🏥 Mascot Healthcare — Lagos WhatsApp Us
✅ No Fasting Needed ⏱ 20–30 minutes

🔴 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 urine-based STI tests: do not urinate for at least 1–2 hours before
If you are having a urine PCR test for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, urinating shortly before the test washes bacteria away from the urethra and can produce a false negative. Hold your urine for at least 1–2 hours before your appointment. A first-catch sample (the first 20 mL of your urine stream) is collected — not a midstream sample.
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
By appointment 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

🔬 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. STI swab PCR results within 24–72 hours. You will be called when all results are ready.

🏠 After Your Test

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.

Related Pages

HIV Test Lab StorySTI Screening Lab StoryHIV vs Hepatitis B Comparison

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