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In addition, if you’re averse to seeing blood or uncomfortable with a finger prick, you can opt for a saliva-based test. Men who have sex with men may benefit from more frequent testing . MyLAB Box also offers post-test counseling by telehealth to provide assistance and answer your questions. More expensive than other at-home HIV testing options. The membership option sends you tests every 3 months. This test looks for both HIV antibodies and antigens.
Each test kit comes with detailed instructions and illustrations. After the lab results are ready, a physician will review your report. You can then arrange a call with a LetsGetChecked clinician if you have any questions or concerns. For a mail-in HIV test, you must prick your finger and collect a very small sample of blood. However, under the Clinical Laboratory and Improvement Amendments of 1988, labs that offer this service are required to establish and verify the test’s accuracy.
How do at-home HIV tests work?
The following are the answers to some common questions about HIV home tests. A positive HIV result does not necessarily mean a person has contracted the virus. People interested in the test can choose between a one-time order or a subscription.
According to a 2018 review, there has been much debate over the effectiveness of home HIV tests. However, the review found that the majority of people could use the test accurately at home. A 2018 study concluded that home HIV tests should become a staple option to increase the number of people being tested and empower those wishing to take an HIV test. This article explores what a person needs to know about at-home HIV tests, including where to find them, their reliability, and when to consult a doctor. If the home test is positive, a follow-up laboratory test will need to be done to confirm the results.
Best for a comprehensive test: LetsGetChecked
To compile this list, we looked at at-home HIV tests offered by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified labs. We also looked at each test’s cost, results for delivery time, insurance or health savings spending approval, and ease of purchasing. You can buy an HIV self-test at a pharmacy or online. Your local health department or another organization near you may offer free or reduced cost self-tests, which you can find using the locator below. The only FDA-approved HIV self-test currently available in the United States is an oral fluid test.
Be sure to check with your insurance company and health care provider about reimbursement for tests that you purchase. You or your health care provider will mail the sample to a lab for testing. Individuals then send their sample to a certified lab. The company will disclose the results within a few days of receiving the sample via a secure portal on its website. According to the FDA, the test requires a person to swab their upper and lower gums. Once they collect a sample, they place the stick into the test tube.
Who should get tested?
Treatment can help prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy. CLIA certified and International Organization for Standardization accredited laboratories will analyze the sample. If medication is needed, you can get it at no additional charge. Prescribing guidelines vary by state and diagnosis.
After 20 to 40 minutes, one line will appear if the test is negative. Two lines indicate that HIV antibodies were detected and that you may be HIV positive. A positive at-home test doesn’t necessarily mean you have HIV. However, it’s important schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional for additional testing. The FDA says that the approved OraQuick test is only effective after 3 months following exposure to the virus, and around 1 in 12 people will receive a false negative. Other tests require a person to take a small sample of blood, often from their finger.
Just 20 minutes
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is the only HIV test approved by the FDA that people can use to test themselves at home or in a private location. OraQuick was approved in 2012 for sale in stores and online to anyone age 17 and older.
The company states a person will receive their results within 2–5 business days. For people who are HIV positive, there are FDA-approved medicines that can help keep the virus under control. These medicines do not cure HIV, but they can help people live longer, healthier lives and reduce the chance they’ll spread the virus to someone else. For people who are HIV negative, there are FDA-approved PrEP (or pre-exposure prophylaxis) drugs that may help protect against infection.
The company’s STI tests may be more expensive than some of its competitors. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Antibodies are proteins the body makes to fight off an infection. It’s estimated that 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. And some of those people — about one in seven — don’t know they have it, according to the U.S.
They can help you avoid an in-person doctor’s visit, save time, and start treatment sooner if needed. You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you collect a good sample. Learn more about what a negative or positivetest result means.
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