In a Nutshell
pros
- Multi-site testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Two-day results turnaround time
- Easy-to-follow instructions
cons
- Only test for a few results
- New kid on the block
Ash at a Glance
Take at home: Yes
Referral needed: No
Medical staff qualifications: CLIA-certified labs, physicians for accurate results
Collection type: Swab or urine
Results in: 3 days
Follow-up services: Prescriptions, doctor referrals, etc.
Why Go With Ash
Sexually-transmitted disease and infection tests are popping up everywhere, so what’s so special about Ash? Well, here are a few points we thought made this company stand out:
- At-home testing
For one thing, Ash lets you take your STD test from the comfort and privacy of your own home. You don’t have to go anywhere (a big perk during these Corona-days), and you don’t have to tell anyone what’s going on. Especially with sensitive topics like STD, privacy is of the utmost importance. Ash also sends you the results online, so you don’t have to worry about someone opening your mail and finding out your secret.
- Fast turnaround time
Some STD test kits take weeks until you get the results. One of the best things about Ash is its turnaround time. You can get results in as little as 2 days. That’s a lot more convenient than waiting around to find out.
- Easy gonorrhea and chlamydia testing
Additionally, Ash focuses on 2 of the most common and pernicious sexually-transmitted diseases: gonorrhea and chlamydia. The reason these are particularly relevant is because both gonorrhea and chlamydia carriers are frequently asymptomatic. That means they won’t show any symptoms at all for some time. Because there are no symptoms, people may continue having sexual relations, spreading the STDs to more people without ever knowing. Ash solves this issue by screening for these 2 usual suspects.
STDs Tested For
One of the downsides of working with Ash is that it only tests for a few STDs. We’d like to see more tests come out in the future. For the time being, Ash tests for the following sexually-transmitted diseases:
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- HIV
How it Works
Ash has a goal of making sexual health an option for everyone by providing easy-to-use and convenient STD test kits. Here’s the basic rundown of how this works:
- Go online and choose the test kit you want
- Order it, adding your payment and delivery information
- Kits take 2-3 days to be delivered
- When it arrives, register your kit online
- Take your sample, and send it back to the lab in the pre-paid return envelope that comes with your STD test kit
- You should have your results online in as little as 48 hours
What’s in the Box?
The Ash STD test kit box contents will vary, depending on which test you are taking and your sexual activity. However, here is what is generally included:
- A urine cup if you are taking a pee test
- A test tube to collect the urine afterward
- A swab to swab your rectum, vagina, or throat (depending on the test)
- A collection tube for each swab
- A blood card for finger prick if doing HIV & Syphilis tests
- Easy-to-follow instructions for taking your own sample
What’s more, Ash sends you a pre-paid envelope for free return shipping back to the lab.
Collection Process
Ash tests can be through either urine or swab samples, depending on which sexually-transmitted disease you are testing for. And while you might be skeptical about taking your own STD sample, Ash has really got you covered. First of all, these sample types are pretty non-invasive compared to a blood sample test. Second, Ash sends very clear instructions that are easy to understand and follow, so you can really take your own samples with confidence.
How Long for Results?
Here’s the really big winning factor for Ash. As mentioned, many STD test kit services take weeks to get your results back to you. But by then, you can have passed the disease on to many other sexual partners, harmfully spreading a silent illness. Ash works faster. You can receive your results in as little as 2 days from when you send in your test sample.
Report Features
Once Ash receives your test samples, their CLIA-certified labs will test for the specific STDs you signed up for. When your results are ready, you’ll receive an email notifying you that the results are in. You’ll log in to your private Ash account online to read the report. This keeps things nice and private. We like that.
Follow-Up Support
Ash is really good with follow-up. It’s nice that the company doesn’t just leave you in the cold after you’ve received your answers. As the mission statement implies, Ash is all about helping provide access to sexual health and wellness for everyone. The dream starts by providing affordable STD testing kits for everyone, but it doesn’t stop there.
Ash provides all users with excellent aftercare support. If you’ve tested positive for one or more of the sexually-transmitted diseases you were tested for, Ash will connect you to a health clinic near you and one that the company is personally connected to. As a side note, Ash takes pride in working with clinics and medical professionals who respect all gender types, identities, and sexual preferences without judgment or selection. The clinics can prescribe the necessary antibiotics or penicillin and you can be treated without any interaction with your regular doctor.
Pricing
Ash has pretty much industry-standard pricing for its 3 types of tests. You can get the basic package, Common 2, which includes gonorrhea and chlamydia or go for the gold with the 4-test panel, which also includes HIV and syphilis. As mentioned, both shipping to you and return shipping are free.
Confidentiality
As with all lawful STD testing services, Ash is required to submit all positive test results to the government to discourage the escalation of sexually-transmitted diseases around the country. Other than this legal requirement, though, Ash is great with confidentiality. It uses secure online accounts to protect your privacy and even ships the kits in unlabeled boxes, so nobody knows what you’re receiving.
Customer Support
Ash offers a full FAQ section on the website. You can also read through informative articles on the blog page to get a lot of helpful information. Ash also has phone and email support.
By Email:
support@meetash.com
Bottom Line
Ash is a rising star in the STD testing world. It’s got bright eyes and big goals, and we like that in a company. What’s more, Ash offers some of the fastest turnaround times anywhere. The easy to use at-home test kits are also a convenient way to deal with a personal topic discreetly.
