Female Sextual Health Blood and Swab Test （6 Health Indicator Tested） -in store/ home

The Female Sexual Health Screen is a private blood and self-swab test checking for six of the most common sexually transmitted infections — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis — processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited ISO 15189 laboratory, and sold confidentially by Ways Pharmacy (UK).

Key facts

Who it is for

• Women who want a confidential STI screen because most of these infections cause no symptoms
• Women starting a new relationship who want to know their status
• Women who test at regular intervals as part of looking after their sexual health
• Women who have had unprotected sex and want a broad screen in one test

Not suitable for: emergency situations — if you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, seek PEP urgently from a sexual health clinic or A&E; testing too soon after exposure can give a false negative, so timing matters (see FAQ); use as a substitute for clinical assessment.

What is measured

• Chlamydia — via self-collected swab; a very common infection in sexually active people
• Gonorrhoea — via self-collected swab
• HIV — antibody/antigen blood test
• Hepatitis B — blood test
• Hepatitis C — blood test
• Syphilis — blood test

How it works

1. Order online and choose your option: an in-store appointment or an at-home self-collection kit.
2. In store: attend Ways Pharmacy, 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET, where a trained phlebotomist takes a venous blood sample and you collect the swab privately. At home: a self-collection kit is posted to you for the blood and swab samples; return them in the prepaid packaging.
3. Your samples are sent to London Medical Laboratory (LML) for analysis.
4. You receive a confidential written report, typically within 3–5 working days of the lab receiving your samples. The pharmacist will explain any positive result and refer you to an NHS sexual health service for treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How long do results take?

Results are typically available within 3–5 working days from when the laboratory receives your samples, delivered confidentially to you.

Where is the test done?

You can have the blood sample taken at our Holborn pharmacy (77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET) by appointment, collecting the swab privately, or order an at-home self-collection kit that is posted to you and returned to the lab in prepaid packaging.

Is the laboratory accredited?

Yes. Your samples are processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited laboratory working to the ISO 15189 standard for medical laboratories.

How soon after exposure should I test?

Different infections become detectable at different times after exposure, so testing very soon afterwards can miss an infection. For a confident result, especially for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis, testing is generally repeated at around 3 months after the last possible exposure. The pharmacist can advise on timing for your situation.

What happens if a result is positive?

A positive screening result is not a final diagnosis on its own and may need a confirmatory test. The pharmacist will explain the result and refer you to an NHS sexual health clinic for confirmation and treatment.

When to seek further advice

• Possible HIV exposure in the last 72 hours — seek emergency PEP from a sexual health clinic or A&E now.
• A positive result must be confirmed and managed through an NHS sexual health service.

This is a private confidential screening service. Positive results require confirmatory testing and clinical management through an NHS sexual health service and are not a diagnosis. Test timing relative to exposure affects accuracy.