Did you not qualify for a free test at the GGD because you are over 25, have no symptoms, or count as low risk? You are not alone, and it does not mean testing is off the table. The GGD tests for free for certain groups, and anyone outside those groups mainly has two routes left: the GP or an anonymous paid test. This article explains the GGD STI test criteria and lays the alternatives out side by side, calmly.
Let us say it straight away. A refusal at the GGD is not a judgement about you. It is simply how the free testing scheme is set up.
Why can the GGD turn you away?
The GGD offers free STI testing through dedicated Sexual Health Centres, but that capacity is meant for people at higher risk. If the questionnaire does not place you in that group, the GGD may refer you to your GP. It is about prioritisation, not about you personally.
Many people are taken aback by a refusal and assume they did something wrong. That is not the case. The funds for free testing are limited, so the GGD looks first at who is statistically most at risk.
The GGD works with national criteria that decide who can test for free through this route. Soa Aids Nederland sets out where you can get tested if you fall outside that group (soaaids.nl).
Who is the GGD test free for?
The GGD tests for free for groups at higher risk of an STI. These include people under 25, men who have sex with men, people with symptoms, and people warned by a partner. Anyone who does not fall into these groups is usually referred to their GP.
The exact details can vary slightly by region. Broadly, the GGD looks at the following situations.
- You are younger than 25
- You have symptoms that could point to an STI
- A partner has warned you about an STI
- You belong to a group with a statistically higher risk, such as men who have sex with men
- You are pregnant or have dealt with sexual violence
If none of these apply to you, that is exactly the situation this article is about. The good news: reliable routes still remain.
What are your options if you do not qualify?
If you do not qualify for the GGD, you broadly have two routes: your GP or an anonymous paid test. Both use accredited laboratories, so the reliability of the result is comparable. The difference lies mainly in privacy, cost and convenience.
Which route fits depends on what matters most to you. One person prefers a familiar face, another would rather leave as few traces as possible.
- GP - a familiar face, but the test may fall under your own risk excess and the result goes into your medical file
- Anonymous paid test - you arrange it yourself, choose between self-sampling at home or a testing location, and the result stays out of your file
Neither is inherently better. It is a trade-off between familiarity and privacy.
GP or anonymous test?
At the GP you can get a test and any treatment, but the result goes into your GP file and the cost may fall under your own risk excess. An anonymous paid test you arrange yourself, it stays out of your file, and you can do it at home or at a testing location. The choice mainly comes down to privacy and cost.
At the GP, the STI test itself often falls under the own risk excess, and the diagnosis is recorded in your file, protected by medical confidentiality. Thuisarts.nl describes how an STI check at the GP works (thuisarts.nl).
Want to know whether a test ends up in your file and what that means, read whether an STI test goes into your medical record.
An anonymous paid test you order online or do at a testing location. You pay yourself, but you stay in control of who knows. For many people that is exactly the deciding factor.
What does a test outside the GGD cost?
Outside the GGD you pay for the test yourself. At the GP this may run through your own risk excess, so you only see the amount on your statement later. An anonymous paid test has a fixed price you see upfront, with no surprises afterwards.
The exact price depends on how many STIs you test for and which route you choose.
A targeted test for one or two infections is cheaper than a broad panel. If you want a wider picture in one go, you can choose a full STD screen.
For an overview of what each route costs and when something is reimbursed, read what an STI test costs and whether it is reimbursed.
How do you keep it private?
With an anonymous paid test you decide who knows. You order online, the kit arrives in neutral packaging, and your result sits in a secure environment only you can open. Your result is not automatically shared with your GP, employer or health insurer.
We get that privacy plays a part. For some people the thought of a note in their file is already reason enough to choose a discreet route.
A popular option is a reliable home test with laboratory analysis. How it works and how reliable it is, you can read in STI test at home: reliable and anonymous testing. According to RIVM, testing remains the only way to get certainty about a possible STI (RIVM).
Still unsure which test fits your situation? See our guide on which STI test you need and when. A refusal at the GGD closes no door; it only changes which route is most convenient for you.
Sources
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
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