Tests
Medical testing is an important part of taking care of your health. Learn about recommendations, procedures and getting your results.
Tests at Health Services
Concordia Health Services offers a variety of medical tests and test referrals. After receiving a test, it is important to follow up with Health Services to review your results. Some patients will be able to access their test results online.
There may be costs associated with some tests depending on your insurance coverage.
For tests not performed on-site, you will be provided with a requisition form and directed to a nearby testing centre. Call Health Services to book an appointment.
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests
Recommendations
STI-testing is recommended for everyone who is sexually active. Health professionals recommend that STI testing be done every year if you are in a stable monogamous relationship, and every six months if you are not.
Many infections cause no symptoms, especially in the early stages, but they can still cause irreversible damage, such as infertility.
Procedures for STI-testing and important instructions
The healthcare professional will ask you to either urinate in a cup (if you have a penis) or instruct you how to use a swab (if you have a vagina). The test is private, easy, painless and takes approximately two minutes.
- For a urine test, you must wait one hour without urinating before the test.
- Do not use vaginal creams or lubes for 24 hours before the appointment.
- If you have a menstrual period, book your appointment between your menstrual periods. But if you have symptoms, don't delay your visit!
A blood test is used to detect these STIs. We do not draw blood tests at Health Services. The healthcare professional will provide you with a blood test requisition and inform you of the nearest test centres covered by your insurance (RAMQ, other Canadian province or international). Test results will automatically be sent to Health Services.
You can also get free HIV self-testing kits delivered to your home, or pick them up on campus!
There are no screening tests that are routinely used for these STIs. A doctor can confirm a diagnosis if you have signs (e.g., sores or warts). However, it is possible for infected individuals to transmit these STIs by skin-to-skin contact when they have no visible symptoms.
Prevention and safer sex
In addition to regular testing, there are many ways to reduce the risk of getting and spreading an STI, including using a condom and other safer sex practices.
During an STI-testing appointment, you can talk to the nurse or doctor about any concerns regarding safer sex. They can provide information on birth control choices and give you a prescription if necessary. You can also discuss vaccines like Gardasil for HPV and Engerix for Hepatitis B, which help prevent STIs.
Getting informed about healthy sexuality, safer sex, and STIs is another way to stay healthy, so check out the Sexual health & safer sex section of our website!
Recommendations
If you are sexually active and 21 years old and older, you should have a Pap test every one to three years, depending on your risk factors.
Prepare for your Pap test
Avoid having the test during menstruation (during your period). For best results, the test should be done in the middle of your cycle, 10 to 20 days after the first day of the menstrual period.
Avoid sexual intercourse for 24 hours before the test.
Avoid vaginal medications or contraceptive (spermicidal) creams, foams or gels for 48 hours before the test.
It is important not to use a vaginal douche for at least two or three days before you see your doctor. In fact, vaginal douching is never recommended.
All these behaviours can interfere with how effective the test is, and they can hide abnormal cells.
Learn more about Pap tests
- Your first "internal" exam information from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). You can also watch an informative and realistic video developed by the Government of the Northwest Territories' Health and Social Services department.
- Overview of PAP test from the Canadian Cancer Society including information on abnormal Pap test results.
- A funny and accurate article in the Concordian about Pap tests.
- Information about PAP tests for transgender men, from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Visit ClicSanté to book an appointment for your tests. Choose the option BLOOD TESTS AND SPECIMENS in the drop down menu.
Out-of-province patients:
Even though you will get the message: "ONLY valid coverage with the Quebec Health Insurance plan (RAMQ) will be accepted", any other VALID provincial health card will be accepted.
To avoid any fees or complications, we advise to select one of the following sites: Montreal General Hospital, St-Mary's Hospital, or CLSC Metro (use postal code H3G 1M8 to facilitate your search).
For patients who are less familiar with the web:
Call 514-934-8228 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and an agent will help you book your appointment.
Call 514-866-6146 to book an appointment for your tests OR Book online at Biron Labs.
Getting your test results
Your test results will be sent to Health Services from the lab, and you will need to book an appointment with Health Services to review your results. A health professional can help you understand your results and decide on your next steps. Please note that Health Services does not provide test results by phone.
At your testing appointment, you can find out how long the results typically take, and then call the clinic to book an appointment.
In addition to meeting with Health Services, some patients can also check their results online:
- Patients with a Quebec Medicare card (RAMQ) can check their results using the Québec health booklet. Learn how to register for your health booklet. Note that there can be a delay to upload your results: the date your results become available will be indicated in the booklet.
- Patients with Blue Cross insurance can get their results on the Biron platform: when you do a test, you will get a link by email from Biron.
- There is no online option for out-of-province patients: you will need to book an appointment at Health Services to get your results.
Some private testing centres also provide results by email.
Note that HIV results are not posted online or given by phone: you must see your health professional.
Getting the results of your medical tests is as important as getting the tests done! The health professional who ordered the test will tell you how long it takes for the results to come in. Book an appointment with the person who ordered it to discuss your results. Results will not be given over the phone.
If the doctor asked you to book an appointment, it is because the reason can wait until the appointment.
Health Services can provide you with a requisition for blood tests. You will go to a nearby centre to have your blood sample taken. Blood test results are sent to Health Services and reviewed by the health professional who ordered the test.