As the number of people in Ireland with STIs continues to rise, Dublin startup LetsGetChecked has launched an online platform to link customers with laboratories for home STI screening.
Customers order tests online via www.letsgetchecked.com and test themselves from the privacy of their home or visit participating pharmacies to get checked in a consultation suite.
How It Works
The service delivers results back to the customer within two days through a secure web portal and provides a solution for those who prefer the convenience and confidentiality of performing a test at home rather than visiting a sexual health clinic.
For those who receive a positive test result, LetsGetChecked’s nursing support team provides same-day consultation in a private clinic and confidential advice on the recommended course of treatment.
In Association with
The LetsGetChecked business model provides laboratories with a B2C channel by handling the direct consumer selling process. It provides consumers direct access to laboratory services without needing to take time off work or visit a doctor.
LetsGetChecked offers the following kits:
- Simple 2 tests for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, €50
- Standard 6 tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, €120
- Complete 12 tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomoniaisis, Gardnerella, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Herpes Simplex 1, Herpes Simplex 2, HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, €220
LetsGetChecked is available in over 100 pharmacies nationwide, with immediate plans to broaden its availability throughout the country. Furthermore, LetsGetChecked has an exclusive offering for GloHealth customers, providing up to 100% discounts on testing kits.
Founded by Peter Foley, the company has raised €350,000 in funding with plans to raise a Series A round over the coming months. The online and retail model as operating within the UK and Ireland will expand into alternative markets and develop the current suite of tests on offer.
Stigma
The clinically led service is supported by the company’s Medical Director, Dr. Dominic Rowley — a Genitourinary Consultant based in St. James’s Hospital — who provides clinical oversight and pathway escalation.
Commenting on the launch, Dr. Rowley said: “From a patient perspective our service overcomes the physical and emotional barriers to getting tested by giving people the option to test in the privacy and comfort of their home.”
“A contributing factor to the rise in STIs in Ireland is undoubtedly a closeted prevailing attitude to sexual health and the stigma attached to getting tested. Not only do we address this, but importantly, we also provide actionable information and robust clinical pathways for customers in need of treatment and care.”
Last year, 9,764 people in Ireland were diagnosed with an STI. According to the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Chlamydia remains the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease with 6,707 cases reported in 2014, representing 68% of all reported STIs in Ireland. Among these cases, most diagnoses occur within the 20-24 age bracket with 54% of females contracting the infection against 46% of males. Often showing no symptoms, Chlamydia is the STI of most concern to medical practitioners including Dr. Rowley who advocates free Chlamydia testing for those under the age of 25.
Peter Foley, CEO of LetsGetChecked, said: “Ideally, we would all take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting an STI, but in situations where this is not the case, LetsGetChecked provides a convenient and confidential service to those who feel they need a sexual health check. At LetsGetChecked, we firmly believe that everyone should have access to fast, accurate and convenient healthcare testing.
"In many cases, people find themselves without access to sexual health testing, for example those who live in rural communities or those who simply do not have the time to attend a clinic. LetsGetChecked provides a solution to this problem by removing the necessity of visiting a doctor.”
