For the first time young residents of North East Lincolnshire will be able to undertake a home test for the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia.

The scheme called “QUIKCHEK” will enable those aged between 15 and 24 years-old to request a kit directly via telephone or the internet and have it sent to their home.

The scheme has been launched by the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus’s COAST team (Chlamydia Outreach Advice Screening Treatment).

Team Co-ordinator and Nurse Advisor Paul Watson explains;

“We have listened carefully to young people who have expressed the wish to have increased access to screening – we have therefore put together a kit that can be sent out in a plain envelope with simple instructions – we have gone from pee in a pot to pee in the post!”

Once the sample is collected and the form completed, the client simply posts the sample in the return freepost envelope - the postage is paid meaning the return envelope can be posted into any post box.

The QUIKCHEK scheme means that anyone aged 15-24 can have access to Chlamydia testing wherever they live. In addition to the telephone and internet service it is hoped that in the future QUIKCHEK collection points will be positioned in areas where young people visit, such as pubs, workplaces and leisure venues. These locations will be encouraged to site collection points to increase access for those requiring tests.

Paul continued:

“Over the past 12 months we have screened hundreds of young people for Chlamydia at over 60 sites across North East Lincolnshire, we know that of the people we have already screened one in seven test positive for Chlamydia. We also know that over 70% of those that do test positive have experienced no symptoms of Chlamydia infection. Untreated, this infection can have long term health consequences including infertility.”

To request a QUIKCHEK postal test call 01472 255216 or request a kit on the COAST website www.coast-lincs.nhs.uk.