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, Forth Valley and Highland, alongside useful information on testing windows.
If you live outside these regions, check out our general testing page here.
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, 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 here.
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, 5-7pm
- Pennywell All Care Centre – Every Tuesday, 9am-12pm
- Steamworks Sauna - Every Tuesday, 4.30pm - 7.30pm
- Craigmillar Medical Group - Every Thursday, 10am - 12pm
For more information, visit the ROAM Team website.
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
We host a regular Forth Valley clinic at the Raploch Community Campus in Stirling.
The service is completely free and confidential. Drop-ins are welcome, but booking is recommended.
For more information about service, including upcoming dates, visit our Checkpoint page here.
Central Sexual Health Clinics
SX can provide support for men to access testing, by working closely with Central Sexual Health. Clinics are located at:
Stirling Health & Care Village, Area 1, Livilands Gate, Stirling. FK8 2AU
- Monday morning & afternoon
- Tuesday morning & afternoon
Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre Hallpark Road, Sauchie. FK10 3JQ
- Wednesday afternoon & evening
To access the sexual health services enter the building from the Parkhead Road entrance and report to the main reception.
Falkirk Community Hospital, Suite D Major’s Loan, Falkirk. FK1 5QE
- Wednesday, morning & afternoon
- Thursday, morning, afternoon & evening
- Friday morning & afternoon
Rapid HIV Testing in Highland and Argyll & Bute
We hold a regular testing clinic in Inverness, alongside drop-in clinics in venues across the Highlands and Argyll & Bute, offering:
- Rapid HIV testing
- Advice and support with all things sexual health
- Free condoms and lube
The service is completely free and confidential. You can either book an appointment or drop-in at a time to suit you.
Follow the link for more information about service, including venue details and upcoming dates.
Highland Sexual Health
NHS Highland's sexual health service runs a series of clinics where you can access testing services. Full information is available from their website at:
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 checkup.
- 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.
