No, but it’s important that we have a way of contacting you to follow-up on a result or to notify you if there’s an issue with your order. If you don’t have a cell phone, you can still register for GetaKit using a valid email address and a landline. If you don’t have an email address or landline, check GetaKit.ca to see if there’s a partner offering GetaKit near you where you can register in person.

STI testing

In Ontario, STI testing cannot be done anonymously. To complete STI testing, the information you provide in your account needs to match exactly what is written on your health card or health insurance documents, including your legal first name and last name and date of birth. Registering with a nickname or pseudonym and/or a different date of birth may cause issues with processing tests, reporting results, or password recovery. There are fields to include your preferred name in your account, in case we need to follow-up with you.

HIV self-test

If you are completing only an HIV self-test (no STI testing), the information you provide does not have to match your health card or health insurance documents. This is not considered an anonymous test though. Anonymous HIV testing services via blood draw or point-of-care test are available at designated sites throughout Ontario, which do not require you to provide any identifying information about yourself. Visit HIV Testing Ontario  for more information on anonymous HIV testing sites.

Yes. Once you have created your account you will be able to update your personal information, contact information, demographic information, shipping address and your password through the My Account dashboard.

Click on the “login” or “My Account” button on GetaKit.ca homepage. Underneath your login information you will see a text link to reset your password.

Additional instructions can be found below on how to reset your password:

To recover your password, you will be asked to enter either your email or cell phone, your date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD), and last name (case sensitive).

A 6-digit code will be sent to you. Once this code has been validated, you will be redirected to reset your password.

You can delete your account if you haven’t ordered any tests yet.

If you have an order history, you’re able to withdraw from the project by emailing us a request at [email protected]. Because your account contains health information, it is subject to the same requirements as any other health record. Instead, we’ll set your account to inactive, and your information won’t be included in any reports or publications after the date of your withdrawal.

Yes, this is called two-factor authentication. Every time you log into your GetaKit account you will receive a 6-digit code to either by text or by email. This is a common feature to verify your identity (to make sure that it’s you accessing your account) and ensure your personal information remains private and confidential.

• To maintain account security, do not share your login ID and password with anyone. Please use a unique and complex password. You will be required to use two-factor authentication to access your account. Please ensure that the phone number and email accounts you use are secure.
• All data are stored encrypted on secure cloud-based servers, and only essential personnel will have access to your information. Although we have implemented the highest level of security precautions and measures, we cannot represent, or guarantee that the service will be free from any compromise of data loss or corruption, service outage from malicious attacks via malware, viruses, unethical hacking, or other types of security intrusions. We also disclaim any liability related thereto.
• Please notify the GetaKit team immediately of any security breach of your account. You are aware of these risks, assume them, and wish to proceed with your GetaKit order.

We offer testing for the following infections:

1. Chlamydia (urine, throat swab, rectal swab)
2. Gonorrhea (urine, throat swab, rectal swab)
3. Syphilis (blood)
4. Hepatitis C (blood)
5. HIV (blood, self-test)

Not all tests listed will be recommended to you. Availability of tests and recommended services will vary depending on where you live in Ontario and your practices, partners, and protection.

HIV self-tests are available all across Ontario.

STI testing is currently available in the following regions:

• • Ottawa
  • Hastings & Prince Edward County
  • Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington
  • Leeds, Grenville and Lanark
  • Middlesex-London
  • North Bay & Parry Sound
  • Peel
  • Peterborough
  • Renfrew
  • Southwestern
  • Thunder Bay
  • Waterloo
  • Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph
  • Windsor

Not sure what your public health unit is? Check out the public health unit locator.

Our friends at Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) have prepared a handy step-by-step guide that you can use to navigate the website and make your order. Check out the guide here.

The GetaKit self-assessment is powered by an algorithm that uses your responses to recommend testing that is consistent with what you would be offered in a healthcare clinic. This is important for a few reasons:

1. We want to take this opportunity to recommend important testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We offer laboratory-based testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis C and HIV in select cities. If these tests are not available in your area yet, you will see a list of recommended services in your order that you can discuss with a healthcare provider.
2. We’re also committed to ensuring people have access to the right tests at the right time. For example, HIV self-testing isn’t for everyone, and depending on when you think you may have been exposed to HIV, and the last time you tested, it’s possible that receiving a blood test for HIV would be more appropriate.
3. Finally, there might also be some instances where in-person care is better, like if you’re experiencing possible symptoms of a STI, if somebody that you had sex with was recently diagnosed with an STI, or if you might benefit from HIV post-exposure prophylaxis or emergency contraception.

HIV self-test: This is a self-test you do at home. This test can usually detect HIV 12 weeks after exposure. It has a false positive rate of 5 per 1000. It can also yield invalid results. This test is a preliminary screen and, if positive, needs confirmatory blood testing.

HIV blood work: You will be given a requisition for an HIV blood test that you take to a laboratory. This test can usually detect HIV 6 weeks after exposure. This test has a false positive rate of essentially 0. This test is diagnostic, and if positive is reported to your local public health unit.

Please review this HIV pre-test information sheet before making your decision about which HIV test you would like to do. The Community Legal Education Ontario organization also has more detailed information on HIV testing and reporting to Public Health in Ontario. This information does not apply to STI testing. If you have questions or concerns about HIV testing, please contact the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario (HALCO) for more information.

GetaKit recommends tests based on your practices, partners, and protection. Depending on your responses to the self-assessment you might be offered urine testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia instead of throat and/or rectal swabs. This is because current testing guidelines from Public Health Ontario recommend swabs only for individuals who belong to one or more of the following groups:

• Gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men, including trans women;
• Individuals engaged in sex work;
• Individuals who have signs or symptoms of a possible throat or rectal infection.

If you’re interested in other types of tests or if you weren’t offered a swab but feel you might benefit from one, we recommend you consult a healthcare provider in-person to discuss further options for testing.

Unfortunately, we’re only able to offer the tests that are included in your order. We’ll send you a re-test reminder 3-months after your last order, at which point you may be offered this test again.

STI testing is only available in certain regions for people 17 and older, but HIV self-tests are available all across Ontario for people 18 and older. If you weren’t offered testing, it is possible that you might be at very low risk for a possible HIV exposure, that you are living outside of Ontario, or that you fall under the age of 17 or 18 (depending on what tests/services are available in your area).

Depending on your order, there are different ways we send you what you need to complete your testing:

• Urine and/or blood only: you will receive digital requisitions that you can have faxed directly to the lab for you or that you can print or upload to the lab website. Nothing will be mailed to you. Your requisitions can be found under ‘Order History’ when you log into your account.
• You have extra swabs at home: you will receive digital requisitions that you can have faxed directly to the lab for you or that you can print or upload to the lab website. Nothing will be mailed to you. Your requisitions can be found under ‘Order History’ when you log into your account.
• You need swabs and/or a self-test: we will mail these to the address listed in your account with information about how to collect your samples and what to drop off at your local lab. You will receive a tracking number by email or text
• HIV self-test only: we will mail that to the address listed in your account, or you can pick a local pick-up spot if that’s available in your area. You will receive a tracking number by email or text

If you still have your extra swabs and labels at home and you’re ready to test, you will need to make a new order on GetaKit.ca to get your requisitions for testing. On the self-assessment, you will be asked to confirm if you have your swabs at home.

Once your order has been processed, your requisitions will be available digitally: you can have faxed directly to the lab for you or that you can print or upload to the lab website (found under ‘Order History’ when you log into your account).

If you no longer have your extra swabs or if you need more, please logon and make a new order and we’ll mail you a new set!

A nurse will review your order and then you will receive an email or text notification once it has been processed or shipped.

If your order is digital (faxed, printed, or download) nothing will be mailed to you. You will get a text message letting you know that your requisitions have been faxed to the lab you selected or that your requisitions are available for print/download in your account under Order History.

Digital orders are available same day, which means you can also go to the lab same day to complete your testing.

If your order contained swabs and/or an HIV self-test, this will be mailed to you. You will receive an email or text with a tracking number from Purolator (or Canada Post if you have a PO Box).

If you didn’t receive a message with a tracking number, check to make sure you’re supposed to receive physical testing materials (e.g., swabs or a self-test). You can check your order by clicking on Order History.

To find a laboratory closest to you, visit the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories.

If your order was mailed to you and you received your tracking number, we’re not able to change the shipping destination, but you may be able to manage the delivery using your tracking number. For future orders, you can update your address by selecting ‘Edit Address’ in your My Account dashboard.

Orders that are mailed (swabs and/or HIV self-test), usually take 1-2 business days to arrive. Your order may be delayed because of an unusually high volume of shipments with Purolator or Canada Post. Also, orders that are placed on the weekends and holidays will be shipped the following business day.

You will receive a tracking number via email if your order was mailed.

We’re sorry that we were unable to deliver your kit. If you ordered an HIV self-test only, you can re-order a new one by logging into your account and updating your result to ‘kit not delivered’. This should allow you to re-order a new one. Please take an extra moment to review that your address is correct (e.g. unit number is included).

If you ordered STI tests, please email us at [email protected] and we will let the nursing team know. Please provide the tracking number that was emailed to you in your correspondence.

If you’d like to cancel your order, please notify us immediately by emailing [email protected]. Note, GetaKit typically distributes orders within 24 hours. Oftentimes, it is even same day!

If an order has been mailed and a tracking number is included, we are not able to cancel your order. Purolator and Canada Post offer options to divert your order to the nearest post office. We will make this recommendation to you, but we are unable to divert your order on your behalf.

If you cancel your order for STI testing, please note that opting out of recommended tests could leave you at risk for delayed diagnosis of an infection. Consider completing this testing with sexual health clinic or general health/walk-in clinic, especially if you have symptoms of a possible STI or if a sexual contact was recently diagnosed with an STI. Visit Sexual Health Ontario for more information on where to get testing in your area.

Urine

• Given urine collection bottle at the lab
• Provide urine sample at the lab

Blood

• Collected by technician at the lab

Swab(s)

• Collect at home using swab(s) and instruction provided
• Bring labelled swab(s) to lab

1. Watch the videos on how to collect your throat swab and rectal swab
2. The swab package comes with two swabs in it. Use only the bigger swab with the cotton-end tip (white stick).
3. Collect the throat and/or rectal swab(s). Place sticker with your information and swab site vertically (with words running up/down) on the corresponding throat or rectal tube(s)

4. Keep swab(s) at room temperature. Bring your swabs, your requisitions, and your health card to your local lab.

5. Make sure your swabs are labelled with the sticker provided:
   1. Full name
   2. Date of birth
   3. File number
   4. Site (throat, rectum)

* If the liquid inside the tube spills on your skin, wash the area with soap and water. If the liquid splashes into your eyes, flush your eyes with water immediately. If the liquid inside the tube is spilled, clean the area with soap and water. If a spill occurs after collecting your specimen, FIRST clean the affected area with soap and water, and then with bleach.

*The collection tube contains guanidine hydrochloride. Do not allow direct contact between guanidine hydrochloride and bleach or other highly reactive reagents, such as acids or bases as these mixtures can release a noxious gas.

When your STI results are ready, you’ll receive a text notification to check your GetaKit account. Results can be found in the Order History of your account.

Processing times for lab-based testing are the following:

• Urine: 1-3 business days
• Throat/rectal swabs: 2-5 business days
• Bloodwork: 3-7 business days

These times can be extended during holidays.

Please note: GetaKit cannot report on test results ordered by another healthcare provider or clinic. Please verify the clinic location where you obtained your tests before reaching out about your GetaKit results.

Positive or inconclusive results: you will receive a call from your local public health unit clinic to book an appointment for follow-up. This may include additional testing and/or treatment as necessary. Check the message in your GetaKit account under Order History for more detailed instructions related to your positive or inconclusive test result.

Cancelled, invalid, or test not completed: you can re-order again once all of your other test results have been received.

Negative results: you’ll receive a re-test reminder from us in 3-months to consider ordering again.

Follow-up testing was recommended based on your test results: you’ll receive a re-test reminder from us in 1 to 3-months to consider ordering again.

Both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend retesting for HIV every 3 to 6 months, especially if there are ongoing risk practices for getting HIV. GetaKit will send you a reminder to re-test.

If you have a contact of concern for HIV, the Ontario HIV testing guidelines recommend repeating HIV serology at 3 weeks and 6 weeks after a sexual or needle-sharing contact.

If you think you have may been exposed to HIV within 72 as soon as possible to access HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The sooner you can access the better.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends routine syphilis screening every 3-12 months, depending on your risks.

If you are currently pregnant and at ongoing risk for syphilis, testing is recommended in the first trimester and repeat testing is recommended in the last trimester of your pregnancy.

If you were recently diagnosed with infectious syphilis, follow-up testing is recommended at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after your treatment. If you were recently diagnosed with late latent syphilis, follow-up testing is recommended at 12 months and 24 months after your treatment.

If you are a contact of syphilis and your test results were negative or showed no change from a previous infection, repeat syphilis testing is recommended in 4 weeks because it can take this long for a new infection to be detected on a blood test. You should also seek care immediately if you develop any new symptoms or have any new concerns.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends routine chlamydia and gonorrhea screening at least once a year, but testing every 3-6 months may be recommended depending on your risks.

All persons with a recent chlamydia and/or gonorrhea infection should be re-tested 3 months after diagnosis and treatment.

If you were recently diagnosed with gonorrhea, a test of cure is recommended 3 – 28 days after treatment to make sure the infection has cleared. Testing by a gonorrhea culture may be offered by the clinic who provided you treatment, but you can also complete this by a swab through GetaKit 3-4 weeks after your treatment by making a new order.

The Canadian Task Force of Preventative Health Care recommends routine hepatitis C screening at least once a year for people who use injection/inhalation drugs, share drug equipment, and for men who have sex with men.

If you had a recent inconclusive hepatitis C result, repeat testing with a hepatitis C viral load is recommended in 6-8 weeks.

If you have previously been diagnosed with hepatitis C, testing for hepatitis C viral load should be completed with your primary care provider or hepatitis specialist.

HIV self-tests may be used to force another person to test for HIV. While the HIV kits can be shared with your network, it is important to clarify that no one should test for HIV if they do not want to. This means no one can force you to take an HIV test, and you should not force someone else to take the test. Consent and willingness to test is a fundamental feature of HIV testing.

Please take a moment to review this information sheet on HIV testing and reporting to Public Health in Ontario before making an order for HIV testing. This information does not apply to STI testing. If you have questions about HIV testing or concerns about coercive testing or, please contact the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario (HALCO) for more information.

GetaKit uses the bioLytical INSTI® HIV self-test, which was approved by Health Canada on November 2, 2020. The results are available in about a minute and are highly accurate (> 99% accurate 3-months after a potential exposure to HIV).

If you’ve received a rapid/point-of-care HIV test before, this device is very similar. You’ll use the lancet provided in the GetaKit box to poke your finger for a drop of blood. You then follow the instructions included in your kit to complete the test. The HIV self-test can be stored between 2-30 °C; it doesn’t have to go in the fridge.

When you order your HIV self-test kit you will receive a package that includes:

• 1 HIV self-test

• Instructions on how to use the kit

• 3 bottles of labelled solutions

• 1 lancet

• 1 bandage

• 1 membrane device

• Condoms

• Lube

To start, watch this short video on how to do the test. Some points to keep in mind:

• When you do your test, the dots could appear light or dark, but any dot is a dot. You can see what the different possible self-test results could look like here.
• We found that the most common reason for invalid results (there was no dot at the top) is that there was not enough blood during collection. Click here to tips to make sure you collect enough blood.

After your do your test, a dot should appear at the top under the ‘C’. This is the ‘control dot’ and means the test worked. Remember: any dot is a dot no matter how faint.

• Your result is negative if you only see the control dot.
• Your result might be positive if you see two dots: the control dot and another one underneath. It is recommended that you complete confirmatory HIV testing by blood if your self-test result was reactive. We can help link you to confirmatory testing and care if you report your result in your account or contact us at [email protected]
• Your result is invalid if there is no blue dot in the control area (under the ‘C’) or if the solution fills the entire space. If your self-test result was invalid, log into your account to submit this result so we can send you a new kit. If you have STI tests pending, you can re-order once all of your results have been received.
• Click here to see the different possible test results.

When you have your result, the best way to submit it is by logging into your GetaKit account and look for the red exclamation mark next to your order. If you’re having trouble logging in, you can also submit your result here.