The M Clinic has a ‘No News is Good News’ results policy in place since the 1st of October 2019.
This means, you will not receive a notification from us about negative results. If you do not hear from us within 14 days after your appointment, then you can assume that all of your results came back negative.
The reason that we have implemented this policy is because there is not enough room in a text message to discuss the window period that is seen with STIs like HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis C. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of clients that we see with the same staffing level has significantly increase the amount of administrative work that the clinical staff have to do.
You will be notified of your results by SMS/email if:
- You have a positive result from either a symptomatic or asymptomatic screen;
- You are not immune to Hepatitis A and/or B;
- You are required to stop your pre-emptive treatment if you are a contact of an STI and you came back negative for that STI;
- Any changes in PrEP results (i.e. renal function levels);
- You had symptoms and we want to check that they have cleared
If you have a positive result, we will contact either the same day that we receive it, or the next day if the clinic receives the result outside of opening times. We are bound by the Public Health Act 2016 to inform you of having a positive result within 72 hours of receiving them. That being said, it is important that you call us as soon as you receive a positive result SMS so as to be treated promptly and to prevent further transmission of STIs.
Please note that this policy does not affect essential testing and vaccination reminders.
If you want to be reminded to test every 3 or every 6 months, you can sign up for regular SMS or email reminders on https://endinghiv.org.au/test-often/remind-me/
If you haven’t heard from us and it is essential that you have confirmation of negative results, then you can call the clinic 7 to 10 days after your appointment. If you call earlier then we may not have received and reviewed your results by then.
If you want a physical copy of your result, we can compose a results declaration form, which indicates your name, when you were tested, what results you got for each test and a disclaimer on the window period of certain STIs all in the one document. To collect the results declaration form, you will need to attend the clinic. We will not distribute the results declaration form via email.
