A STUDENT has been praised for tackling taboos after he appeared in an online video getting the results of a sex disease test.
Robbie Kent, 18, is seen waiting pensively by the phone as an automated voice reads out his chlamydia test result.
When it comes back negative, the Edinburgh University undergraduate cheers and punches the air.
Robbie said he did not realise he was being filmed by a friend but agreed to let him put the footage online.
The rugby-playing sports management student said he wanted to tackle head-on the taboo around STIs and testing.
One sexual health charity yesterday praised Robbie’s video as “great”, saying many young men put off going to a doctor until the symptoms cannot be ignored.
The video was uploaded to social media by Robbie’s friend, Charlie Cave, and has been shared hundreds of times.
Robbie decided to do a home test following what he described as a “dubious one-night stand”.
The short clip starts with Robbie, head in his hands, as an automated message can be heard stating: “Your results for Saturday 18th October are now available.
When the message says “chlamydia is negative” Robbie shouts “come on” before celebrating with hip thrusts.
The video was uploaded with the caption: “No need to worry ladies, the man is clean.”
Robbie said: “People shouldn’t be embarrassed about it and should get checked. I got an at-home test with my mate because we were unsure and decided it wouldn’t be fair if we passed anything on.
“I’m a very open person and don’t mind people seeing it. I didn’t have a clue so many people would watch it – I’ve had people I haven’t seen in years messaging me.
“I’ve had much more positive comments than negative ones. I want to get the message out there that it’s so easy to get tested if you aren’t sure.”
Asked if the video could embarrass the woman involved, he said: “I haven’t heard from her since and I made sure not to mention her name.”
Robert McKay, national director of UK-based sexual health charity The Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Anything promoting people to get checked is a good thing. It’s great that these lads got tested and supported each other.
“Men especially put off going to the doctors unless something is literally falling off.
“We shouldn’t see going for a test as a negative thing. So often in our society a person who goes for a check is seen as a “bad” person, and we need to try to move away from that stereotype.”
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI in the UK, with 208,755 diagnosed cases in 2013. It is most prevalent in under-25’s.
Natika Halil, sexual health charity FPA’s director of health and wellbeing, said: “Some people might worry about getting tested and about the result, but it is a quick and painless test and it is far better to find out and get any treatment you might need.
“It is really important that young people are aware of the risks of STI’s – and remember you don’t need to have had lots of sexual partners to get one.
“The majority of people don’t actually have any symptoms when they have chlamydia, so you might have the infection without realising and pass it on to other people.”
But Jack Denton, co-founder and director of AllAboutCareers.com, sounded a note of warning.
He said: “Many employers will check applicants’ Facebook and Twitter pages, and if they don’t like what they see it may taint their perception of a candidate.
“It would be advisable to avoid posting any potentially controversial content online at all. It’s not worth the risk.”
Research has shown that 91% of employers use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to screen candidates. 11% of employers rejected candidates because they had posted inappropriate comments.
