Signature Health Expands Free Screening Services with Walk-In Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)
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(Mentor, OH): Thanks to a grant from the Ohio Department of Health, Signature Health is expanding its free, walk-in infectious disease screening services to include testing for four sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs): gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. This new offering was first made available to existing Signature Health patients in early August and will launch for community members on Monday, December 6. The STI screenings will be available at Signature Health’s Lakewood office, 14701 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, OH 44107, and Signature Health’s Willoughby office, 38882 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094, during certain dates and times.
To aid in offering rapid, walk-in STI testing, Signature Health has acquired two binx io machines. This innovative piece of equipment tests and provides results for chlamydia and gonorrhea in approximately 30 minutes, so an individual leaves the office knowing their status and any prevention or treatment next steps. Signature Health is currently one of the only organizations in the state of Ohio to offer this type of testing. Testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia is done through urine analysis or a self-administered vaginal swab; testing for syphilis is done through blood with a finger stick; and trichomoniasis is tested through a self-administered vaginal swab. All tests are available to individuals 15 and older.
“Signature Health is a Northeast Ohio leader in offering accessible infectious disease care to our community members,” says Sarah Hoehnen, DO, Medical Director of Infectious Disease at Signature Health. “In addition to sharing a positive or negative result, our prevention counselors provide resources and can link people with treatment or prevention services, often that same day if needed.”
This STI screening program supplements the free, rapid, walk-in HIV and hepatitis C testing that Signature Health already has in place for community members and patients. Depending on the combination of screenings received, all results are typically available on the same day, often in as little as 30 minutes. The organization’s infectious disease providers offer PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention, as well as expedited treatment for anyone who tests positive for HIV, hepatitis or STIs.
Everyone should be screened for HIV and hepatitis C at least once. Everyone who has ever been sexually active should be screened for sexually transmitted infections, which are particularly common among people ages 15 to 24.
For a full calendar of STI/HIV/Hep C walk-in screening locations, dates and times, visit SignatureFreeTest.org. You also can call 440-578-8200.
To better understand what to expect when receiving free testing services from Signature Health, watch this video.
Click here for more information about Signature Health’s infectious disease services.