of UK adults would not necessarily tell a partner about an STI diagnosis.
About us
Built to make one difficult public health task easier.
TimeToTest helps people notify recent partners about a possible STI exposure without revealing who sent the message. The goal is simple: reduce stigma, increase testing, and make a hard moment safer for everyone involved.
Why This Exists
Stigma blocks partner notification, and silence blocks testing.
TimeToTest exists because many people want to do the responsible thing after a diagnosis but cannot face a direct message, call, or confrontation. Anonymous notification is not about avoiding accountability. It is about removing a barrier to testing that public health systems already know is real.
of those cite fear of judgment as the reason.
Public-Benefit Structure
A Community Interest Company with an asset lock.
TimeToTest CIC is company number 17163328, registered in England and Wales. The company is asset-locked to Terrence Higgins Trust (charity no. 288527), which means the project is structurally tied to public benefit rather than speculative extraction.
That structure matters. It makes the product legible to users, reviewers, clinicians, and funders as public-interest infrastructure rather than a growth-at-all-costs messaging tool.
How It Works
Narrowly scoped, intentionally controlled, and clinically aligned.
Anonymous partner notification
Senders choose recent partners, select the STI type, and trigger a fixed anonymous SMS. Users do not write custom message text.
NHS-aligned support
Recipients are directed toward sexual health clinics and practical next steps instead of being left alone with a vague alert.
Minimal data handling
TimeToTest does not retain recipient numbers after dispatch. Limited operational records exist only for rate limiting, safety, and STOP handling.
Not a medical device
TimeToTest does not diagnose, treat, or replace clinical care. It exists to improve notification and route people into appropriate services.
Safety Controls
Designed to reduce misuse, not just friction.
The product is intentionally narrower than a general messaging app. Those controls are part of the service design, not an afterthought.
Fixed-template SMS only
No sender-written free text is included in outgoing notifications. That reduces abusive use and keeps content focused on testing.
Permanent STOP opt-out
Recipients can reply STOP, END, CANCEL, QUIT, or UNSUBSCRIBE and are added to a permanent opt-out list.
Device-level abuse controls
Rate limiting and device-level blocking are used to stop repeat misuse and prevent the service being used as a harassment channel.
Reviewed misuse reports
Reports sent through the website support paths are reviewed within 24 hours as stated in the terms of service.
Why Funding Matters
This is the kind of infrastructure public health should not have to build alone.
TimeToTest is intentionally small in scope but high in public-health leverage. It sits at the point where stigma, prevention, and treatment pathways meet. Funding supports safer operations, wider access, better testing pathways, and stronger partnerships with charities, clinics, and health systems.
Partnerships, grants, and pilots
If you are a funder, public health organization, charity, or clinical partner and want to discuss support, deployment, or collaboration, contact hello@timetotest.app.
Email TimeToTest