All Homed-IQ tests are entirely anonymous and do not require any direct contact with your GP.

Our self-sampling tests are completely approved for home use. The tests have been validated by our lab to see if the results from samples taken at home are as accurate as samples taken in a doctor’s office or clinic. It is only legal to sell validated medical tests. Each Homed-IQ test is processed in a laboratory that is ISO15189 certified, which enables us to guarantee the reliability of all our tests.

The biggest advantage of this test is that you can easily take the test yourself at home. Using a self-test, you do not have to visit your GP or a clinic and still can obtain laboratory-certified, fast test results. With Homed-IQ, you may test yourself completely anonymously and perform the test at a time that suits you best.

No, at this time Homed-IQ does not have any reimbursement agreements with health insurers. In the Netherlands, if you test through the GGD because you fall into a risk group, testing for an STI is free. The cost of testing for STIs at the GP will be deducted from your health insurance deductible (own risk). The coverage of subsequent costs depends on your health insurance. Ask your health insurance company what exactly is covered. Are you not in a risk group or is it too busy at the GGD? Then you can test at your GP or with Homed-IQ. Currently, Homed-IQ has no agreements with health insurers.

In the Netherlands, it is possible to get tested for free at the GGD until the age of 25 or if you fall into a risk group. Individuals older than 25 or who are not in a risk group can get tested at the GP or using a home test such as what Homed-IQ offers. While home STI testing is an alternative way to perform a laboratory test, it does not replace the advice of a doctor. Homed-IQ is unable to offer physical examinations, prescribe treatment, (other than chlamydia treatment for Netherlands residents) or provide follow-up STI care. If you test positive for an STI using a Homed-IQ test, take your test result to your GP for further advice and follow-up.

Homed-IQ’s STI tests offer the same laboratory-certified results you would receive if you had an STI test done through your GP or a sexual health clinic. Homed-IQ works with the same labs that provide tests for clinics, and strives to provide your results quickly and confidentially. STI rapid tests that are available at e.g. the drugstore are often not reliable and may result in a false negative or false positive result.

Your test results come with an explanation of the results as well as a downloadable laboratory report. This report can be taken to a GP for further testing, treatment, and guidance. Homed-IQ provides prescriptions for chlamydia treatment to customers who are residents of the Netherlands. If you are a customer in the Netherlands and test positive for chlamydia, contactmedicalsupport@homediq.comto arrange a prescription. For customers in the Netherlands, Homed-IQ works with OneTwoDigital, a digital GP office. OneTwoDigital can further help with STI-related complaints. The care, as with your own GP, is reimbursed by your health insurance company.

Homed-IQ test kits do not have customer names or information on them for privacy reasons. This means in order to link your test to your account, you must activate the test using the unique 12-digit test code before mailing it to the lab. The laboratory cannot process your test results or send them to you unless your test is activated.

If you have symptoms consistent with an STI, have been warned by a previous sex partner that they have chlamydia or gonorrhoea, have had unprotected sex, or would otherwise like to check for these STIs, this test is suitable for you. It is important not to take this test during the window period for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. The window period is the time between the moment of infection (such as after unprotected sex) and when the infection can be detected by a test. If you have taken an STI test before the window period is over and have tested negative, it is advised to test again after the window period. The window period for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is 14 days.

The STI test is not suitable for people under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18 and would like to get tested for STIs, please contact a sexual health clinic in your municipality or your GP. It is also advised not to take this test during the window period for STIs. The window period is the time between the moment of infection (such as after unprotected sex) and when the infection can be detected by a test. If you have taken an STI test before the window period is over and have tested negative, it is advised to test again after the window period.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are tested using either a swab test (infections of the vagina, throat, or anus) or a urine test (infections of the penis). At Homed-IQ, you can choose our Chlamydia Test or Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Test to check for specific STIs, or the STI Test Complete and STI Test Comprehensive to check for a wider range of infections.

Homed-IQ offers a Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test in three variants; swab test for infections of the vagina, a urine test for infections of the penis, and a swab test for anal and oral infections.

Depending on which test you order, there are different collection methods:

• The Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test for men is a urine test
• The Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test for women is a vaginal swab
• The anal or oral test is a swab test

All tests come packaged with detailed instructions for use.

Gonorrhea has a window period of 14 days. This means that a test can reliably detect gonorrhea around 14 days after infection.

Yes, gonorrhea can be easily cured with antibiotics. Prompt treatment of gonorrhea prevents any long-term health effects from the infection.

Gonorrhea, if left untreated, can also cause further health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility.

No, gonorrhea cannot go away on its own. Untreated gonorrhea can even cause health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility or ectopic pregnancy in women, as well as inflammation of the epididymis or prostate in men. In rare cases, gonorrhea can enter the bloodstream and cause infections elsewhere in the body. This can lead to joint inflammation, blood poisoning, or meningitis. Pregnant women with gonorrhea can experience problems during pregnancy, such as inflammation in the uterus or premature birth of the baby. They can also infect their baby during childbirth. This can lead to eye infections and blindness in the baby. Prompt treatment of pregnant women with gonorrhea is needed to ensure the health of their baby.

Symptoms of chlamydia can appear within 1 to 3 weeks of infection. Some people do not experience any symptoms at all.

Chlamydia is a very common STI and is easily treatable with antibiotics within a week. If you test positive for chlamydia, contact your GP for treatment.

Chlamydia is highly contagious. Because chlamydia infections are sometimes asymptomatic, you can have and spread chlamydia to others without knowing it.

Untreated, chlamydia increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Untreated chlamydia in pregnant women is associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and eye and respiratory infections in the baby.

Have you tested positive for an STI? Be sure to inform your recent sex partners. This is how you make sure they avoid complications from an untreated STI, prevent passing the STI to others, and avoid passing the STI back to you (if you are still having sex). It is usually advised to tell the people you have had sex within the past 6 months. However, sometimes it is also necessary to tell partners from longer ago. Speak to your GP about who you should inform. You may be nervous about telling someone you're having sex with that you have an STI. You can do this in several ways:

• Telling them yourself via a phone, email, or in-person conversation
• Anonymously warn them via partnerwaarschuwing.nl  (in the Netherlands) or wir-ruhr.de (in Germany). Using these services you can tell someone to get tested without making your identity known.
• Ask your GP or the nurse at an STI clinic to let people you have had sex with know that you tested positive for an STI

Whichever method you use to choose, it is always a good idea to inform past partners about STIs. They can then get tested and treated if necessary.