My Daily Tattoo

Want To Go Get A Tattoo — AND Get Tested For An STD?

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San Francisco area television stations are reporting on an innovative program that will encourage people to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases at a local tattoo parlor.

The STD testing program is Internet-based and is a collaboration between the city of San Francisco and a non-profit group called ISIS (Internet Sexuality Information Services, Inc.) You simply go to the Web site www.stdtest.org, print out your own lab slip and head to Gotham Tattoo and Piercing. You can also go to six other traditional laboratory locations if you prefer. But hey, if you can get tested for STDs at the same time you are getting a tattoo, why not?

The city health department has set up a room to screen for herpes, gonorrhea and other STDs at Gotham Tattoo.

Bob Martin of Gotham Tattoo says “The thing about coming to tattoo parlors, about being unhealthy, about hepatitis and HIV, all of that, that’s an outdated mode of thinking. We’re safe, we’re clean.”

Test results arrive within three to five days, accessible online by a unique identifier (similar to a bank PIN number). HIV test results are delivered on the phone by a trained counselor. The Department of Public Health will ensure all persons who test positive for an STD receive information on treatment options as soon as possible, whether through City Clinic or their own healthcare provider.

“The anonymity of the Internet erases any stigma”, Dr. Jeffrey Klausner of the San Francisco Department of Health has said. “For STD control, we need to make it as easy as possible, we need to erase the barriers, we know people are embarrassed.”

On People can get tested for free, whether they go to Gotham Tattoo or a clinic, although it is hoped patients will make a contribution.

On their blog the ISIS folks have a video that explains the whole thing in more detail. Check it out.

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