useful list of STD/STI testing clinics in Chiang Mai

[lsemprini]

There are more small STD/STI testing clinics in Chiang Mai than most folks realize, and some of them are really good: you can get results with a lot less hassle and a lot cheaper than the big hospitals.  Some of the smaller clinics may be a bit tricky without a Thai friend to help interpret language, but some have English speaking staff.

 

Here is a snapshot of what was available in March 2019 with some sample prices.  Where available, I have included contact info.  If there are even more clinics, do respond and add!

 

Perhaps we could consider adding this list to the STD testing section of the pinned "Recommended Doctors and Medical Specialists" thread.  https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/965551-recommended-doctors-and-medical-specialists-updated-2017

 

I hope someday STD/STI testing becomes as readily available as cabbages as Dr. Meechai once said (about condoms) and that everyone (Thais and otherwise) can overcome the social stigma and make regular testing a normal thing that we do to show respect to our partners.  According to some of the clinic operators I spoke with, most non-sex-worker Thais of all genders are still mostly afraid to get themselves tested due to the social stigma.  Let's change that!

 

Key to abbreviations and other tips:  [WARNING WARNING: INFO HERE NOT CHECKED BY ANY DOCTOR!  DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND ALSO ASK REAL DOCTORS!]

• HIV = the disease which can lead to AIDS
• HCV means Hepatitis C
• HBV means Hepatitis B
• HSV means Herpes
• HPV means Human Papilloma Virus
• VDRL is the most common test for Syphilis
• "X month window" means that the test can only tell you if you got the disease X or more months ago with a useful confidence level; it won't tell you if you got the disease more recently.  ALL tests have a window period (because the disease needs to time to replicate itself inside your body before tests are sensitive enough to reveal it); some tests have window periods in days and some in months.  Sometimes multiple tests are available for a given disease with different window periods, and at different prices, in particular for HIV.  Be VERY VERY careful to understand the window period of all your tests and behave safely according to that.  Ask the clinic/hospital what the window period is for all the tests you are getting.  For example, some HIV tests have a 3 month window period, so you need to keep using condoms for that period after the test to protect your partner!  More STD info including window periods for the most common tests: https://smartsexresource.com/about-stis/types-stis
• Ab means the test for the antibody that fights that disease (which you might have naturally because you had a previous exposure to or case of that disease, or because you had a previous vaccination for that disease and that vaccine protection has not yet "worn off").
• Ag means the test for the antigen---the active disease itself
• Depending on the situation, you may get/want the Ab or Ag or both test for a particular disease, and there may be more than one type of Ab or Ag test (e.g. "surface/core", "igg/igm").   Do your research for each disease separately.  For example, here is the situation with Hepatitis B: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/pdfs/serologicchartv8.pdf
   
• For some it might be a good strategy to visit a big hospital once to discuss your regular testing needs the first time with an English-fluent doctor (i.e. to get the list of tests that are useful for you), and then subsequent times go to the cheaper, easier clinics.

 

When I did my research I focused on tests for HIV, syphilis, HCV, HBV, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, so you will see March 2019 prices for those below.

Many of these clinics also have testing for Herpes (HSV) but as you can and should Google to learn more about, the results of most Herpes tests of those without symptoms are almost meaningless because the tests mix together genital and oral Herpes and Type 1 and Type 2 Herpes (which is not the same as genital and oral) and so almost everyone is positive.  A negative test is sometimes meaningful, but there are even confounding factors in that case.  More info: https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/screening.htm

 

There may be some situations where testing for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is helpful/meaningful for certain symptomatic women, but there is unfortunately no test for men (who can transmit the disease to women): https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hpv-test/about/pac-20394355  The US CDC now (Aug 2019) recommends all men and women should get the HPV vaccine up to age 26 and in many cases age 45: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6832a3.htm

 

There are other diseases to consider testing for: https://smartsexresource.com/about-stis/types-stis

 

Many of the clinics below also offer vaccines for diseases such as HBV and HPV but I didn't list those below.

 

CLINIC LIST

 

"Travel Medicine" Clinic in Nakhornping Hospital across from Suriwong book center (technically called "Tuberculosis Center Area 10")

I spoke Thai with the staff but I think the first person you consult with at the Travel Clinic has good English
https://goo.gl/maps/84AzkMgppmE2  053 276 364  M W F 8:30-11 1-3

• HIV - 250B
• syphilis - 100B
• HCV - test not available
• HBV - test not available
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia - 1500B 3days result !!  This is WAAAAY better and cheaper than similar tests at big hospitals, which send the sample to Bangkok!

 

Red Cross #3 clinic: 053 235 574 https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1051397-std-testing-in-chiang-mai
https://goo.gl/maps/APWCvigK7i22

• located near US embassy
• this place might not have any English speaking staff
• HIV 300B
• syphilis 100
• HCV   350B
• HBV   200B each for Ab and Ag (most people only want Ag)
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia test not available

 

Loi Kroh Clinic - 62/2 Loikroh Road, T Changklan, A Muang, Chiang Mai 50100. Tel: 053 271 571

• didn't get info yet but I heard very good things about this place: can anyone provide a list of tests/prices?
• English definitely spoken
• 4pm - 8pm

 

Nap Neung: https://www.napneung.net/faq-en 061-681-3399
https://goo.gl/maps/KtAPcRxje5n M-F 9am-5pm. 
Appointment at 061-681-3399

• STD clinic that is part of a CMU research project
• HIV + syphilis + HCV + HBV: 1100B

 

This one is from the pinned TV thread:  This non-profit clinic is reported to offer services similiar to that of the TRC Clinic in Bangkok, including testing, low cost ART, PrEP etc.

 

Love Foundation

114/38 Greenpuls 1 Businesspark  Nungpakhung Muang Chiangmai. ( at business park. Next to Index Living Mall on the hightway. [18.796643, 99.023139] on google map.)

Tel. 052-001-119

Email : [email protected]

Website : www.lovefoundation.or.th

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Lovefoundationth/

 

CM MediClinic https://www.cmmediclinic.com/index.html

• 155/28 Moo 2, Jed Yod-Yu Yen Soi 10, T Chang Phueak, A Mueang, Chiang Mai, 50300, Thailand. 080 536 2362
• Western-oriented business; English spoken
• closed weekends
• HIV  3mo window 450B  1mo window 850B
• syphilis (VDRL) 300B
• HCV   330B
• HBV   330B
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia 2650B 3-4day

 

Piman Center: LGBT friendly; 35/7 Soi 13, Nimmanhemin Road, Tambol Suthep, Muang District, Chiang Mai, Tel 053211363, 053895166, 0855201176. Website: www.pimancenter.com/

• All tests are ONLY for Thai people as of my check
• looks like they have all the tests except for Chlamydia
• looks like they have free HIV testing

 

A couple more hospitals and small clinics here:
https://thailandhivtestplace.lovefoundation.or.th/jobs/?search_keywords=chiang+mai&submit=&filter_job_type%5B%5D=#s=1

 

BIG HOSPITALS

 

Look how expensive the big hospitals are by comparison, and you often have to pay a doctor fee too and wait much longer:

 

Chiang Mai Ram 053 920 300

• HIV Ab 529B
• syphilis VDRL 126B
• HCV Ag 228B
• HBV Ab 453/378B
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia: urine 3404B 1week   blood igm 808/igg 808 1week

 

McCormick hospital -- suuan dtruuat sukhapap health clinic 053 921 777

• HIV 550B
• syphilis VDRL 140B
• HCV Ag ~200B
• HBV ~300B
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia - ~4000B 2-3wk send to BKK!

 

Bangkok Hospital 052 089 888

• HIV - 600B
• syphilis VDRL - 250B
• HCV Ag - 1100B
• HBV Ab - 700B
• Gonorrhea Chlamydia - 4500B 1wk send to BKK!

 

 

[elektrified]

The shills for one or two of the for profit clinics have become more creative in getting free adverts on TV!

[lsemprini]

2 hours ago, elektrified said:

The shills for one or two of the for profit clinics have become more creative in getting free adverts on TV!

???  You've got to be joking.  It is truly the case that no good deed goes unpunished on TV.  I spent hours and hours assembling this list as well as the long tips section in order to help other TV members stay healthy and avoid disease.  Almost all the clinics I list are government-funded and not-for-profit.  If I was some kind of shill (why would anyone even waste time do that???) why would I have listed all the other clinics too, and why would I have spent so many hours trying to provide useful general STD info to try to help people stay healthy?  Read my post...If I had any commercial incentive, it just wouldn't make sense to write the post that way.  For cryin' out loud, my post even demonstrates that the prices at the non-commercial clinics are lower than all the other options---in what universe would a shill do that?   Jeez man, is there any hope, any humanity left in you at all?  It IS actually possible for someone to post something on TV without any hidden agendas.  There are still some human beings that have some decency left in this world.  What is it about the TV cesspool of negativity that makes so many people doubt that?  The level of paranoia and cynicism in your post goes even lower than the already low standard for TV.  When I posted this, I expected that there would be some snarky comments about sex workers or promiscuity, but this really takes the cake.  Oh well, I guess I expected more from the TV community.  I hope people other than this guy appreciate the effort.

[elektrified]

Why would anyone waste so much time researching venereal diseases....????  ...unless there was an incentive.???? Shills for  one or two VD clinics come along every couple of months.

[lsemprini]

13 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Why would anyone waste so much time researching venereal diseases....????  ...unless there was an incentive.???? Shills for  one or two VD clinics come along every couple of months.

Since you clearly spend a lot of time on TV, I will just assume you are correct that there are shills.  But that doesn't mean every post about venereal disease on TV has some dark ulterior motive.  The reason to spend time researching venereal disease is to protect oneself from disease...hardly a waste of time, and something that every sexually active human should do.  The reason to post about it on TV is to help protect others and save their time.  I feel sorry for you that you can't see that as one possible option.  I hope lots of other users on TV will not have this cynical outlook and instead will benefit from the information and be able to protect their health more easily!

[7select]

I went to the CM Clinic last months and I got charged around 5k baht for clahmidia, syphilis and the herpes test. The medicine for clahmidia at around 1000 baht.  In total it was around 7000 baht.

They work by appointment so I was in and out fast.  I also got results by email.

 

[scottiejohn]

19 hours ago, elektrified said:

Why would anyone waste so much time researching venereal diseases....????  ...unless there was an incentive.???? Shills for  one or two VD clinics come along every couple of months.

To help others. 

Why be so negative?

Even if it is a "shil" (not that I even know, or want to know what it means) the OP is a well written and informative piece of work which may be of help to many in CM.

[jayjay2001]

To lsemprini: Thanks for the post.

 

To elektrified: Is "elektrified" an encryption for "dillweed"?

[lsemprini]

Quote

"X month window" means that the test can only tell you if you got the disease X or more months ago with a useful confidence level; it won't tell you if you got the disease more recently.  ALL tests have a window period (because the disease needs to time to replicate itself inside your body before tests are sensitive enough to reveal it); some tests have window periods in days and some in months.  Sometimes multiple tests are available for a given disease with different window periods, and at different prices, in particular for HIV.  Be VERY VERY careful to understand the window period of all your tests and behave safely according to that.  Ask the clinic/hospital what the window period is for all the tests you are getting.  For example, some HIV tests have a 3 month window period, so you need to keep using condoms for that period after the test [WRONG] to protect your partner!  More STD info including window periods for the most common tests: https://smartsexresource.com/about-stis/types-stis

 

Here is a correction about the window period and more about how to use it to stay safe:

 

THE PROBLEM: Many STDs have no short-term symptoms that you can notice.  The earlier you can catch the disease,  the greater are your chances of successful treatment/cure.  And, during the period with no symptoms, you can very easily pass that disease on to your partners.

 

THE GOAL: Say you do some high-risk sexual activity (perhaps you don't use a condom, or you find out your partner has a disease that can be spread easily even with condoms*) on a certain day.  You want to know if you got a particular disease on that day, and you want to know how to protect your future partners from potentially getting that disease from you. 

 

METHOD:

• First choose a particular test that you're going to get for that disease.  Ask the clinic/hospital for the window period of that particular test (which they will look up on the data sheets from the test manufacturer, since every test brand is different).
• For this example, let's say that the test's window period is 3 months.
• DO NOT get the test right away after your sexual activity: the test only tells you something meaningful (something with a useful confidence level) 3 months AFTER your sexual activity.
• You are going to have to deal with the reality that your disease status is UNCERTAIN for the full 3 months after the sexual activity and before the test, and you cannot take the test any sooner than 3 months after the sexual activity.
• So you must use extra protection (*) with your subsequent partners for the full window period (the full 3 months) BEFORE the test (not after, as I incorrectly wrote above)
• Get the test exactly 3 months after the sexual activity.  If the test is negative, then you can go back to whatever level of protection you were using before with your new partners.

If you get the test too soon after the sexual activity, the test result tells you about possible exposure you had in the past, BEFORE the high-risk sexual activity.  While that may also be useful information, it does not achieve the goal and it puts your partners at risk to assume that it does.

 

What I wrote in the OP ("keep using condoms for the window period after the test") is totally wrong.  First, my old text can easily be misinterpreted that you should get the test immediately after the sexual activity, and second, my old text implies that you could just look for symptoms for 3 months to see if you really have the disease.  Both of these are wrong.  You have to wait for the full window period, then get the test.  You cannot jump to the test early, and you cannot ever rely on symptoms alone.

 

IF YOU SWITCH PARTNERS OFTEN: The above method works only if you switch partners less often than the window period.  But if you switch partners often (say, every few days or weeks), there will NEVER be any point in time when you can get a meaningful result about your STD status that you can use to assure the safety of your future partners.  At every moment, you will always be inside the window period of possible exposure from one or more of your previous partners.  So, at every moment, you might have caught a disease and not know it yet (and the test cannot tell you it yet).  That means you MUST ALWAYS use protection every time with every partner, otherwise you are putting all your partners at serious risk.  Of course, you still want to get tested periodically for your own benefit (to get treatment ASAP if needed), but testing is not going to help your partners---only protection will.  For example, if you take an HIV test and the test is negative, it means you didn't have HIV 3 months ago (or whatever the window period of your particular HIV test is), NOT that you don't have HIV now.  STD tests tell you nothing about your current status.  There is NO WAY to test your current status---such a test does not exist yet (humanity has not yet invented it).  So if you switch partners often, you must always assume that you might have HIV for the purposes of protecting your partners, and use protection.  Because of this harsh reality of window periods, you can NEVER use any test result as an excuse to avoid using protection with any of your partners.  You must use protection every time with every partner.

 

* PROTECTION

 

Generally "protection" will be condoms because they do provide reasonable protection against many scary diseases, especially HIV.  However, condoms are not a silver bullet even when used properly:

 

Quote

https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/brief.html

Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection for various STDs, depending on differences in how the diseases or infections are transmitted. Male condoms may not cover all infected areas or areas that could become infected. Thus, they are likely to provide greater protection against STDs that are transmitted only by genital fluids (STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and HIV infection) than against infections that are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact, which may or may not infect areas covered by a condom (STDs such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus [HPV] infection, syphilis, and chancroid).

 

Another super-common path for infection, even for the first group of diseases above that are only transmitted by genital fluids, is when partners are "just rubbing against each other outside," especially when the man uses his bare magic wand to "just" rub against her vulva.  Turns out those fluids can live outside the body as well and are frequently present (especially if she is wet and/or the guy recently came or has pre-cum)!  SO many people have gotten chlamydia and other diseases this way.  It is not safe---don't do it!