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There are several at-home HIV tests available — each offers similar services and vary on price and testing procedures. You can pay for some at-home tests with an HSA or FSA. But directly purchased tests may not be covered by private health insurance or Medicaid. Check with your insurance provider or your doctor about reimbursement before buying one. To get tested with OraQuick, you only need an oral swab, there is no need to draw blood. All orders are delivered in an unmarked brown box to ensure privacy.
No — and this is important for users of the test to understand. The test is not reliable at detecting HIV infection until at least three months after infection. In addition, even after three months, there can also be false negative results because no test is perfect. Also, individuals taking medicine to treat or prevent HIV infection may get false negative results because the medicines may affect antibody levels. This means that it’s important not to rely on a negative test result to decide whether to engage in behavior that puts you at risk for HIV infection. More testing done through a lab is needed to confirm your HIV status.
HIV — why you should get tested
A person can purchase either type at a pharmacy or online. However, a person’s state of residence may affect which tests are available. Not everyone at risk of HIV has access to a doctors’ office to get tested. However, the Food and Drug Administration has approved one at-home test for HIV — the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. If people can’t get to a clinic for testing, or have concerns about their privacy, there is a home testing kit that has been evaluated and approved by the U.S.
For comprehensive guidance on testing instructions and interpreting OraQuick HIV Self-Test test results, refer to the directions provided with your in-home kit. Post-exposure detection of HIV may take up to three months, known as the window period, in which antibodies to the virus are developed. Testing during the window period may produce a negative result. With a positive result and if results are inconclusive seek additional testing in a medical setting. For comprehensive guidance on testing instructions and interpreting OraQuick In-Home HIV test results, refer to the directions provided with your in-home kit. Amail-in HIV test is an antigen/antibody test that includes supplies to collect a small sample of blood from a finger stick.
Results in 3 Easy Steps
It is important to talk with your health care provider before starting a new medicine and about side effects and warnings for any medicines you take. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 years old be screened for HIV at least once as part of their routine health care. A positive result does not definitively mean infection, only that more testing is necessary. A negative result may not be accurate if you have been exposed within the last 3 months. Individuals can collect the test in person from the lab or receive it in the mail.
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.
Should I take an at-home HIV test or get one at the doctor’s office?
IDNA doesn’t offer physician support if tests results are positive. Instead, the company offers a free retest to confirm the results. You’ll get a detailed digital report with your results. The test screens for antibodies that can take 23 to 90 days to be detectable after exposure. This HIV test can usually detect an HIV infection only 18 to 45 days after exposure because it also checks for HIV p24 antigens in the blood.
Oral rapid tests can produce false positives in 1 out of every 5,000 and false negatives in 1 out of every 12 tests, according to the FDA. For example, a 2018 research review compared self-testers with trained healthcare workers. The researchers found that people at home can reliably and accurately perform HIV rapid diagnostic tests. IDNA offers testing approved by the Food and Drug Administration for HIV-1 and HIV-2, as well as other STIs. It comes complete with easy-to-follow directions for taking your own samples. Your health care provider can also order a mail-in HIV test for you.
Frequently asked questions
A subscription may save money long term, especially for those who may have a higher risk of exposure. People can choose which lab to send results to based on location and cost. Health Testing Centers also says the single HIV test works within 18–45 days following exposure to the virus. Free shipping can take up to 10 days, which may be unsuitable for people who require quick testing.
All shipments arrive at your door in discreet packaging. Read on to learn about the different types of at-home HIV tests, plus our recommendations. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
The immune system produces antibodies when exposed to viruses like HIV. Antigens are foreign substances that cause the immune system to activate. For HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced even before antibodies develop. You should always interpret HIV self-test results according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Learn more about what a negativeor positivetest result means. For an HIV self-test, you must swab your gums to collect an oral fluid sample and then test your sample.
Once they complete the test, they need to send the sample to their nominated lab, after which they should receive their results within 1–3 business days. While nonapproved rapid tests or mail-in tests are available, research has not reached a consensus on the accuracy of home HIV tests. However, some studies point to home tests having slightly less accurate results than a doctor’s office. HIV tests are offered at many types of places including your health care provider’s office. The CDC web page on HIV testing has information on where you can get screened, the different types of tests and what you can expect.
To be updated for mobile or fixed broadband, 75% of a city's monthly unique user totals over a 13-month period must have a minimum of 100 monthly unique user results. Then compare your internet experience by taking a Speedtest below. Create your own package of condoms, lubricants and an HIV Test kit. Vivent Health offers free in person STI and HIV testing.
This medication reduces the chances of catching HIV after exposure. You can get this treatment from any sexual health clinic. With treatment, HIV positive individuals live long and healthy lives. We share information and resources for greater understanding of HIV. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
Choosing one or the other may be a matter of convenience. If you want to talk with a doctor in person after taking an HIV test, an office visit may be better for you. If you have a higher risk of contracting HIV, get tested more frequently. Even if you’re in a monogamous relationship, consider getting tested with your partner. The OraQuick test may detect HIV within 2 weeks of infection, but it may take longer depending on the person. Experts caution that users should view the results as preliminary.
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