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HIV blood test - STI test kit
  • Easy to take a sample
  • Confidential results in 3 working days
  • Latest 5th generation HIV blood test

HIV blood test

Contains full instructions for you to take a finger prick blood sample at home and send it our laboratory for testing.  Results are ready in 3 working days and are completely confidential.

HIV blood test - STI test kit
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  • Easy to take a sample
  • Confidential results in 3 working days
  • Latest 5th generation HIV blood test

About the HIV Blood Test

  • What the test is for

    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).

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

  • Required sample

    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.

  • When to take the test

    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.

  • Accessing results

    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.

  • Possible results

    This test will give you 1 of 2 results:

    'Reactive': this means that there is a possibility that you have HIV. We will provide a breakdown of which parts of the test have come back positive. However, the test might have simply reacted with a flu or cold virus and you will need to have further tests. A reactive result does NOT mean that you definitely have HIV but that does meant you need further tests.

    'Negative': this means that there are no signs of HIV in this sample. If you have not been exposed to HIV within the last 4 weeks, you don’t need to do anything else.

  • Test accuracy

    This test is very accurate at telling you if you have HIV or not.

    Please note, no test is 100% accurate but it should pick up HIV if it is done at the correct time. If you think you have contracted HIV in the last 4 weeks, you should still do the test as it might pick up the infection but you should do another test 4 weeks after the potential exposure.

    If you are in any doubt, we advise that you go to you nearest sexual health clinic, or visit your GP.

  • Important information about the HIV Blood Test

    This test kit is not suitable for you if:

    You think you have been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours.
    You have any symptoms.
    You have tested positive for HIV in the past.

    If you think you have been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours, you should seek URGENT medical advice from your local sexual health clinic, GP or Accident & Emergency, as HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) may be recommended as treatment.

    If you have symptoms, you should NOT use this service. You require a face to face assessment at your local sexual health clinic or GP. If you have a skin rash; flu-like illness; fever; sore throat; headache; swollen lymph nodes; and think you are at risk of having HIV, you should seek URGENT medical advice from your local sexual health clinic or GP.

    If you are known to be HIV positive or have recently tested positive, you should seek medical advice from your local sexual health clinic or GP.

  • Confidentiality

    Your test result will be completely confidential. We will not inform your GP or anyone else of your test result or that you have used our service unless you specifically ask us to.

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