any clinics in durham,darlington,tyne&Wear ???

[Big Johnny]

Thanks for that information, but I know other performers get tested there with no problems, and they do same tests for HIV and all Stds as Newcastle, Indigo, Regents Park, Victoria Medicentre where I have been tested as well, so I get the same test results as other Gum Clinics and Private Hospitals provide.

I actually found them through contacting the BAIHA a couple years ago, who rang a few people to find me the nearest clinic to Leeds that provide this service, as unfortunatly the Leeds Gum Clinics won't provide certs. I don't think they would recomend them if they didn't provide the service I was looking for as male performer. My health is always the most important thing in this industry, and I don't see any problems in using there service, which I have done on many a occasion. I reguarly get tested at GUM Clinic, and use Gordons or other private clinics such as Regents Park, if I need get tested quickly or can't get an apointment for a while at Gum Clinic, getting the results withing 48/72 hours.

For myself they are local and offer a good service, and you get the results quickly as other private clinics do such as Regents Park, or one of the Medicentres in London. I didn't know that they were primarly a Veterniary Pharmacy, but they have alwyas treated me as a human, and obviously are licensed to do so.

Big Johnny

[Kandi HotNSticky]

But how can you be fully tested with a blood test and a urine sample, I know that most the perfomers who live in the North-East use Newcastle General Hospital. I use both Newcastle and Darlington, the reason for this is who has the nearest appt date, and the fact that darlington is just up the road so i dont need to go too far to pick up my certs.

I prefer to get tested at the hospital at least I know i'm getting tested properly.

But then we all have our own preferences.

Peace out!

[Big Johnny]

I use Newcaslte GUM myself, but also use Gordens when I can't get an apointment at Newcastle and need cert quickly, and they take all samples for fullscreen when I go for HIV and all Stds for a male (maybe it different for you as I know females have some tests and swabs done differently for obvious reasons?), for me the tests samples and service they provide is no different to other clinics such as Newcastle, Indigo, Regents Park etc.

I feel and know I am getting tested properly otherwise I wouldn't go, if you don't feel your getting tested properly there fair enough but I know I am, and they are no different to other clinics I use in their service and pratice.

Peace out to you to!

Big Johnny

[JayK]

>But how can you be fully tested with a blood test and a urine sample

Medi Lab in Manchester use this test as well (no swabs). As I understand it they are using different equipment to the NHS GUM clinics and it is just as reliable a test. Medi Lab will tell you it is more accurate than the NHS test.

I did talk to Mansfield NHS GUM clinic about this and they were aware of this test but the equipment used is too expensive for the NHS - hence they stick to the swab method.

[Kandi HotNSticky]

Okay, okay, I didn't want a full debate lol!! !happy!
But I think I will still stick to the NHS GUM clinics, as the Darlington one is free and the Newcastle one is ?15. Mind you though parking is a complete nightmare at both!!!!

One thing though that I still don't understand, is how can you get the test done so quickly when some cultures need approx 7 days to grow.

You can email me about this too you know, we all need to stick together when it involves our health, and I like to ask questions, if you dont ask you wont know!!

Peace out!! !happy!

"It's something unpredictable, but in the end its right. I hope you had the time of your life"

[TiaBrodie]

Its urine and bloody tests in LA too - and you get it all back within 2 days.

I think with the NHS taking over 7 days is just because they get inundated with people going to get tested, in and out of the industry, hence why it takes longer - admin, testing etc. I dont think its a case of cultures and swabs - ive been to NHS clinics in the past and straight away if you wait around some have told me whether im clear or not, its just a time factor for the cert really. Others where you dont wait around, they are just rushing people in and out because they have so many people getting tested on one day, so they give a long length of time to make sure when you come back they will definately have all your stuff printed up - dont forget they have to deal with filing etc!

So all tests basically are thorough, its just a time factor depending who you go with really

TiaBrodie x

[JayK]

I talked to Medi-Lab today about this and I now have the low down.

A swab test (culture) is a very hit and miss way of testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. It is the old way of doing things and the success rate is about 60% (i.e. there is a 40% chance they will not spot it with this test).

The latest tests are PCRSI and NAAT (Nuclear Acid Amplification test) using urine samples. What these do is use probes to analyse the urine for DNA (in the case of the PCRSI test) and RNA (in the case of the NAAT) test. There is 20% more RNA than DNA present in a sample, so this is why it is the latest form of this test.

Medi-Lab use a dual probe which is specifically looking for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea RNA. This is a highly specific and highly sensitive test and the accuracy rate is 90% plus as compared to the 60% with swabs.

So in fact the urine test is actually better than the swab. You must remember the swab test relies on the ability of the person taking the swab and their ability to keep things alive long enough for cultures to grow. Chlamydia does not survive outside the human body, so a culture is useless for that. Gonorrhoea can be grown as long as it is kept in enough carbon dioxide.

Medi-Lab reckon in about 10 years time PCRSI and NAAT tests will be the way all these tests are conducted - it will just take time for labs to change.