Home Syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis B and C Test Kit

Our at-home bloodborne infection test kit checks for some of the most common infections spread by blood. They are:

• syphilis
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• hepatitis B and C

These infections can be spread through sexual contact or by sharing needles. This at-home test kit enables you to collect a sample at home using the equipment provided and post it back to our partner lab.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can have serious long-term consequences if left untreated. It’s caused by the bacterium known as Treponema pallidum, and is passed on through oral, vaginal, and anal sex.

Many people who get syphilis do not have any symptoms, so it can go unnoticed for years. Syphilis symptoms can also change over time and it may take 3 weeks or more for symptoms to show, if they do. They include:

• small ulcers on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom – they are often painless and you may only have 1
• sores in other places on the body such as lips, hands, or in your mouth
• wart-like growths on your penis, vagina, or bottom
• a rash on the palm of your hands or soles of your feet
• white patches in your mouth
• flu-like symptoms
• swollen glands
• patchy hair loss

How is syphilis spread?

Syphilis is spread by:

• unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex
• coming into contact with an ulcer on a sexual partner's penis, vagina, anus, or in their mouth
• pregnancy to an unborn baby
• injecting drugs with a needle used by someone who has syphilis
• a blood transfusion or organ transplant – this is rare and all blood and organs are checked for syphilis in the UK

What are the risks of leaving syphilis untreated?

If syphilis is not treated it can cause serious health issues and can be life-threatening. For example, the infection can cause:

• heart issues – angina, aortic aneurysm, and heart failure
• brain issues – seizures, memory problems, personality changes, and dementia
• nerve issues – pins and needles, joint pain, shooting pains, and joint damage
• skin and organ problems

However, if detected early, syphilis can be treated with a course of antibiotics. How long you will need to be treated for will depend on the stage of the infection.

HIV

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and causes a wide range of conditions that may lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus weakens the body’s immune system so it struggles to fight everyday, common infections and diseases.

Usually, people who become infected with HIV experience flu-like symptoms for 1 or 2 weeks. These present within 2 to 6 weeks after being infected. Once these HIV symptoms have disappeared, it may not cause any more symptoms for years, but it will still damage your immune system. Some people get an HIV rash which is an early sign of infection.

How is HIV spread?

HIV is present in bodily fluids, including:

• semen, vaginal and anal fluids
• breast milk
• blood

It cannot be spread by urine, sweat, or saliva. The most common way to get HIV in the UK is through having unprotected vaginal or anal sex, but it can also be spread by:

• sharing needles, syringes, or injections with an infected person
• pregnancy, breastfeeding, or birth

If you are at an increased risk of HIV exposure, you can take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect yourself.

What are the risks if HIV is left untreated?

If HIV isn’t treated, it can cause damage to the immune system and lead to conditions that may be life-limiting or threatening, such as:

• AIDS
• dementia
• liver disease
• tuberculosis (TB)
• cancer

“If you believe you may have come into contact with HIV, emergency medicine called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be given, ideally within 24 hours, to stop you becoming infected. An early HIV diagnosis means you can start treatment sooner, improving your chances of controlling the virus and limiting its impact on your body. The only way to find out if you have been infected is to have an HIV test.” — Dr Brenda Ikeji - Medical Editor

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis is caused by a virus that infects the blood and can develop slowly, over a number of years without any symptoms, so you may not know you have been infected. Hepatitis B causes liver inflammation and if left untreated can cause liver damage.

How is hepatitis B spread?

Hepatitis B is spread when the blood or bodily fluid of an infected person enters your bloodstream, like during unprotected sex or sharing needles.

What are the risks if hepatitis B is left untreated?

If hepatitis B is not treated, it can remain in the body for a long time and lead to liver problems, including:

• cirrhosis (scarring)
• cancer
• death

A vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis B and is given to high-risk people, such as:

• healthcare workers
• injectable drug users
• men who have sex with men
• children whose mother has hepatitis B
• people travelling to areas of the world where hepatitis B is prevalent
• all children in the UK as part of their routine immunisation programme

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus and often has no noticeable symptoms. Some people may experience flu-like symptoms.

How is hepatitis C spread?

Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person, such as:

• during unprotected sex
• sharing needles, syringes, and injections

What are the risks if hepatitis C is left untreated?

Some people will fight off the hepatitis C infection on their own. In others, it can remain in the body for many years, leading to liver cirrhosis or liver failure.

There is no vaccine available to prevent hepatitis C.

Bloodborne infections such as syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis, are passed on from person to person during unprotected sex, but they can also be transmitted if you share needles or syringes.

You should get tested for bloodborne infections if you:

• or a sexual partner has any symptoms
• have been told that a sexual partner has tested positive for a bloodborne infections
• have tested positive for another STI
• have had unprotected sex and haven’t yet been tested, and you’re planning to get pregnant
• take injectable drugs and share needles

High-risk groups

Some people are considered to be at a higher risk of contracting bloodborne infections, such as:

• anyone who is sexually active or has more than 1 sexual partner
• men who have sex with men
• bisexual men
• people who share needles or drug equipment
• pregnant people

In the UK, more than two-thirds of people accessing HIV care were men.

Getting tested with the at-home bloodborne STI kit is important because syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C:

• can be symptomless, and if left untreated, can cause serious long-term complications
• are easily caught through unprotected sex or sharing needles
• are spread easily to new and casual partners, so testing can reduce the number of people affected and enable you to get the correct treatment
• can be passed on to unborn children if their mother is infected

The convenience of the at-home test kit means you can provide a sample from the comfort of your own home privately, without the need to go to a sexual health clinic.

Different infections have a different ‘window period’ for when they will be present in your sample. For example, the window period for each of the infections screened for in this test are:

• Syphilis – 3 to 6 weeks and retest at 3 months
• HIV – 45 days and retest at 3 months
• Hepatitis B – 3 months
• Hepatitis C – 3 months

Our home kit tests for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C using a small sample of blood taken from a finger prick.

Each kit contains an instruction leaflet and all the equipment you need to provide a small blood sample and return it to our partner lab for analysis, such as:

• a sample tube
• a small needle called a lancet
• lab card
• prepaid envelope

Home syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C Tests for men and women

1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
2. Remove the blood sample tube from the pack, take off the yellow lid, and stand it upright on a flat surface.
3. Clean your finger with an alcohol wipe and allow it to air dry – we recommend using your middle or ring finger on your non-dominant hand.
4. Twist and remove the colour tip off the lancet and throw it away.
5. Place the lancet firmly against the tip of your chosen finger and push down on the button on the top of the lancet to prick your finger – if the lancet does not work, use another (each pack has 3 lancets).
6. Stand or sit over the blood sample collection tube, keep your arm straight and firmly massage down your finger to allow the blood to flow and collect in the tube.
7. Continue until you have reached the designated line of the collection tube. If there is not enough blood, repeat the process using a new lancet on a different finger.
8. If needed, apply a small plaster to your finger.
9. Push the cap firmly back onto the tube until you hear a click and invert the tube gently 5 times to mix.
10. Place the collection tube back into the protective case.
11. Wash your hands before applying the lab label with your details on the tube.
12. Place it in the prepaid envelope and post your sample in any UK postbox as soon as possible. It’s best to take the test when you can go straight to a postbox.

Our at-home bloodborne STI test kits are 90 to 95% accurate. You can help to increase the accuracy of your results by:

• collecting your sample at the right time
• sending your sample to the laboratory as soon as possible without delay

No STI test kit is 100% accurate but if you follow the instructions carefully, you will help to make sure you get the most accurate results.

After the lab receives your blood sample, your results will be available to view in your ZAVA patient account within 2 to 3 working days. The sooner you post your sample back to the lab, the sooner you will receive your results.

To maintain patient confidentiality, our tests are sent to you in discreet packaging. We will never email or text you your results to protect your privacy, but we will send an email asking you to log in when your results are ready.

Our doctors will review your results, let you know what they mean, and what you’ll need to do next.

What does a negative syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C test result mean?

A negative result from your syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C test means that at the time of testing, none of the infections were detected in your blood sample.

You do not need to do anything else or get treatment. If you tested for syphilis and HIV, you’ll need to do a follow-up test at 3 months even if your results were negative.

What does a positive syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C test result mean?

A positive result means you have got at least one of the infections being tested for. You will need treatment straight away to limit the long-term health effects that these bloodborne infections can cause.

Our doctors will provide advice about what you’ll need to do next. All positive results will need to be followed up by another type of test to confirm the results.

If you do test positive, we’ll discuss the potential consequences with you in detail. We’ll also help you find specialist care in your local area and put you in touch with local support groups.