Condoms, dental dams and testing options for sexually transmitted infections and HIV were all topics of discussion Thursday at the Ohio University Women’s Center.
Representatives from Graduate Student Senate and the LGBT Center gathered to listen to Dr. Jane Balbo of Campus Care who discussed various preventative sexual health options.
Recently Campus Care started providing confidential and anonymous testing options free of charge to students. The services were free because of a $5,000 grant from the Dean of Students Office for the 2011-2012 academic year.
“There is no stipulation on how many times a student can have the free testing,” GSS President Tracy Kelly said.
The anonymous testing option is available without an appointment. Students can go directly to the lab located on Hudson Hall’s first floor and request to be tested anonymously.
“Some students are concerned that there are records of the testing present on their parents’ insurance,” said Balbo, adding that this assumption is untrue.
The anonymous testing has eliminated any paper trail associated with the testing. Students only have to provide the last four digits of their PID number to Campus Care for identification purposes. Students will not have to provide their names or dates of birth.
Following the test, patients will be given a number to call for their results. They will only be asked to provide the last-four digits of their PID so they can receive their results.
“I think that anytime you can take down a barrier for HIV testing, it’s important,” said LGBT Center Director Mickey Hart.
Results are usually available within two business days.
Confidential testing, the second option, is available by appointment on the third Wednesday of every month. There are free and paid options associated with this test. The paid option is $32 for students.
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