The test samples sent by patients are processed at Preventx laboratory and results are made available within 72 hours
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor has entered into a partnership with the UK’s leading diagnostic provider, Preventx, to boost its sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing service, which include tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV.
The at-home test kits are made available online at online doctor’s website, and tests range from a finger-prick blood test to a PCR test, depending on the infection.
Along with the kits, customers would be provided with expert information to guide them through the self-testing process.
The samples sent by the patients will be processed by Preventx at their bespoke laboratory, and results would be available to patients within 72 hours via their patient record.
Andy Sloman, CEO LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, said their partnership with Preventx will empower their customers “to take control of their health, keeping themselves and their partners safe.”
Cautioning that STIs are on the rise and there was 24 per cent increase in new diagnoses in 2022, Preventx CEO Ruth Poole stressed the importance of regular testing in people who are sexually active.
Commenting on the new partnership, she said: “By combining our expertise and the intelligent use of tech to make testing more accessible, we believe our partnership will enable more people to proactively manage their sexual health and prevent onward transmission of infections.”
According to the data published by the UK Health Security Agency, there were 392,453 diagnoses of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England in 2022, an increase of 23.8 per cent compared to 2021 (317,022).
Statistics showed more than 24 per cent increase in chlamydia diagnoses, from 160,279 diagnoses in 2021 to 199,233 in 2022.
Both gonorrhoea and syphilis were on the rise, with the number returning to the high levels reported in 2019 prior to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Gonorrhoea diagnoses increased to 82,592 diagnoses in 2022 from 54,961 the previous year, and infectious syphilis diagnoses went up to 8,692 in 2022 from 7,543 in 2021.
