HQ Express
HQ Toronto is slated to open on July 22 and will serve cis men who have sex with men, trans people and non-binary individuals. Unlike other sexual health clinics in the city and province, HQ Toronto will offer physical and sexual health care, mental health care and community and social programming under one roof at 790 Bay St. Dr. Kevin Woodward, HQÕs medical director.Ê Photo by Riziero Vertolli

Executive & Medical Director

Learn more about Kevin

Sexual Health Services

HQ provides prevention, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI's), including including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, as well as providing anal-cancer screening.

 

HIV risk assessment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) assessment are available for service users at HQ. If you are sexually active, it is recommended that you get tested for HIV at least once a year (annually). Routine testing, such as getting tested every three months, is a great way to know your HIV status.

 

Quick Links

HIV & STBBI Testing
Anal Cancer
Vaccines
PrEP
PEP

HQ provides prevention, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI's), including including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, as well as providing anal-cancer screening.

HQ provides immediate access to prevention services:

 

  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
  • Anal cancer screening for eligible individuals

HQ provides immediate access to testing services, and same- or next-day test results delivered by text or email:

 

  • Express STBBI testing
  • Testing and treatment for people with STBBI symptoms
  • Text or email reminders to return for routine STBBI testing

What is express HIV testing?

Express HIV testing is available at HQ. HIV testing is conducted through blood draws by an on-site staff member. HQ service users can begin the process of a blood draw online, but walk-ins are encouraged!

 

Interested users can begin the process by walking up to an available kiosk, entering their information and responding to the prompts on the screen before walking over to on-site staff for a blood draw. No need for an appointment with a provider and your results become available same day or next day and will be sent to you via text or email.

 

HQ uses a status-neutral approach to care, meaning that all service users will be linked to appropriate care and services regardless of their HIV testing results. Service users may be connected to HIV treatment and care services, or may be invited to learn more about HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or PEP.

First time Visitor? take a look at our video tutorial.

youtube-video-thumbnail

Returning Visitor? take a look at our video tutorial.

youtube-video-thumbnail

CANFAR Express Testing Laboratory

download

Our two instruments are the Abbott Alinity and the Hologic Panther

 

On the Abbott Alinity we perform the screening Serologic tests (look for antibodies for Syphilis and HIV-1 & HIV-2, each test takes serum (separated from blood) and takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

On the Hologic Panther we perform Nucleic Amplification (similar to PCR) for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia from rectal, pharyngeal swabs, and urine, the test takes about 4 hours.

 

Hologic panther also performs confirmatory Nucleic Amplification Test (similar to PCR) for HIV-1 from serum (separated from blood) and takes about 3 hours.

These result times are a lot faster than sending specimens to PHO (Public Health Ontario) as they can take days or weeks.

 

Capacity to provide testing results within same day and or next day.

Lab_Inside Cropped

Commonly asked questions- Sexual Health

Photo by Zackary Drucker as part of Broadly's Gender Spectrum Collection. Credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection. Made available to media outlets via Creative Commons. No derivatives, no commercial use. See guidelines here: broadlygenderphotos.vice.com/guidelines

HQ provides rapid access to sexual health prevention, testing and treatment services.

Learn more