HIV testing kit

About our serviceHow will I receive my order?Your order will be delivered to you via Royal Mail next-day tracked delivery in discreet packaging.What is discreet packaging?All orders are secured inside plain packaging, which provides no indication of what it contains or its origin.The test kit is sealed in a plain box, fastened together with a sticker. The box is then put in a plain, opaque, grey bag. The only information on the bag is your name and address, which you provide us.Are the home tests accurate?Our STI tests are the same ones used by clinics and doctors, and are very accurate.Are my results sent to my GP?We will not send your results to your GP without your consent.Who supplies our tests? (Laboratory)Our tests are supplied by TDL Pathology.Will I need a prescription?No, you do not need a prescription or referral to order a testing kit from our website.How does the service work?You order a testing kit from our website, and we deliver it to you in the mail.You provide the necessary samples and post them to our partner lab, using the included free postage envelope.The laboratory receives the samples and tests them.Your results are made available through your online Prescription Doctor account. Only you have access to this information.Collecting your sampleWhat should I do if I use up all the lancets?If you use up all the lancets while attempting to draw blood from your fingers, please call the number at the bottom of the instructions to get in touch with the laboratory.They will be able to assist you with what you should do next.What should I do with the used lancets?Place the used lancets back in the box and mail them back to the laboratory. They will be able to dispose of them safely on your behalf.Do not dispose of lancets in your household waste.What should I do with any remaining lancets?Place the unused lancets back in the box and mail them back to the laboratory.Do not throw away any lancets in your household waste.Does alcohol consumption affect the test?Yes, alcohol can cause dehydration, which can make collecting samples of blood and urine difficult.You should avoid drinking alcohol before taking the test.How do I collect my urine sample?Make the urine collection box by squeezing the indicated sides.Begin peeing into the box. Once the box is halfway full, continue urinating into the toilet.Pour the urine from the sample box into the provided vial until it is three-quarters full. Discard any remaining urine down the toilet and throw away the sample collection box.Affix the cap to the vial and seal it inside the provided plastic wallet.Place the plastic wallet back into the box and seal the entire contents inside the prepaid envelope. Post it at your earliest convenience.How much urine is required?You only need to fill the tube 3/4 of the way to provide an adequate sample.What is the best time to collect a urine sample?For the most accurate results, you should take your urine test first thing in the morning.How do I collect my blood sample?Clean the finger with one of the provided alcotip swabs.Remove the cap from one of the lancets and press the end firmly against the side of your fingertip. Apply pressure to the needle to prick your finger.Wipe away the first drop of blood from your finger.Holding your finger above the collection vial, gently milk the blood out of your finger. Do not squeeze the area around the site of the incision.Fill the vial up to the marked line and affix the plastic cap.Gently invert the vial 5 to 10 times to mix the blood.What should I do if I am struggling to collect my blood sample?If you have trouble drawing enough blood to provide an adequate sample, there are several steps you can take:Run your hand under warm waterWarm water can promote blood flow and soften hardened skin on your fingertips, making it easier to collect the sample.
Stand up straightStanding up with your arms by your side can encourage blood flow to your fingertips before taking your sample.
Point your finger downPosition your hand above the vial and point your finger down, allowing the blood to drip from your finger directly into the vial.
Milk your fingerRub from your knuckle to the point of incision. Avoid squeezing the incision point as this can cause the blood to clot.
Try different fingersThe best fingers to take blood samples from are the ring finger and pinkie finger. Use a new lancet for each sample.
Try changing the hand you draw blood fromIf you struggle to draw blood from your right hand, try drawing blood from your left hand. Use a new, unused lancet for each new sample.
Ask a friend or family member for assistanceYou can ask someone to assist you in collecting your blood sample. They can hold the blood vial or help massage the blood from your elbow down to your fingers.
 When is the best time to collect a blood sample?The best time to collect your blood sample is in the morning.How much blood is required?The amount of blood required is indicated by the fill line marked on the collection vial. You need to fill the vial to the marked line to ensure an accurate test result.Do I need to refrigerate my sample(s)?There is no need to store or refrigerate your sample(s).Once you have collected your sample(s), please post them to our partnered lab using the included free postage envelope at your earliest convenience.Sending your sample to the labWhen is the best time to send my results to the lab?Collect the sample on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday and post it on the same day to ensure it reaches the lab before the weekend.Receiving your resultsWho should I contact if I have a problem?If you have any issues with your order, our friendly customer service team are on hand to help.How long will it take for my results to come through?Your results will be available 2 days after the lab receives your sample.How do I access my results?Your results will be made available to you via your Prescription Doctor account.What should I do if I receive a positive result?If you receive a positive test result, a member of our medical team will contact you with guidance on next steps.Who should I speak to about concerns with my results?If you have any concerns about the results you have received, contact our customer service team for assistance.General questions about getting tested for STIsShould I still get tested for STIs even if I have no symptoms?Many STIs can be asymptomatic, meaning that they do not cause any symptoms. The only way of knowing for certain whether you have an STI is by getting tested.It is recommended to get checked for STIs every time you change sexual partners. For high-risk individuals who are not in monogamous relationships, it's often recommended to get tested every 3 to 6 months.If you are experiencing any symptoms of an STI, or have reason to believe you have been exposed to an STI, you should get tested to determine your status.When should I take an STI test?You should get tested as soon as you can after exposure to a sexually transmitted infection.When should I retake a test or follow up?If you suspect a false positive or false negative, consider getting tested again.It is also important to retest after receiving treatment to ensure that the treatment has been effective and the infection has cleared.How is the home testing kit different from one from a clinic?The only difference between our home testing kit and a test performed at a clinic is that you are in control of the testing process.Our home testing kits allow you to conveniently test for STIs from the comfort of your own home at your own pace. Once you have collected your samples, you post them to our partnered lab at a time which suits you.

If you find yourself concerned about contracting a serious illness, the last thing you want to be worrying about is the accuracy of an at-home HIV test kit. While HIV testing is available for free with the NHS, you might find yourself unable or unwilling to head to your local GP. You undertake a little investigative work and discover you can buy HIV testing kits online, which can be delivered discreetly to your door. But you may be dubious of the accuracy of these blood tests, which you can take in the comfort of your own home.Here, we'll explore how it is possible to test for HIV at home and uncover the accuracy behind these convenient HIV test kits.What is HIV?Commonly referred to as HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that cannot be beaten by the human body’s natural defence mechanisms. Instead, HIV uses the cells that are usually produced to fight infections and turns them into cells that help the HIV illness to replicate.If left untreated, HIV eventually transforms into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), in which the sufferer will no longer have any immune system at all. Because of this, the virus is known as degenerative (gets worse over time), and early action can mean you will have access to medication that slows the entire process down.HIV is not the same as AIDS. HIV is the name of the virus, which is transmitted, while AIDS refers to the symptoms which develop when HIV is left untreated. A person with AIDS can still carry and transmit HIV.Should I be concerned about HIV?If you have had unprotected sex with a person who is HIV positive, and have regular casual sex with new partners, then you should be regularly tested for sexually transmitted infections. Similarly, if you are considered “high risk”, it is advised that you take the at-home HIV test kit regularly - these include recreational drug users or those who share needles with others.Testing yourself regularly with an accurate at-home HIV test kit will ensure that you are able to seek medical help as soon as your test results are positive. It also allows you to safeguard other partners and friends with the knowledge of your HIV status.How accurate are HIV home testing kits?Fourth-generation tests are extremely precise, with a 95% accuracy rating within 28 days of exposure, according to a 2018 study by Livant et al. It is recommended, however, that a second test be performed after 3 months of the initial exposure, as the infection may take longer to manifest in some individuals than in others. At three months, the accuracy of the HIV home tests is considered 99.97% accurate.The accuracy of fifth-generation HIV testing kits, such as those available from Prescription Doctor, is even more so. These tests indicate whether p24 pathogens and antibodies, associated with the body's reaction to an HIV infection, are present, and can detect HIV faster and more accurately than fourth-generation tests. Fifth-generation HIV testing kits are 99.8% accurate at detecting HIV at least 6 weeks after exposure.The accuracy of at-home HIV test kits is not affected by environmental factors, so you should not need to fast or worry about false positives or negatives, as long as you perform the test correctly. However, it is essential that any at-home testing kit you purchase bears the quality assurance mark “CE”. This means it is licensed for sale in the UK, as tests from abroad may not be as accurate due to the poor quality.HIV TreatmentReceiving a positive result from any HIV test can be extremely distressing and upsetting. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for HIV, although many people who have HIV go on to live happy, fulfilling lives thanks to advances in medicine.If your test shows a positive result, it is important that you contact your local doctor as soon as possible, letting them know that you have tested positive with an at-home HIV testing kit. Your local GP will then be able to provide you with medicine and regular blood tests to monitor the progress of the virus.The medicine you will receive from your doctor comes from a wide variety of pills, which are referred to as antiretroviral medications. These work by stopping the virus from replicating in your body. Doing this gives your body the space and time it needs to rebuild your immune system, without new cells becoming infected by the virus.The type of medicine you are given in this group can vary depending on the rate at which the virus has spread, how your body responds, and how the virus responds to medication. For some, only a single pill is required each day - for others, you may require a combination of pills up to 4 times a day.This can also change over time, as the virus can sometimes mutate and become resistant to the medication you are currently taking. In these cases, your doctor will move on to another combination of tablets, all of which do the same job of suppressing the virus itself.It is important that you are always open and honest with your doctor about any other medications - prescribed or otherwise - that you might be taking, as these can interfere with the effectiveness of your HIV treatment.For many HIV patients, the virus will be under control, and a blood test will show an undetectable viral load within 6 months of being prescribed their first course of HIV treatment. Of course, medicinal advancements are continually occurring, and it is entirely possible that a cure could be discovered in the near future.Sources:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/diagnosis/https://www.nat.org.uk/we-inform/HIV-statistics/UK-statistics