HIV Test Kit
Accurate HIV home testing technology
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Worried about HIV? A home HIV test allows you to take the test without having to see a doctor or nurse. The home HIV test requires you to take a small sample of blood (following the instructions provided with the HIV test kit) and then send the sample to our lab for analysis.
Your test result will be available within two days of your sample reaching the lab. Our service is discreet and confidential.
Delivery and return postage are free.
About HIV test kits
Instructions for taking the test
The HIV test kit is fairly straightforward to use. You’ll need to collect a sample of blood by pricking your fingertip with the lancet provided and 'milking' your blood into the collection tube.
Full instructions on exactly how to do this will be provided with your home HIV test kit.
How quickly will you receive your result?
You should receive your test kit from us within 1-2 working days of placing your order. Results are generally available 2-3 days after your sample reaches the laboratory.
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Our HIV home test kit detects the presence of HIV 1 and 2 antibodies, as well as the p24 antigen in a blood sample. The test is 99.8% likely to find an HIV infection if you have contracted it more than 6 weeks prior to the test.
The process is simple:
- We’ll send you a test kit in discreet packaging
- Provide a blood sample, following the instructions we send you
- Post the sample to our partner laboratory using the pre-paid envelope
- We’ll contact you as soon as your results are ready
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The HIV test kit is unlikely to detect HIV if you contracted the infection within the last six weeks. If you’re worried you may have contracted HIV from a recent incident, we recommend you wait until six weeks after the incident to get tested.
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours please visit your local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic immediately.
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You may be infected. Almost 100,000 people are currently living with HIV in the UK. 25% of these are completely unaware of their status. HIV isn't just a problem for men who have sex with men. In 2011, 48% of new infections were passed on through heterosexual sex. Symptoms of HIV often do not show; which means there's no way of telling whether or not someone is infected, just by looking at them. The only way of knowing your HIV status for sure is by getting tested.
If you engage in any of the following high-risk behaviours, you should get HIV and STI tests taken annually:
- You inject drugs or steroids and/or share needles and syringes
- You have unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, anonymous partners or sex workers
- You have been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis, herpes or other STIs
- You have had unprotected sex with somebody who could answer yes to any of the above questions
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The HIV test kit we use is an HIV 1 and 2 Abs/p24 Ag combination (Fifth Generation) test. It’s the standard test offered by most UK clinics and comes recommended by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH).
It works by detecting both the specific proteins (antigens) found on the surface of the HIV virus itself, and the HIV-fighting antibodies produced by your body.
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No, our home HIV test kits are not the same as 'rapid HIV tests' (where the result is given to you immediately, almost like a home pregnancy test).
Our tests are processed and analysed by qualified lab technicians and carry an incredibly small margin of error (0.2%). Your result will be given to you by an experienced and compassionate doctor who can provide support and advise you on what to do next.
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If your HIV test kit comes back positive our doctors will be on hand to help you on the next step of the way. All positive results must be followed up by a confirmatory test using different technology. If you do test positive for HIV we’ll discuss all possible consequences with you in detail. We’ll also help you to find specialist care in your local area and put you in touch with local support groups.
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If you order on Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, we’ll process and send out your test kit the same day. Otherwise orders are sent out on the next working day, which means Monday for orders submitted over the weekend.
Your delivery options and an estimate of your delivery time will be shown to you during checkout.
If you have any questions you can message a doctor after completing your order.
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We take every effort to protect your privacy, including:
- not emailing or texting you with medical information
- not sharing your information without your consent. See our privacy notice for more information
- sending your test kit out in plain packaging
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We would like to inform your GP about the outcome of any treatments that you may be sent, as this is considered good medical practice. If you provide your GP details we can do this for you free of charge.
We will not contact your GP without your consent.
Dr Kathryn Basford is a qualified GP who works as a GP in London, as well as with Zava. She graduated from the University of Manchester and completed her GP training through Whipps Cross Hospital in London.
Meet our doctorsLast reviewed: 10 Jun 2019
GMC: 6149137
GMC: 6149061
GMC: 7155722
Zava offers a convenient and discreet service to test for sexually transmitted infections. You will receive your test kit by post. Follow the instructions provided with the test kit and collect a sample (depending on the test kit this could be a blood, saliva, urine sample or genital swab). The test kit comes with an envelope, ready to send to our partner laboratory which will analyse your sample. Once your result has come back, you will be able to view it in your secure Zava account. We will never send medical or personal information via email.
