Contact Tracing

Contact tracing refers to the process of identifying relevant contacts of a person with an infectious disease and ensuring that they are aware of their exposure. For sexually transmitted infections (STIs), relevant contacts include those with whom the index case has had sex during the infectious period.

Index Case
The original person identified with an infection. The index case may or may not have infected other persons but represents a starting point for the process of contact tracing.

Contact Tracing an integral part of the counselling process
During the counselling session, our health advisor will enquire about your sexual history including details about your sex partner/s. The purpose is to have a complete understanding of your condition and for us to provide you with the best possible medical care at DSC. We will also discuss with you on the possibility of referring your partner/s to DSC for a check as they may be at risk of catching an infection and developing complications, if left untreated. Through contact tracing, we hope that we can work with you to ensure that your loved ones and / or those whom you have parted ways with, will remain safe from infections.

There are 2 approaches in contact tracing, namely through patient referral or contact tracer. The first approach will require you to personally inform your partner/s to come for a check-up while in the second approach, our health advisor will assist to contact your partner/s. Please feel free to discuss with us your preference based on your comfort level. Our experienced health advisors will be on hand to share with you some of the tried and tested methods in talking to your partner/s. We will be most happy to assist you in any way that will make the whole process less tedious for you.

Please be assured that the information provided to us during your visit to DSC will be kept with the strictest confidence. No information on your diagnosis or sexual history will be disclosed to any persons without your consent.

At DSC, contact tracing plays an important role in preventing and controlling sexually transmitted infections in the community and we strongly believe that we all have a part to play as socially responsible individuals.