Testing Clinic and Procedures at the Sexual Health Clinics in Ottawa

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The Ontario Sexual Health clinics provide health services covered by OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) to Ontario residents. Their services include; emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, anonymous HIV testing, free and confidential STBBI (sexually transmitted blood-borne infection) treatment, and testing for people with symptoms of STBBIs and more!

The main Sexual Health Clinic is located at 179 Clarence Street, available for walk-ins or appointments. For walk-ins, they recommend arriving 1 hour before opening. The clinics hours of operation are;
  • Monday 1 pm - 4 pm
  • Tuesday 1 pm - 7 pm
  • Thursday 1 pm - 7 pm
To speak with the receptionist, you can call 613-234-4641 to make an appointment. The receptionist telephone hours are; Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

The clinic offers several types of testing for STBBIs that have different “window periods” before they are detected. Therefore, health care practitioners determine what test is needed based on your sexual history.

TESTING for Chlamydia + gonorrhea:

  • Test type: Urine sample, a swab (or self swab) of the cervix, the throat, or the rectum.
  • Window period: 48 hours after sexual contact

TESTING for Syphilis:

  • Test type: A blood test
  • Window period: 4-6 weeks after sexual contact

TESTING for HIV:

  • Test type: A blood test
  • Window period: 6-12 weeks after potential exposure

Test Results

  • Results from labs can take up to 2-3 weeks
  • If your test results are negative, you will not get a phone call
  • If your test results are positive, a Public Health Nurse will contact you about treatment.
    • You may be required to give additional information about your sexual partners, to ensure they get contacted anonymously about testing and treatment

For more information, or to speak with a Public Health Nurse, please contact 613-234-4641 or the Ontario Sexual Health InfoLine 1-800-668-2437. If you have any further inquiries or if you do not live in the Ottawa region, then you can contact your local Public Health Clinic or your family doctor.

Message from the Sexual Health Clinic in Ottawa, on COVID-19:

Due to the current situation around COVID-19, we must reduce our services to high risk clients only. Currently, we are unable to offer routine screening, most STI testing or Test & Go services. Please contact your family practitioner or visit a walk-in clinic if you want testing or have symptoms. Please only call 613-234-4641 if:

  • You are a case or contact of chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis
  • You are a man having sex with men
  • You need contraception including an IUD/IUS or emergency contraception (Plan B/Ella)
  • You need HIV PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)
  • You have been diagnosed with HPV (genital warts) and need treatment