At home HIV test kit

The kit tests for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

We use the latest 5th generation test – one of the most sensitive tests that is currently available. The blood sample that you provide will be tested for:

• HIV p24 antigen (protein found in the HIV cell)
• HIV-1 antibodies (made by your body to fight HIV-1)
• HIV-2 antibodies (made by your body to fight HIV-2)

Antigens (protein found in the HIV cell) and antibodies (made by your body to fight HIV) are detectable at different stages of HIV infection. Testing for all 3 helps to differentiate between acute and more established infection, and will identify the type of HIV infection (HIV-1 or HIV-2 or both).

Please note - If the 5th generation HIV test isn’t available at the lab, we’ll use the 4th generation test instead to avoid delays in testing your sample. This still tests for HIV p24 antigen, HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies but unlike the 5th generation, will provide one overall result and not a breakdown of the results for each test. 

If you are unsure whether you need this test, you can take our free STI assessment.

You will need to produce a blood sample using a small finger pricking device, contained within the kit. You will only need to produce a small amount of blood and it shouldn't hurt. Full instructions are contained within the test kit.

The ‘window period’ is the time period between potential exposure to HIV e.g. sex without a condom, and the point when the test will give you an accurate result.

Tests done too early may not be accurate.

The HIV blood test is unlikely to detect HIV if you have contracted it in the last 4 weeks. However, if you are worried about a specific risk within the last 4 weeks, you should still do the test, but we recommend that you purchase another test to do 4 weeks after the last exposure.

Test results are normally ready within 3 working days from your sample arriving at our partner laboratory. When your result is ready, you will receive a text and an email advising you to log in to your Patient Record.

If your HIV result is 'reactive' (i.e. potentially positive) or indeterminate, we will phone you to discuss these results with you. If we cannot get through, we will send you a message to your Patient Record asking to arrange a telephone consultation as soon as possible. We may also need to contact you if your sample is labelled incorrectly.