Health in Motion bus offers free full-panel STI testing
U.S. Army Spc. Juan Hernandez, Jr., McDonald Army Medical Center U.S. Army Medical Activity medical laboratory technician, draws a blood sample from a patient at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., June 26, 2017. The JBLE lab technicians perform over a million tests annually and study the hematology, coagulation, chemistry and microbiology of the samples. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Teresa J. Cleveland)

Health in Motion bus offers free full-panel STI testing

The Sarasota Department of Health (DOH) operates a Health in Motion bus that visits the college every last Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. The bus functions as a mobile walk-in clinic that tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). All testing is offered free of charge, though screenings for human immunodeficiency disease (HIV) are not always available.

Because the bus is an extension of the Sarasota DOH, the on-site clinic offers full-panel STI screenings to students, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts and HIV with patient consent. This comprehensive STI screening can only be done by appointment at the clinic. If an appointment is not made, they can only test for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. 

For treatment, an appointment at the clinic is also required. However, appointments made at the clinic are not free. Fees are charged based on income, but their services will not be denied to a patient because of the patient’s inability to pay. 

The Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) also offers testing for syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and chlamydia along with prescriptions and treatments where possible. However, these services are not free and are subject to insurance and USF health coverage and fees. 

The DOH walk-in clinic is open Monday 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m, Wednesday 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m and Thursday from 8:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m. Students can call 941-861-2859 any time between 7:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m from Mondays to Fridays to schedule an appointment or ask questions.

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