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Looking for STD testing in Hong Kong? Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not something most people openly discuss or like to think about, but let’s talk about it! Because STD symptoms can go unnoticed, it is essential to get STD testing if you had unprotected sex and you think you may have contracted an STD. Here is a complete guide to help you.
According to the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection, common local STDs include:
As for HIV, surveillance data collected by the Hong Kong Government has shown an increase in the number of new HIV infections over the past 20 years. That being said, the prevalence of HIV infection remains low in Hong Kong. According to the latest surveillance data, 1.3 out of 1,000 people in Hong Kong have been diagnosed with HIV, as opposed to 3.6 out of 1,000 people in the US in 2018.
STD symptoms may differ among individuals and they typically appear in 2 to 3 weeks. Some common symptoms of STDs include:
That said, some people may not develop any symptoms at all and that is why a professional diagnosis is necessary. If left untreated, STDs can lead to serious consequences such as infertility, organ damage, mother-to-child transmission or birth defects, and even cancer. Therefore, it is highly recommended for people who are sexually active to receive regular STD tests to protect themselves, as well as their loved ones.
For free STD testing in Hong Kong, visit the Social Hygiene Clinics. It is free for holders of a valid HK identity card and you can generally walk in and get tested on the same day. Non-eligible persons can still visit the clinics but will be charged HK$1,190 for each visit to the clinic. Some tests are included in this fee, but others require an extra fee. Please inquire at your clinic of choice for the specific costs.
The Social Hygiene Clinics test for syphilis, gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis, genital herpes, genital warts, pubic lice, chlamydia, and HIV/AIDS. While there is not a single test for all STDs, these tests often include blood tests, swabs, and visual examination. There are six Social Hygiene Clinics in Hong Kong:
Chai Wan Social Hygiene Clinic
Location: West Wing LG5, Specialist Out-patient Block, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan.
Tel.: 2595 7500.
Wan Chai Social Hygiene Clinic
Location: 6/F (♂) or 7/F (♀), Tang Chi Ngong Specialist Clinic, 284 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai.
Tel.: 3103 2400
Yau Ma Tei Social Hygiene Clinic
Location: 3/F (♀) or 4/F (♂), Yau Ma tei Jockey Club Polyclinic, 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.
Tel.: 2359 4377
Yung Fung Shee Social Hygiene Clinic
Location: 4/F, Yung Fung Shee Memorial Centre, 79 Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.
Tel.: 2727 8315
Tuen Mun Social Hygiene Clinic
Location: 5/F, Tuen Mun Eye Centre, 4 Tuen Lee Street, Tuen Mun, New Territories.
Tel.: 2459 2958
Fanling Integrated Treatment Centre (Social Hygiene Service)
Location: 6/F, Fanling Health Centre, 2 Pik Fung Road, Fanling, New Territories.
Tel.: 2639 1437
Find more information on the service hours for men and women by clicking on the respective links.
Aside from public Social Hygiene Clinics there are several non-governmental clinics that also offer STD testing in Hong Kong. However, for most of these clinics, you will need to cover the cost yourself, which can range from free AIDS/HIV test to comprehensive STD test packages costing HK$800. Below you can find a list of NGOs that test for STDs.
The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, the Men’s and Women’s Health Services: Men’s Health Services in Wan Chai, Ma Tau Chung, and Tsuen Wan. Women’s Health Services in Wan Chai, Ma Tau Chung, Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, and Wong Tai Sin.
The FPAHK provides a Hepatitis B Initial Assessment Packaged Blood Test (including HBeAg, HBV DNA Quantification and ALT) at HK$700 (click here for a breakdown of the pricing), as well as comprehensive STD testing for men and women.
For a complete guide to the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, read this.
Hong Kong AIDS Foundation
Location: Clinic at 8 Chai Wan Rd, 5/F Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club Clinic, Shau Kei Wan.
Tel.: 2560 8528
The foundation provides free of charge HIV/AIDS testing and is very helpful and understanding about your situation. While testing they can include free of charge syphilis and hepatitis C testing, but these two tests are low sensitivity tests (sensitivity: 50-60%).
AIDS Concern (Booking required)
Location: Health Service Centre, Flat B, 3/F, Fu Lee Commercial Building, 14-20 Pilkem Street, Jordan, Kowloon.
Tel.: 2394 6677
AIDS Concern offers free, anonymous, same-day testing for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, targeting men who have sex with men or young people who are under 25 years old.
A couple of private clinics offer comprehensive packages for STD testing in Hong Kong, and their packages vary greatly in price. Your other options within the private sector are general practitioners and gynecologists.
However, not all general practitioners and gynecologists offer on-site testing and they may refer you to a different (specialized) clinic. Below you can find a list of (specialized) clinics that specifically provide STD testing in Hong Kong.
Clinics
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Details
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Men’s Health Solutions Center (MHS)
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As a subsidiary of an HK-listed medical company, Men’s Health Solutions Center (MHS) has around 20 years of expertise in offering male-&-female STD/HIV tests and plans, with doctor consultation & report explanation, genital-warts cryotherapy and HPV vaccine, etc. STD/HIV checkup plans from $300-$2,350, 1 working day of earliest report TAT. Tests are done on DNA, Ag & Ab and bacterial culture, targeting HIV, Syphilis, HSV, HPV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, etc.
Address 1: Rm 1211, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Address 2: Rm 601, 6/F, 10 Pottinger Street, Central Tel: (852) 2886 9155 WhatsApp: (852) 9206 9702
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Hong Kong Emergency Medicine Centre
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Address 1: Room 704, 7/F, Manning House, 38 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Address 2: 8/F, Yue Hwa International Building, Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
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Sexual Health Specialists
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Address: Neo-Health Medical Centre, 29/F Li dong Building, 9 Li Yuen Street East, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: 3162 0001
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When you receive your STD results will vary per test. Determining whether you have genital warts only takes a visual examination and generally, it can be confirmed right on the day. However, some tests such as blood tests for HIV require some time for the lab to process your sample, which can take up to three weeks in the public Social Hygiene Clinics.
In fear of stigma or discrimination, some people may prefer a self-test for STD at home, which usually requires a self-collected oral fluid or a few drops of blood obtained through a finger-prick.
With the advancement in technology, home tests are commonly available at an inexpensive cost, offering reasonable sensitivity and specificity as screening test. It is highly recommended that users read the information sheet in the kit thoroughly before using and be careful in interpreting the result. Home kits are not supposed to be used for confirmation of infection or otherwise, as a formal laboratory test is still the clinical standard for diagnosis.
While home-testing kits may not provide a definitive diagnosis and are not used in clinical practice, it is recommended by the World Health Organization as an additional approach for screening at home. In Hong Kong, a range of self-test kits are available for purchase and use at home:
OraQuick HIV Self Test (HK$350)
Doctoreyes HIV Rapid Test Kit (HK$238)
AIDS Concern also offers two types of home-testing kits for people who prefer to take a HIV test in private:
Finger-prick Blood Test – BioSURE HIV Self Test (HK$250)
Oral Fluid Test – OraQuick ADVANCE® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test (HK$300)
A detailed list of HIV self-test kits recommended by WHO is presented here for your information.
Doctoreyes TP Rapid Test Kit (HK$228)
If you suspect you have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease, you should seek professional help immediately and get tested as soon as possible for treatment purposes.
Find more information on STDs in Hong Kong here.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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