Frequently Asked Questions

  • You must meet the following to access testing in this study:

    • Age 18 years or older

    • Speak English

    • Have a valid provincial health card (Alberta, Newfoundland & Labrador, or Nova Scotia)

    You do not need a referral. Just call or show up at a participating pharmacy. Some pharmacies offer testing at designated times so it’s a good idea to call ahead.

  • You do not need a referral. Just call or show up at a participating pharmacy ([hyperlink to locations page]. Some pharmacies offer testing at designated times so it’s a good idea to call ahead.

    You can tell any person at the pharmacy counter that you want an HIV, hepatitis C, and/or syphilis test or you can write, “I want an HIV/ hepatitis C/ syphilis test” on a piece of paper that you hand to someone at the pharmacy. You can also say “I’m interested in the APPROACH study” and the pharmacy staff will let the pharmacist know.

  • Yes, you can get tested for any combination of HIV, hepatitis C, and/or syphilis. The pharmacist will explain all your testing options and help you choose if you are not sure what test(s) you might like to get.

  • No, testing is provided through the research study free of charge.

  • Different tests require different lengths of time to get results.

    The result of the HIV rapid test is available in less than five minutes. The result of the hepatitis C rapid test is available in 20 minutes.

    Dry blood spot tests need to be processed by a lab, so it takes 2-3 weeks to get results. The pharmacist will call you when the results are ready.

  • Your privacy is VERY important to us. Your test results are confidential. This means that the pharmacist is not allowed to share your test results with anyone other than necessary healthcare providers if you have a positive result and require care.

    If your screening test result is positive, you will be connected with lab testing to confirm the result and a doctor who will provide care.

    The pharmacist can answer any questions you have regarding privacy of your health information. The research team will not receive any identifiable information about you and will take precautions to keep all study information private and confidential.

  • You can get tested even if you don’t have a primary care provider (e.g. family doctor or nurse practitioner). You don’t need a referral to get tested through the APPROACH study.

    If you participate in the study, you will be asked if you would like to let your primary care provider know that you had testing at the pharmacy. It is completely up to you and you can get tested whether you say yes or no.

    If you say yes, the pharmacist will send them a letter to say you had testing through the study but it will not include your result(s).

    If you have a positive result, the pharmacist will connect you with confirmatory testing and a doctor who will look after your infection. Your family doctor can see your confirmatory test results in your healthcare record (which is usual care), but not your pharmacy screening test results unless you share the results with them.

  • The tests used for the APPROACH study are very accurate but they are considered “screening tests”.

    This means if the test result is non-reactive or negative, you very likely do not have that infection.

    If a test result comes back reactive (or positive), the result has to be confirmed by a standard lab test to know for certain if you have that infection. The pharmacist will explain your test results to you and answer your questions.

    If you have a reactive result, the pharmacist will give you a lab requisition for bloodwork and will connect you with a doctor to look after you.

  • If your test result comes back reactive (or positive), the result has to be confirmed by a standard lab test to know for certain if you have that infection.

    The pharmacist will give you a lab requisition for bloodwork and will connect you with a doctor to look after your care. They can also connect with supports if you feel you need or would like them.

  • HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis are spread through sex and/or contact with blood (e.g. sharing needles, razors, toothbrushes) that contains the virus or bacteria.

    Anyone can get these infections - they do not discriminate. So if you don’t know your status, you should get tested.

    And if you’ve had a new risk since you were last tested, then you should get retested. A new risk might include sex with new partner(s), unprotected sex, using drugs while having sex, a past sexually transmitted infection, sharing drug use equipment (e.g. straws, needles or other works) or other contact with blood from someone who might have an infection. If you aren’t sure, it’s better to get tested.

    We welcome everyone for testing at the pharmacy. If you are not eligible to participate in the APPROACH study, the pharmacist can tell you where else you can go for testing.