STI Test Plus

The STI Test Plus focuses on sexually transmitted infections and bacterial infections that commonly cause symptoms in the genital area. Unlike more comprehensive tests, this test does not include a blood sample and does not test for HIV or syphilis. This makes the test easily accessible and suitable as a first step when experiencing symptoms.

Would you like to test the throat or anus area for STIs? This is done through a swab test. Not all STIs can be detected using a swab test- for other tests you will need to take a urine sample, vaginal swab, or a blood sample. If you are interested in doing a throat or anal STI test, complete our STI Test Guide to see which STIs you are recommended to test for and which test products are recommended. Do you have questions about how to take each type of test? Find instructional videos on how to take a test sample in the blog: "How to carry out and STI-Test".

Your test results come with an explanation of the results as well as a downloadable laboratory report. This report can be taken to a GP for further testing, treatment, and guidance. Homed-IQ provides prescriptions for chlamydia treatment to customers who are residents of the Netherlands. If you are a customer in the Netherlands and test positive for chlamydia, contactmedicalsupport@homediq.comto arrange a prescription. For customers in the Netherlands, Homed-IQ works with OneTwoDigital, a digital GP office. OneTwoDigital can further help with STI-related complaints. The care, as with your own GP, is reimbursed by your health insurance company.

Homed-IQ test kits do not have customer names or information on them for privacy reasons. This means in order to link your test to your account, you must activate the test using the unique 12-digit test code before mailing it to the lab. The laboratory cannot process your test results or send them to you unless your test is activated.

The incubation period is sometimes confused with the window period. The incubation period is the time between when an individual is exposed to an infection and when they begin showing symptoms. This is different from the window period, which is the time between when an individual is exposed to an infection and when a test can reliably detect the infection. It is important to consider the window period for each STI when getting tested in order to guarantee the most reliable test results.

Have you tested positive for an STI? Be sure to inform your recent sex partners. This is how you make sure they avoid complications from an untreated STI, prevent passing the STI to others, and avoid passing the STI back to you (if you are still having sex). It is usually advised to tell the people you have had sex within the past 6 months. However, sometimes it is also necessary to tell partners from longer ago. Speak to your GP about who you should inform. You may be nervous about telling someone you're having sex with that you have an STI. You can do this in several ways:

• Telling them yourself via a phone, email, or in-person conversation
• Anonymously warn them via partnerwaarschuwing.nl  (in the Netherlands) or wir-ruhr.de (in Germany). Using these services you can tell someone to get tested without making your identity known.
• Ask your GP or the nurse at an STI clinic to let people you have had sex with know that you tested positive for an STI

Whichever method you use to choose, it is always a good idea to inform past partners about STIs. They can then get tested and treated if necessary.

The STI test is not suitable for people under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18 and would like to get tested for STIs, please contact the GGD in your municipality or your GP. It is also advised not to take this test during the window period for STIs. The window period is the time between the moment of infection (such as after unprotected sex) and when the infection can be detected by a test. If you have taken an STI test before the window period is over and have tested negative, it is advised to test again after the window period.

The STI Test Plus is suitable if you are experiencing symptoms such as discharge, pain during urination, itching, or a burning sensation, as well as if you would like reassurance after unprotected sexual contact. This test is especially appropriate if you want to rule out multiple possible causes at the same time.

In the Netherlands, it is possible to get tested for free at the GGD until the age of 25 or if you fall into a risk group. Individuals older than 25 or who are not in a risk group can get tested at the GP or using a home test such as what Homed-IQ offers. While home STI testing is an alternative way to perform a laboratory test, it does not replace the advice of a doctor. Homed-IQ is unable to offer physical examinations, prescribe treatment, (other than chlamydia treatment for Netherlands residents) or provide follow-up STI care. If you test positive for an STI using a Homed-IQ test, take your test result to your GP for further advice and follow-up. If you are unable to visit your doctor, residents of the Netherlands can also make an appointment with a digital general practitioner. Homed-IQ works together with OneTwoDigital, a digital general practitioner practice that you can use in addition to your own general practitioner. OneTwoDigital can help you further with your complaints and the care is, just like with your own general practitioner, reimbursed by the health insurer.

Homed-IQ STI tests are entirely approved for home use. All tests have been validated by a certified laboratory to ensure the results from samples taken at home are as accurate as samples taken in a doctor’s office or clinic. It is only legal to sell validated medical tests. Each Homed-IQ test is processed in a laboratory that is ISO15189 certified, which enables us to guarantee the reliability of all our tests.

Yes, all Homed-IQ tests are entirely anonymous. No contact with your GP is made unless you choose to take the test results to your doctor.

The biggest advantage of the STI Test Plus is that you can easily test yourself from home. Using a self-test, you do not have to visit your GP or a clinic and still can obtain laboratory-certified, fast test results. This means you can perform a test at a time that suits you in a private environment.

No, at this time Homed-IQ does not have any reimbursement agreements with health insurers. In the Netherlands, if you test through the GGD because you fall into a risk group, testing for an STI is free. The cost of testing for STIs at the GP will be deducted from your health insurance deductible (own risk). The coverage of subsequent costs depends on your health insurance. Ask your health insurance company what exactly is covered. Are you not in a risk group or is it too busy at the GGD? Then you can test at your GP or with Homed-IQ.

After analysis, all samples are destroyed in accordance with medical guidelines. The laboratory uses only your unique test code and no personal data. This ensures that your privacy remains protected even after the test has been completed.

In exceptional cases, a sample cannot be properly evaluated, for example if insufficient material was collected. In that case, Homed-IQ will contact you and provide clear instructions for a new sample collection.

If your result is negative and the window period has passed, none of the STIs included in this test were detected. If you develop symptoms later, or have unprotected sex again, it is sensible to test again.