Sexual Health Testing

With lots of STIs not showing clear symptoms, regular testing is the best way to know your status, and feel more in control of your sexual health.

Regular testing means that any infections can be picked up and treated early. It also means you can make informed decisions about sexual health, and prevent the spread of infections.

If you are having regular sex, and in particular anal sex, we recommend getting a regular sexual health check up every three months.

Below, you will find details of our testing services in Lothian, alongside useful information on testing windows.

Edinburgh and the Lothians:

Checkpoint...

Checkpoint is a free, community based HIV and syphilis testing service.

The service offers access to:

- Rapid HIV and Syphilis testing
- Advice and support with all things sexual health
- Free condoms and lube

Clinics alternate between Crew (https://www.crew.scot), in the centre or Edinburgh, and local venues in Livingston and Tranent.

The service is completely free and confidential. Drop-ins are welcome, but booking is recommended.

For more information about service, including venue details and upcoming dates, visit our Checkpoint page at https://s-x.scot/sexual-health/stis-prevention/testing/checkpoint.

M-Test...

NHS Lothian's ROAM Outreach team hold regular community sexual health testing for gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men. Tests are available by appointment only. Call 07774 628227 to book.

M-test offers access to free, confidential and anonymous testing for:

- HIV
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia

Clinics are available at:

Leith Links Medical Centre - Every Monday, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Pennywell All Care Centre - Every Tuesday, 9:00am-12:00pm
Steamworks Sauna - Every Tuesday, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Craigmillar Medical Group - Every Thursday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Know your testing windows

It is important to remember that each test has a different ‘window period’.

This means that if you are tested within a certain time period, you can’t be sure of the accuracy of the result.

A clinician will always advise you about your risk, and the potential need for retesting if you are within a window period.

To be sure of getting tested at the correct time after exposure, here is how long to wait before getting an STI check-up:

- Chlamydia: 10 days after exposure
- Gonorrhoea: 10 days after exposure
- Syphilis: 6 weeks after exposure and retest after 3 months
- Hepatitis B: 4/6 weeks after exposure
- Hepatitis C: 3 weeks after exposure
- HIV Anti Body Test (Rapid Test): 3 months after exposure
- HIV Blood Test (venipuncture test): 4 weeks after exposure
- Herpes: 6-12 weeks after exposure
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus): 4 months after exposure
However, if you think you have developed any symptoms from an STI infection you should contact or visit your sexual health clinic as soon as possible. You should also abstain from sexual contact until you have discussed your symptoms with a sexual health consultant.

Looking for support? Can't find the answers you need online? Fill out our self-referral form at https://s-x.scot/about-sx/sx-services/sexual-health-testing, and one of the team will get back to you.

For more information, visit the ROAM Team at https://www.roam-outreach.com.