Telehealth

MyCheck is a new virtual Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing service being offered by a small number of publicly funded sexual health services in NSW (see below). To participate in MyCheck you need to be a current client of one of these services, be 18 years of age or over and have no symptoms. 

MyCheck allows you to have a quick assessment of your sexual health testing needs, over the phone, and then go straight to a local pathology collection centre to be tested. 

We recognise that many people want to access testing quickly, and in places and times that are convenient to them. You can attend the local participating pathology service directly, and many are open outside normal business hours, including the weekend.

Currently MyCheck is only available at the following publicly funded sexual health services:

• Pacific Clinic (Newcastle) – 02 4016 4536 

• Clinic 468 (Tamworth) – 02 4016 4536

• Taree Sexual Health Clinic - 02 4016 4536

• Sydney Sexual Health Clinic – 02 9382 7440

• RPA Sexual Health -  02 9515 1200

If you are a current client of one of these services and are 18 years of age or over and have no symptoms simply call the clinic and ask for a MyCheck STI health check. 

If you are not a client of one of these services and would like a sexual health test, please contact your local sexual health clinic. Click here to find your nearest sexual health clinic.  

To participate in MyCheck you must meet ALL of the following conditions:

• Be over 18 years of age 

• Be an existing client of a participating NSW sexual health clinic 

• Have no symptoms.

MyCheck may not be the best service for you if you have complex health needs or you need to discuss your concerns directly with a clinician.

The service is provided primarily for people recognised to be at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections or barriers to accessing services, including those without a Medicare card.

You confirm your details over the phone, answer some questions about yourself and possible risk factors and then you are sent a text message with a barcode which you take to a local participating pathology service nearest to you.

The pathology service will read the barcode and download the test order form. If your tests involve blood collection (e.g., a HIV test) the collection staff will take your blood, otherwise, you will be provided with sample containers to collect any urine, or swabs for throat, genitals, or anus.

You will also be provided a copy of these self-collection instructions.
There are two ways of accessing MyCheck, Telehealth or online.

MyCheck Telehealth

You can call your participating sexual health clinic and ask for MyCheck if you:

• want a general sexual health check, 

• want to monitor/start use of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), 

• you have been told by someone you had sex with that they have an STI, or

• you have been treated for an STI (at your GP or STI clinic) and need to check the treatment has worked.
  
   

MyCheck is only for people who DON’T have symptoms. If you have any symptoms, such as these listed below, you need to make a face-to-face appointment at a sexual health clinic or with your General Practitioner (GP):

• Pain when passing urine

• Rash in the genital area

• Lumps or sores on or around the genitals or anus

• Unusual discharge, bleeding or discomfort in the penis or anus

• Unusual change in vaginal discharge

• Bleeding from vagina or anus during sex

• Lower abdominal or pelvic pain during sex

MyCheck is only available in New South Wales. The current pathology partners for MyCheck are listed below. In future, it is hoped that further pathology partners will join the service. For now, you can ONLY attend one of these services. If you present to another pathology service, you may be charged a fee. MyCheck is NOT available under Medicare, but it is free to use if you attend one of the collection centres from the partners listed here.

For general information about MyCheck you can call the Sexual Health Infolink service on 1800 451 624. If you want information about STI testing services available in your area, contact your local sexual health service.  For information about STIs and testing options visit the Sexual Health Infolink website.