Press release
Minister Naughton highlights high uptake of home STI test kits with 10,000 kits ordered every month
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton, has revealed that 10,000 free home sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kits are being ordered every month from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
New figures show that the service received more than 100,000 orders up to the end of November 2023, while more than 91,000 kits were ordered in 2022.
The service provides individuals aged 17 and older with the option to test for STIs discreetly at home. Those with a reactive result, indicating a need for additional investigation or treatment, are referred to participating public STI clinics.
Since November, individuals who test positive for chlamydia now have the option of an online prescription, reducing the number of referrals to clinics for treatment. Availability of the national home STI testing service has increased access to testing, removing potential barriers such as embarrassment, cost and time needed to travel to and attend a face-to-face service. Over the past year 5,594 users rated the service with an overall user rating of 4.88 out 5.
The service is reaching key population groups and individuals who may not attend a face-to-face service. Of those ordering a home STI test kit in 2022, 56% reported having never visited a sexual health clinic previously. To date in 2023, 42% of users reported that they had never had an STI test before. Without the service these individuals could have developed significant morbidity and contributed to onward transmission of STIs.
Minister Naughton said:
"I am delighted with the additional access that home STI testing provides, providing a discreet and confidential service for users, leading to quick diagnosis and intervention for those that have a reactive test result. It’s providing increased opportunities for diagnosis and treatment which is particularly important in the context of rising STI rates, both nationally and internationally.
"The service illustrates the government’s prioritisation of sexual health and wellbeing, and we have been making great progress implementing delivering and expanding additional services that support everyone’s sexual health; including through the free contraception scheme and the National Condom Distribution Service.
"Funding for the STI home testing service totalled €3,550,000 in 2023 and I’m delighted that this has been increased to €4.27 million in 2024 which will help us to meet demand."
Sexual health and wellbeing is a government priority, evidenced by the ongoing implementation of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 – 2020. An independent Review of the Strategy was published in March 2023 found that 49 of 56 Actions under the Strategy have been successfully progressed. The Review has been published and is available online.
The home STI testing service is provided by online provider SH:24 under contract with the HSE. Details of how to access the service are available through the Sexual Wellbeing website.
Up to 23 September 23, 20% of gonorrhoea notifications and 36% of chlamydia notifications to Public Health came from the home testing service.
Of the 91,000 home STI kits ordered in 2022, approximately 57,000 (62%) were returned to the laboratory for processing. To the end of November 2023, almost 70,000 kits have been returned, an overall return rate of 69%.
Just under 6,000 users had a reactive result in 2022, with the majority of these (over 4,000) representing chlamydia diagnoses and just under 1,000 representing gonorrhoea diagnoses. In addition, 860 people had a reactive result for hepatitis B or C, syphilis or HIV.
To end November 2023, just over 7,100 users had a reactive result, with approximately 4,800 representing chlamydia diagnoses, 1,400 representing gonorrhoea diagnoses and 840 users having a reactive result for hepatitis B or C, syphilis or HIV.
The age of service users ranges from 17 to 65+, with the majority of users in the 20-34 age categories.
60% of STI service users identified as female (including trans female), 38% identified as male (including trans male), with the remaining 2% identifying as non-binary, other, or preferring not to say. 78% of users described their sexual orientation as heterosexual and 22% as gay, lesbian or bisexual. About a third of users were from a variety of ethnic backgrounds other than Irish.
2022 Surveillance Reports on HIV and STI notifications in Ireland have been published and are available on the HPSC website.