routine testing, contraception, IUDs, contraceptive implants and treatment for HPV and genital warts.

What Next?

Feedback from the Hywel Dda pilot has been positive,

“A very easy to use comprehensive service.” 

“This service is so much easier than waiting for hours at a clinic and is exactly what is needed in Wales. It allows people who struggle to find time in their working day to visit a clinic the opportunity to get a peace of mind in a quick and easy way,”

The PTHB are hoping to roll out the Test and Post service later this year in Powys.

We’ll keep you posted about all developments in the meantime!