HIV test/HEP A shot in Phuket

Sorry about the double post everyone, but...

I've made changes to my travel plans and need to ask these questions about health services in Phuket?


1) Hepititas A booster shot in Phuket, Thailand?

Where is the best place to have this done?

Also, do any of the Phuket health services offer free STD tests (HIV, HEP A, etc...) at their health clinics or hospitals?

If not free, which specific clinics/hospital should expats go to for results they can count on?

Thanks

There are many places in Thailand where you can get a free or a very cheap HIV test. Most of these places are government run hospitals or clinics. Non HIV STD test on the other hand will not be free if it involves additional testing - i.e. more than a blood test. It will still be inexpensive in comparison to other countries.

From your other post it seems that you're in a relatively high risk group so I hope that you will not take the following advice in the wrong way - "No glove, no Love!".

Sorry but that's suppose to read "I hope that you will not take the following advice in the RIGHT way"

Hmm.. I guess they both make sense. Sorry too much wine at dinner!

Any of the hospitals or clinics can do these tests, and at any of the popular tourists centers in Thailand you'll see clinics with these services advertised in English on their front windows. A combined blood test (HIV/VDRL) and a urinalysis generally only cost about 500Bt, sometimes even less. They often have two prices: for fast results and normal results. Normals results take a few hours, whereas you sit and wait for fast results. Hanuman's advice is spot on, only the other day I heard on Australian news that there are now increased reports of HIV infections from single males who have returned to Australia after working in, or holidaying in, SE Asia & Africa. You really must "dress for the occasion".

remember, you will need to have 2 tests done too, 6 months apart to get a better answer, as its possible the first test could be inaccurate if there are not enough antibodies to be detected

Sandy,

Hep A is not sexually transmitted, it is fecal-oral (mostly food born from people not washing their hands). However Hepatitis B and C are sexually transmitted. Other diseases you probably should get checked are Syphillus (VDRL or RPR), gonorrhea, and chlamydia.