Sharing Test Results
How to Safely Share Your STI Results With a Partner
Step-by-step guide. No judgment. Takes 2 minutes.
Sharing test results is part of healthy sexual communication. Here is how to do it clearly and confidently.
Before You Share
A little prep makes the conversation easier
Get your results
Know where they live before you need them.
- Patient portal (Quest, LabCorp, Epic, Kaiser, etc.)
- Email or text from your provider
- Lab result letter
- A sexual health app, like Protecht
Know what you’re sharing
A results page usually covers four things.
- Test status: negative, positive, inconclusive, or pending
- Date of the test, since recency matters
- Window period, if it applies
- Which conditions were tested
Time it and frame it
The moment and the framing matter as much as the results.
- Talk before things get intimate
- Frame it as a mutual health practice, not an accusation
- Have your own results ready to share at the same time
The Steps
Three ways to share, pick what fits
Verified share, through Protecht
- Download Protecht, it’s free.
- Connect your provider account (Epic, Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, etc.).
- Your results appear in the app, read-only from your provider.
- Choose the results that you want to share.
- Tap share.
- Protecht generates a unique sharing QR code.
- Show the link to your partner.
- Your partner opens it, no app install required.
- They see your results read-only, then the link expires.
- A full audit trail is kept, so you both know the share happened.
Quick share, by text or email
- Take a screenshot of your result, or download the PDF.
- Text or email the image or file to your partner.
- Add context: “Here are my recent STI results. Can you share yours?”
A partner can’t verify a screenshot is authentic. See how verification works if that matters to you.
In person, at a clinic
- Bring a copy of your latest results to the appointment, or whenever sexual health comes up.
- Showing a provider you’re informed signals that you’re already practicing prevention.
After You Share
What happens next depends on the reply
Your partner shares back
- Review their results together
- Confirm the dates match your last contact’s window period
- Talk through any next steps: retesting, treatment, or more conversation
Your partner hesitates
“I haven’t tested yet, can we wait until after I do?” Reasonable. Set a date together.
“I don’t feel comfortable sharing.” That’s okay. You can’t verify their status without evidence, and that’s information too. Weigh whether moving forward feels wise without it.
Their result raises a question
- A positive result isn’t the end of the relationship, it’s a set of next steps
- See a provider together to talk through treatment and prevention
- Keep it non-judgmental and focused on solutions
Verification
How verified does it need to be?
- Screenshots can be edited
- Provider-sourced results can’t be edited by the person sharing them
- Low risk, committed partner: a screenshot is usually fine
- New or casual partner: provider-verified is the safer bet
- Want maximum assurance: ask for a provider-sourced result
A screenshot can be edited before it’s sent.
A provider-sourced result comes straight from the lab, EHR-connected, with nothing to edit.
Sensitive Situations
When it gets a little harder
What if my partner tested positive?
It’s not a moral failure, it’s a manageable health situation. Most STIs are curable, and many others are treatable. Talk through options with a provider, use prevention measures like condoms or PrEP, and the relationship can continue with proper care.
What if I’m worried I might be positive?
Don’t wait to test. Many STIs have no symptoms. Get tested, and if it’s positive, notify past partners and start treatment. Protecht can help you track that timeline.
What if a partner won’t share after multiple asks?
That’s a choice, and it’s information. Decide what you’re comfortable with. There’s no shame in saying you need to be with someone who’s transparent about sexual health.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Casual partners can share too. It’s just smart sexual health practice.
Most STIs are treatable or manageable. Share with partners, see a provider, follow the treatment plan. Life goes on.
Yes, trivially. If verification matters to you, use a provider-verified method instead.
Yes, if it’s consensual. Don’t share someone else’s results without permission. Sharing your own is always legal.
Frame it as mutual: “I’m sharing mine, I’d like to see yours too.” Reciprocal feels safe.
Ethically, you should. You may have exposed them. It’s not punishment, it’s information they need to make decisions.
Share results without the awkward screenshot
Provider-verified, read-only, and gone when you want it gone.