The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) said that its new service will offer students remote testing for certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) starting this month.
The organisation will offer clients the opportunity to test for chlamydia or gonorrhoea infections, both of which require treatment.
However students won’t have to visit an FSHS clinic or health centre to provide a sample for testing. In future they only need mail in samples for a free analysis. Test results will be returned to students via text message.
Students will be able to confirm or validate the results by using a special online service developed by the Finnish company United Medix Laboratories.
Information about the test results will also be sent to FSHS, where officials will contact students who do not seek treatment.
The service has been piloted in Vantaa, with good results, according to FSHS. The city of Tampere also plans to take the service on board.
Chlamydia, one of the most common sexually-transmitted diseases, has become widespread in Finland.
According to FSHS, gonorrhoea infections have also spread in Finland, although it is not as common.