The Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, in cooperation with Fimlab, will offer free remote testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea starting from the beginning of June. In remote testing, a person collects the sample at home and sends it to the laboratory for analysis. This easy and convenient service lowers the threshold for getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Who is the service intended for?

Sexually transmitted diseases are often asymptomatic, but infections without symptoms can spread just like symptomatic ones. The remote testing service is particularly intended for people who may unknowingly carry chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection.

The free remote testing service for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is available to all residents of the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia.

How does remote testing work?

The test can be taken five days after unprotected sex at the earliest. The necessary sampling materials and instructions can be ordered from Fimlab’s website, and the test kit will be delivered to your home in a discreet envelope. The person collects the sample and sends it to Fimlab for analysis.

There are two types of remote testing kits: one for a vaginal sample and one for a urine sample. The customer chooses the most suitable option when placing the order.

The result will be available within 3–5 days after the sample has been sent and can be viewed in MyKanta. The result is also recorded in the patient information system of the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia. If the result is positive, the person must contact healthcare services.

The remote testing kit can only be used to detect chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections from urine or vaginal samples, not other sexually transmitted infections. If a person suspects an infection caused by another pathogen or an STI located outside the genital area, they should contact healthcare services.

Read more about the service here. Fimlab already provides remote testing service in the wellbeing services counties of Central Finland, Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme.