PrEP test kits

You can take a PrEP test at any time, but it might not detect HIV if you caught the infection within the last 6 weeks. If you’re concerned that you’ve caught HIV recently because of an incident such as having unprotected sex with someone whose HIV status you do not know, then we recommend that you wait until 6 weeks after the incident to get tested.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, you should visit your local sexual health clinic straight away. This is because you may need to start taking PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis).

It’s quick and easy to take an HIV test at home. When you receive your test, it will contain all the information you need to know to take it.

If there are any problems while taking your test or you make a mistake, we can send you a new test free of charge.

Your test will contain:

• 3 lancets, used to prick the skin to collect your blood sample
• swabs
• a collection tube
• a plaster
• a wallet
• a prepaid envelope to send your test to our partner lab

Before your test, you will need a clean tissue. You can collect your sample at any time of day.

To collect your sample you should:

• Clean your hands with warm water and soap. It’s easier to collect your sample if your hands are warm
• Dry your hands thoroughly
• Take a swab and use it to wipe one of your fingertips. We recommend that you avoid using a finger you write with
• Wait until your fingertip is completely dry
• Twist the cap and remove the purple stick from one of the lancets. Place this on the middle of the fingertip you’d like to collect your sample from and press the purple button to prick your finger
• You should see a drop of blood start to form on your fingertip. If this doesn’t happen, you can attempt this again on a different finger using one of the extra lancets
• Take a tissue and use it to wipe the 1st drop of blood away. After this, place the collection tube upright in the groove of the plastic container on a flat surface. Doing this will make collecting your sample easier as you may need both hands to do so
• Point your finger down over the collection tube and squeeze each side of your fingertip so that drops of blood will fall into the collection tube
• Do this until the tube is filled to the top line. If there’s not enough blood to fill the tube, you can use one of the extra lancets on a different finger by repeating the first steps
• When you’ve finished, cover your fingertip with the plaster
• Place the lid back on the collection tube and make sure it’s screwed on tightly
• Write your details on the sticky label
• Stick the label to the collection tube and place the filled tube into the wallet. Next, place the wallet into the envelope
• Post the sample in the envelope to our partner lab
• You’ll receive your results and advice from our doctors in your account within 2 to 3 days of it arriving at our partner lab

You will receive your results privately in your online account within 2 to 3 days of our laboratory receiving your sample.

If your results show that you have tested positive for HIV, our doctors will give you advice and support as well as guiding you through what to do next.

All positive HIV results must be followed by a 2nd confirmation test.

Your results will tell you whether you can start taking PrEP. If this is the case, you can place an order for PrEP straight away.

If your results say that you cannot take PrEP, this means that you’ve tested positive for either HIV, reduced kidney function or hepatitis B or C. This will be clearly explained in your results, and you’ll be given information on exactly what to do next. You’ll also be able to book a follow-up telephone consultation with one of our doctors.