In the past, going to a doctor’s office, hospital, or community health center was the only method to get tested for HIV. However, there are now new methods for HIV testing at home, like the HIV rapid home test kit.
These at-home HIV test, whether performed at home or in a clinic, can provide results in as little as 30 minutes.
What to anticipate from HIV Rapid home tests and how they work
An HIV rapid home test can be ordered online or obtained from a reliable supplier. This test necessitates the collection of a small sample of blood through a finger poke and placing it on a card. The card is then mailed to a laboratory. The results would be communicated to the person’s doctor or the company if the product was purchased without a doctor.
An HIV rapid home test for HIV antibodies uses a saliva sample from the mouth. First, the top and bottom gums are swabbed with the stick supplied in the kit for this rapid HIV test. The stick is then placed in a vial with the developer solution. In 20 to 40 minutes, you’ll have your results.
One HIV rapid test, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), had a 92 percent Trusted Source accuracy rate in detecting HIV. However, one out of every 12 tests result in a false negative, which implies a person tests negative when they are positive. When they don’t have HIV, about one out of every 5,000 persons will test positive.
It’s also worth noting that the body can take up to three months to generate HIV antibodies. So, it’s possible that an HIV rapid test taken less than three months after exposure won’t give you an accurate result.
Anyone who receives a positive result on a home rapid HIV test should seek medical advice or contact the product’s customer service department. The results can be confirmed with a follow-up test.
What are the advantages of taking the HIV Rapid test?
If HIV is detected early and treatment begins immediately, it is easier to manage and treat it. Without waiting for an appointment with a healthcare expert or taking time out of their schedule to visit a lab, consumers can get results instantly — often within minutes — using HIV rapid home tests. Early detection is critical for long-term HIV treatment to be successful.
Home tests allow you to find out if you have the virus faster than any other type of testing. This may help you limit the virus’s impact. Early testing can even protect your partner from contracting it.
Private health insurance may not cover an at-home HIV test purchased at a drugstore or online. However, some local health departments and groups provide these tests free or at a discounted cost.
