You know you want to get checked, but not quite where you can go without it being recorded everywhere. It makes sense to look into that. There are more places than you think, and they differ a lot in privacy, speed and cost. Below I lay out the options clearly.
That way you find the place that suits you.
Already know what you need? You can build your own anonymous STI test straight away and visit a nearby sampling location.
Where can you do an anonymous STI test?
You can do an anonymous STI test through a home test or a sampling location that you order and pay for yourself online. Those routes run outside your GP, so without a record note or a claim. The GGD tests confidentially but with registration, and the GP records your test in your file.
So fully anonymous means: arrange it yourself, pay yourself, outside regular care.
The options at a glance
The table below compares the places on anonymity, cost and speed. Choose based on what weighs most for you.
| Place | Anonymity | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home test, self-collection | Anonymous, no record | Fixed price, self-paid | 2 to 3 working days for a result |
| Sampling location after online order | Anonymous, separate from GP | Fixed price, self-paid | A few working days |
| GGD clinic | Confidential, with registration | Free if you qualify | Variable, sometimes a waiting list |
| GP | Goes into your record | Insurance excess | Appointment plus lab time |
To start without a wait, read STI test without an appointment.
Anonymous at the GGD: what is and is not possible?
At the GGD your test is confidential, but you do register and criteria apply. So it is not fully anonymous, although the GGD shares nothing with your GP or insurer without your consent. The RIVM aims this care mainly at specific risk groups.
If you do not qualify, read your options in GGD STI test refused, these are your options.
Order online and go to a sampling location
At a sampling location you order online, choose a time and have blood drawn professionally or take a sample. Your GP is not involved, so nothing enters your record. That a low-threshold, self-arranged route works comes out of a randomised trial in which home sampling nearly doubled the number of testers (PMID 29281628).
To know exactly what is recorded where, read whether an STI test enters your medical record.
How reliable and private is each place?
On reliability the good routes are close: for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, self-collection is about as accurate as health-worker collection (PMID 26168051, PMID 38714714). The difference is mainly in privacy and access, not in lab quality.
To check broadly at once, an STI screen for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas covers the most common infections. All the background is in the guide on STI testing at home.
Which place fits which moment?
If you are in a hurry and want maximum privacy, a home test or sampling location is handiest. If you fall in a risk group and are not in a hurry, the GGD is free and complete. With clear symptoms, the GP or GGD is often the logical first step, because you are helped further right away.
So first decide what counts for you: speed, privacy or cost. From that starting point you almost automatically choose the place that suits you.
Sources
- Lunny C, et al. Self-Collected versus Clinician-Collected Sampling for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015. PMID 26168051.
- Jaya ZN, et al. Accuracy of self-collected versus healthcare worker collected specimens for diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in females: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 2024. PMID 38714714.
- Jamil MS, et al. Examining the effects of HIV self-testing compared to standard HIV testing services in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2021. PMID 34278282.
- Johnson CC, et al. Examining the effects of HIV self-testing compared to standard HIV testing services: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2017. PMID 28530049.
- Wilson E, et al. Internet-accessed sexually transmitted infection (e-STI) testing and results service: a randomised, single-blind, controlled trial. PLoS Medicine. 2017. PMID 29281628.
- RIVM. Sexual health and STIs: information and guidelines. rivm.nl.
- Thuisarts.nl / NHG. I want to get tested for an STI.
An STI test can confirm or rule out an infection, but it does not replace a consultation. Our results are reviewed by a doctor, and with symptoms, doubt or a positive result you should talk to a doctor or the GGD.
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