
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.
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.

Returning Visitor? take a look at our video tutorial.

CANFAR Express Testing Laboratory

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.

Commonly asked questions- Sexual Health

HQ provides rapid access to sexual health prevention, testing and treatment services.
Express HIV testing at HQ will allow for rapid HIV testing and same-day results. Visitors to HQ can walk-in and register via express testing kiosks, and return visitors can connect with services on the online portal. From there, an HIV blood test will be drawn by on-site staff and assessed in HQ’s on-site laboratory. Results will be sent by text or email to service users either the same day or next day The express testing system allows for people to be immediately connected to HIV treatment and care, or to HIV prevention tools such as PrEP.
Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV. While testing can be scary, detection of HIV can allow you to start on HIV treatment and care. Early detection of HIV leads to better health outcomes.
Anyone who is sexually active should be tested for HIV at least once a year (annually). Some people may be more vulnerable to HIV, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men; African, Caribbean, and Black people; people who use injection drugs; and transgender women.
Anyone who is sexually active should be tested for HIV at least once a year (annually). How often a person gets tested will depend on the kind of sex they are having. It is recommended that people who have sex with multiple partners, have condomless sex, or use drugs during sex (party and play) get tested more frequently, such as every 3 months. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, you should be tested at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months after the possible exposure.
If you test positive for HIV, a healthcare provider from HQ will contact you to provide counselling and discuss an HIV care plan. The healthcare provider will utilise HQ’s referral network to connect you with a doctor to oversee your HIV care, as well as social support, financial support, and community care services. Free, three-month supplies of HIV medications (ART) are available at HQ to ensure immediate access to treatment for people who test positive for HIV.
If you test negative for HIV, you will be notified via email. Depending on your responses to the self-assessment kiosk survey, a healthcare provider may contact you to discuss HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a once-daily pill taken by people who are HIV-negative that can prevent the sexual transmission of HIV by up to 99%.