🔴 How to Prepare for a
HIV & STI Testing
HIV and STI testing involves a combination of blood tests and swabs, no special preparation is required, but knowing a few things beforehand makes the experience smoother and your results more accurate. Testing is confidential, and knowing your status is the most responsible thing you can do.
✅ Preparation Steps
1
No fasting is needed
HIV testing, STI blood tests (Hepatitis B, syphilis, herpes serology), and most swab tests do not require fasting. Eat, drink, and take your usual medications normally on the day of testing.
2
For chlamydia and gonorrhoea swab tests: no douching or vaginal creams beforehand
Avoid douching, vaginal creams and pessaries for 24 to 48 hours before your test. They can affect the swab result.
3
Know your dates: last exposure and last sexual contact
Tests have "window periods", the time between exposure and when a test becomes reliably positive. Your nurse will ask about your last exposure date to determine which tests are most appropriate and whether a repeat test is needed later. If your last exposure was less than 4 weeks ago, a 4th generation HIV test may still be in the window period, a follow-up at 6–12 weeks confirms.
4
Bring your partner if possible
If you have a regular partner and are testing as a couple, attending together is strongly encouraged. It removes the burden of disclosure and allows both of you to understand your results together. Partners of anyone with a confirmed STI diagnosis must also be tested and treated, or reinfection will occur.
5
You do not need a referral
Walk-in HIV and STI testing is available at Mascot Healthcare. You do not need a doctor's referral. Simply arrive and request the sexual health screen.
🎒 What to Bring
- 📋 No specific documents required for a walk-in STI screen
- 📋 Optional: previous STI test results for comparison
- 📋 Knowledge of your last exposure date and recent sexual history
- 📋 Your partner, if testing together
🔬 What to Expect
Confidential consultation (5 min)
A nurse or doctor will ask brief, non-judgmental questions about your sexual history and symptoms to determine the right tests for you. This conversation is entirely confidential, results are never shared without your consent.
Blood draw (3–5 min)
A small blood sample is taken from the arm for HIV rapid test (result in 15 min), Hepatitis B (HBsAg), syphilis (VDRL/TPHA), and any other requested markers. Results are handled confidentially.
Swab collection if needed (2 min)
If STI swabs are required (for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or herpes), a swab is taken from the cervix (women), urethra (men), throat, or rectum, depending on exposure history. This takes under 2 minutes and causes minimal discomfort.
Results
HIV rapid test results are available in 15–20 minutes. Full blood results (Hepatitis B, syphilis) within 24 hours. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea swab results are usually ready the same day. You will be called when all results are ready.
🏠 After Your Test
- If your HIV rapid test is negative but your exposure was recent (less than 4–6 weeks ago), a confirmatory repeat test at 6–12 weeks is recommended.
- If any result is positive, do not panic, most STIs are curable (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis) or controllable (HIV, Hepatitis B, herpes). A positive result simply means you need treatment.
- Inform recent sexual partners if you test positive for a transmissible infection, partner notification services are available confidentially through our clinic.
- If you are HIV negative and in a high-risk situation, ask about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily pill that prevents HIV acquisition by 99% when taken correctly.
- Repeat STI screening is recommended every 3–6 months if you have multiple partners or do not consistently use condoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HIV testing confidential?
Completely. HIV test results at Mascot Healthcare are handled with strict confidentiality. They are not shared with your employer, family, or partner without your explicit written consent. The exception is if a clinician determines there is an immediate risk of harm to a known third party, a situation that is discussed with you first. Testing is a private matter between you and your healthcare provider.
What is the window period for HIV?
The window period is the time between HIV exposure and when the test becomes reliably positive. With a 4th-generation HIV test (which detects both the virus antigen and antibodies), the window period is approximately 18–45 days (about 4–6 weeks). A negative result at 4 weeks is reassuring but should ideally be confirmed at 12 weeks for definitive certainty, especially after high-risk exposure.
Do I have to tell my partner if I test positive?
There is a strong ethical and medical case for informing recent sexual partners of any STI diagnosis. They may be unknowingly infected and untreated, putting their own health at risk. You are not legally compelled in Nigeria, but it is the right thing to do and our counsellors can help facilitate partner notification sensitively and confidentially if you prefer not to do it directly.
Can I test for STIs without symptoms?
Absolutely, and this is the most important scenario for testing. Most STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, Hepatitis B) cause no symptoms in the early or even late stages. Asymptomatic infections still transmit to partners and still cause internal damage over time. STI screening after any new partner, or annually if sexually active with multiple partners, is recommended regardless of how you feel.
Ready to book your HIV & STI Testing?
Lab tests are walk-in; for scans and consultations, book ahead or message us to confirm your appointment. We'll guide you through everything.
💬 Book on WhatsAppLast updated 18 October 2026.