We applaud you on taking a significant step in actively caring for your sexual health and wellbeing – a vital aspect of self-care and empowerment!
We want to extend a warm welcome to the Freddie family and provide you with a comprehensive resource that you can access anytime. This resource contains information about what to expect and the next steps on your journey with us.
What happens after my initial appointment?
You will receive a welcome email shortly containing a brief overview of your next steps and valuable resources to kickstart your PrEP journey. Should you need more comprehensive information about the Freddie process, feel free to refer back to this article at any time.
Lab testing
Freddie's lab testing schedule is as follows:
- Initial lab tests: Before receiving your first prescription, you must complete initial lab tests, which consist of creatinine (kidney function), HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis A, B and C screenings.
- In some cases, you may also need to re-test 30 days after these initial tests to ensure your body is handling PrEP well. This doesn't apply to most people. If these tests are needed, your clinician will tell you in your initial appointment.
- Every three months: For most people, your next tests will start and continue quarterly (i.e. after three months, and every three months following). These will check your kidney function and test for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
For more information on visiting labs and for help finding a location, please visit www.gofreddie.com/prep-labs.
1a. Complete your tests
Your requisition will be sent to you via your Freddie patient portal for download and printing. This will be under "Lab requisitions". If you've indicated a preferred lab, the requisition will also be faxed to them; however, it's still recommended to print a copy where possible. You can also keep a copy on your smartphone and email it to the lab, if they offer this service.
We recommend familiarizing yourself with your lab's options before your appointment. Please note that some labs may take up to 48 hours to receive the faxed requisition.
1b. Tell us when and where you tested
After completing your lab tests, please log back into your Freddie patient portal and go to your dashboard. Scroll down to "I've gone to the lab" to give us your information. This will enable us to keep track of your results and send your prescription as soon as they are all reviewed. Please allow up to ten business days for us to receive and review your results before sending your first prescription.
Note
If your clinician has anything to discuss once we've got your results, they will reach out to you directly. Otherwise, no news is good news! Though it's rare, if we haven't issued your initial prescription ten business after completing your tests then please contact our support team
Prescriptions
Once your clinician has reviewed your results, if everything appears fine they will send your first prescription to your preferred pharmacy! The prescription will be for either 30 or 90 days, depending on the decision made in your initial appointment. You will receive an email notification once it has been sent to the pharmacy.
- If you selected one of Freddie's partner pharmacies, they will get in touch with you within 48 hours to discuss your prescription, financing options (if applicable) and arrange free shipping in discreet packaging.
- If you chose your local pharmacy, they might contact your or you may need to reach out to them for pickup or delivery arrangements. If you haven't heard from them within 48 hours, please call them directly.
See here for a list of Freddie's partner pharmacies
Refill process
In some cases (e.g. because of your insurance policy), you may only receive 30 pills (one bottle) from the pharmacy at a time even if you've been prescribed 90.
Learn more about this here
Renewal process
Two months after you've received your first prescription (when you have about 30 pills left), you'll want to begin the renewal process. See the renewal steps below:
- Log into the Freddie patient portal and answer the self-assessment on your dashboard (https://app.gofreddie.com/)
- Once you've completed the self-assessment, your new lab requisition will be uploaded to the portal. Download your lab requisition and head to the lab to complete routine testing
(https://www.gofreddie.com/prep-labs) - Confirm your lab completion on your dashboard, as this will prompt our clinical team to process your next refill. (https://app.gofreddie.com/lab-requisitions)
- You will be notified via email once your clinician has faxed your renewal prescription to your preferred pharmacy
For a more detailed breakdown on the refill process, head to this article
Follow up appointments
To book a follow up appointment, click here to select your appointment reason and a suitable date/time. To reschedule or cancel appointments, click "Manage your appointment" on your dashboard or click "Clinical Appointments" in the side menu.
Need support?
- We have answers to commonly-asked questions in our self-serve help centre.
- If you need further support, you can reach out to our care team here.