At-Home STD Testing Kit Available To Alaskans

August 02, 2011|by Ashleigh Ebert

Alaskans who might not feel comfortable going to a clinic to get tested for a sexually transmitted disease now have another option.

Alaska had the highest Chlamydia rate in the country in 2010, and the second highest rate of gonorrhea. According to health officials Alaska has had the first or second highest rates of Chlamydia since 2000.

A partnership between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Indian Health Service and Johns Hopkins University is trying to change Alaska’s high rates of sexually transmitted disease.

The partnership will provide at-home STD testing kits. Each home test kit comes in an anonymous envelope with instructions, an identification number, and a prepaid return envelope for the self-collected swabs.

The kits go to the lab at Johns Hopkins University. The lab tests the swabs for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomonas. The tests are done in a qualified laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore using standard FDA-cleared state-of-the-art molecular tests and equipment.

“Infectious disease experts at Johns Hopkins say research clearly shows that screening teens and young adults, who otherwise would not come into any clinic, for sexually transmitted infections may best be achieved by making free, confidential home-kit testing available over the Internet, “ said Brenna Simons, ANTHC medical research associate.

The kits are mailed back in plain, brown paper envelopes with basic contact information. Within two weeks of sending the test to the lab, people can call a toll-free number or choose to receive an email or phone call from a nurse to receive their test results.

Alaskans can request the at-home testing kits by clicking here or here, or call (866) 575-5504.

Those who test positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomonas will be contacted with various options for treatment.

The testing is confidential, but positive test results will be reported to the State of Alaska as required by law.

Alaskans who have questions can call ANTHC’s HIV/STD Program Services at 877-334-8762.

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