Sharing: First Timer Visit to DSC

[jayded]

There's a lot of great info on the sexual health boards, but it can be a lot to process...

So doing a quick sharing after my first visit to DSC for other bros who are thinking of getting themselves checked.

TLDR: Spent $120 to do
- Rapid HIV test
- Urethra Swab (Gram Stain for Bacteria)
- Urine (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea)
- Blood (Hep B, syphilis)

Should be about $60+ if you only test for HIV and syphilis.

Pros:
- Price (Would have likely cost $280 and up at a private clinic)
- Speed of Tests (Got HIV and swab culture results in less than half an hour)
- Comprehensive (Polyclinics or GPs might refer you to DSC in the end anyway)

Cons:
- Privacy (However take note that even at other clinics, most lab tests will require your ID except for anonymous HIV testing)
- Timing (DSC is only open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm)
- Slot availability (usually appointment is for 1 week later, for serious symptoms better to go straight to private clinics)

Important to note before tests:
- No symptoms doesn't mean no STD.
- New generation HIV tests are conclusive only after 28 days. And will need to check again after 3 months.
- For urine tests, guys need to hold pee for 4 hours. They will swab inside your peehole to check for possible discharge, so quite important not to pee for accurate results.

Clinic Walkthrough:

1. Booking

For less back and forth, it's faster just to call in @ 62939648

For online booking, remember to fill in your preferred timing in the notes, otherwise they'll just put you in next available slot (most likely 1 week later).
https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Patient-Ca...pointment.aspx

I was slightly uncomfortable with giving out my personal information like email and number, but the process is really just like normal hospital / polyclinic appointment (email / sms reminder). If privacy is a major concern, consider private clinics or anonymous testing instead.

2. Appointment

SOP like polyclinic / public hospital, basically wait for your number on screen.

Roughly goes in the order of:
- Scan IC and get number
- Registration
- Questions about reason for visit (Closed Doors)
- Blood / swab / urine / other tests
- Wait for results (20-30mins)
- See Doctor to discuss results (Closed Doors)
- See Counsellor (mainly advising you to check in with previous partners)
- Payment (cash / major card payment methods accepted)

3. Follow Up

Some test results were quite quick (HIV / Lab Culture)
But for other tests like blood and other urine tests staff will follow up when received.
E.g. Gonorrhea may require a follow up jab, the staff said will call you up if detected

Follow up appointments will also be booked there and then (i.e. 3 month HIV recheck)

OVERALL:

Staff were quite professional, some basic questions about where and when your encounter happened but nothing too invasive.

Was also in and out in less than an hour, although I did pick a pretty early morning slot. So pretty much a painless process except holding in my morning pee lol.

Hope this gives other new bros a better idea of what to expect 👍🏻

[Bulus]

Very good post TS, your post will help alot of people

[aphro]

Originally Posted by Bulus

Very good post TS, your post will help alot of people

He maybe from technical or research 😎🤔😁

[potatocernmit]

Good summary, thanks!

[luckyboiboi]

Roughly goes in the order of:
- Scan IC and get number
- Registration

Not anonymous?

[jayded]

Originally Posted by luckyboiboi

Roughly goes in the order of:
- Scan IC and get number
- Registration

Not anonymous?

For anonymous HIV testing, you would need to go to any of these clinics and request for "anonymous testing" at the counter:
https://www.healthhub.sg/live-health...us_HIV_testing

For the budget conscious, Action For Aids (AFA) in particular provides anonymous HIV and syphilis testing.
https://afa.org.sg/whatwedo/support/ats/

However these don't cover the all other STDs which need 2-3 days for lab analysis like Chlamydia, Herpes, Hepatitis B, etc.

Take note also that if you do test positive and choose to seek treatment locally, "your results and particulars will still remain confidential, but no longer be anonymous. Only your doctor, counsellor and nurse will have access to this information."

I don't have any any experience with private clinics though, maybe other senior bros can advise if places like Dr Tan provide a more comprehensive set of anonymous tests.