September 10, 2021 BY imani leave a comment
Having HIV may feel scary and alienating. What’s even worse is having it and not knowing. Getting an HIV test is the first step towards living a long and healthy life. Knowing you are HIV negative can do no harm, and knowing that you are positive can put you on the right track in getting the help you need. Getting tested is the first step.
What is in-home HIV testing?
Going to a lab is not the only way to get tested for HIV. You can test yourself for HIV antibodies in the comfort of your own home. All you need to do is buy a testing kit at your local pharmacy or reach out to us to request a free HIV testing kit.
The in-home HIV testing kit tests for HIV antibodies, which may be present in the body of someone who has been infected. All you have to do is swab the inside of your mouth with a test stick and collect an oral fluid sample. Then, place the stick in a test tube with a testing solution and wait for 20 to 40 minutes for the results. One line signifies a negative test, while two lines signify a positive test.
Are in-home HIV test results accurate?
Naturally, in-home HIV test kits are not as accurate as tests that are done in a lab. If you get a positive result, you still need to contact your doctor and get another test to confirm or deny it. About 1 in 5,000 negative tests comes back as a false positive.
There are false negatives too. If you’ve contracted the virus, it may take up to 3 months for your body to develop antibodies, meaning in-home testing won’t be accurate until after 3 months. If you have a strong suspicion that you’ve contracted the virus, lab testing is recommended.
What to do in case of a positive test?
If your test comes back positive, it is important that you contact your doctor and visit a medical facility for further testing. You could have a false positive. In the opposite case, your doctor can prescribe you effective treatment that will allow you to live a long and happy life.
Visit this page to request your free in-home HIV testing kit.