The Tamarack Medical Laboratory in Cranbrook now allows sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing to be booked without a health care provider
Dr. Jonathan Malo, Interior Health medical health officer says anyone can book tests for STIs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV.
“Cranbrook has higher than average rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea and we know that having access to a health care provider can be a barrier for some people,” said Malo.
“We wanted to make testing as easy and accessible as possible for people.”
Malo says gonorrhea and chlamydia could be especially hard to detect.
“Most people who have an infection will often not display any symptoms, so that’s why we encourage people to get tested frequently or when they have new or multiple partners,” said Malo.
“In Cranbrook, chlamydia infections fluctuate, but typically we find 60 to 100 cases a year.”
Malo put those numbers in comparison with larger population centres.
“Cranbrook is a smaller community, so that means we see a higher rate. Usually, we see that at a rate of 275 to 300 cases per 100,000, whereas across the Interior Health region, we see that at about 250 per 100,000,” explained Malo.
Interior Health hopes the move to make testing more accessible will encourage more people to get checked.
“This makes it a lot easier for people. There may be some embarrassment or they may not want to discuss their sexual activity with their normal health care provider,” said Malo.
“If people know and they get tested more frequently, we can get them treated. We’re hoping that we can really drive down those rates of STIs in the community over time.”
The service is available now and you can book an STI test here.
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