Everyone who may be at risk of HIV should get tested because early diagnosis can lead to better treatment outcomes, and lowers the chance of passing the infection on to others. You should take an HIV test if you think you may have been exposed to the infection.

Some people are at a higher risk of HIV and should be routinely tested, such as:

• men who have sex with men (MSM), or women who have sexual contact with MSM
• trans women
• Black Africans
• people who currently or used to inject drugs
• sex workers
• prisoners
• people who come from a country where HIV is highly prevalent (has been diagnosed in over 1% of the population)
• people who have sexual contact with someone from a country where HIV is highly prevalent
• people who have a mother living with HIV and do not have a documented HIV-negative status

HIV testing is also recommended if you:

• have a partner who is living with HIV or have been told by a partner that they have tested positive for HIV
• think you may have been exposed to HIV
• have unprotected sex
• have HIV symptoms
• are a trans man

The at-home blood test offered by Superdrug Online Doctor can accurately detect HIV 6 weeks after potential exposure. Different HIV tests have different window periods. This is the time after you have been exposed to the infection when it will be detectable by a test. You should check the window period of the test you choose, so you get accurate results.

It is important that you avoid having sex until you have received a negative result, to reduce the chance of spreading HIV to your sexual partners.

Can you test too early for HIV?

Yes, you can test too early for HIV. If you test before enough of the virus is detectable, you may get a false-negative result. The length of the window period varies between tests, but it is sometimes recommended that you do a follow-up test 12 weeks later, especially if you use a rapid or self-test, to make sure you get an accurate result.

How often should you test for HIV?

You should test for HIV at least once a year or every 3 to 6 months if you are in a high-risk group, such as men who have sex with men, anyone with new or casual partners, or people who inject drugs.

Can a person test positive for HIV after 1 week?

Most HIV tests cannot reliably detect HIV after 1 week. However, some ribonucleic acid (RNA) tests may be able to detect the virus as early as 5 to 10 days after infection. These tests check the blood for the genetic material of HIV and can be used earlier than other types of test.

The home HIV test kit requires a small blood sample, which can be easily collected through a simple finger prick. When you receive your kit, it will have everything you need to collect your sample and return it to our lab for analysis.

Before providing your sample, complete the sample collection tube label using a ballpoint pen and apply it to the blood collection tube.

Choose which finger you are going to collect your sample from. The best location is on the side of your middle or ring finger. Once you’re ready to take your test, follow these steps:

1. Start by washing your hands with warm, soapy water and drying them thoroughly on a clean towel.
2. Open the pack of lancets and put them on one side.
3. Clean your chosen finger with the enclosed alcohol swab, making sure your finger is completely dry before collecting your sample.
4. Remove the lancet from the bag and twist and remove the blue stick. The lancet is now ready for use.
5. Place the lancet on the side of your chosen finger. Press it firmly against your skin until you hear a ‘click’.
6. Wipe away the first drop of blood with a tissue.
7. Holding your hand downwards, gently massage your hand down to your finger to encourage blood flow.
8. Gently massage your hand and fingers to help the blood flow into the blood collection tube.
9. Fill the collection tube to the upper line on the side of the tube. Use another lancet on a different part of your finger if you need to.
10. Once the tube is filled to the top line, stop collecting. Clean your finger with a clean tissue and apply the small spot plaster.
11. Push the cap on the blood collection tube until you hear a ‘click’, which means the lid is now secure.
12. Gently invert the tube 5 to 10 times.
13. Place the sample tube into the transport pouch. Peel off the adhesive backing strip, fold over the top flap, and seal firmly.
14. Post your sample to our lab with the pre-paid envelope included with your test, and wait for your results. These will be available through your private patient account.

The at-home HIV blood test provided by Superdrug Online Doctor is highly accurate at detecting HIV if you were infected at least 6 weeks previously.

Our test is a 4th-generation HIV test, which gives accurate results after 45 days. The test is:

• 99.78% or more clinically sensitive, which means there’s a 0.22% chance or less of a false negative
• at least 99.8% clinically specific, which means there's a 0.2% chance or less of a false positive

These statistics are from our partner lab, TDL, where your test will be checked before the results are provided to our doctors. These statistics are based on taking the test at the right time and following the instructions carefully to make sure you do not do anything that could impact the results.

Is the home HIV test as accurate as an in-person test?

The home HIV test offered by Superdrug Online Doctor is a 4th-generation antibody/antigen test, which is considered the gold standard for HIV testing. It is highly accurate in detecting HIV if taken at the correct time (at least 6 weeks after infection).

If you attend a sexual health clinic for testing, you will likely be given a similar test to the one offered by us, although they will usually take the blood sample from a vein in your arm.

As soon as our partner lab receives your samples, you can expect to get your results within 72 hours. You will receive an email notifying you when your results are ready to view in your patient account, but we will never email or text you your results.

When you receive your test results, you will get a negative or positive result. One of our doctors will have already analysed them and will provide a medically reviewed report to help you understand what they mean. This includes any next steps you need to take, and whether you need treatment or referral to another healthcare provider.

What does a negative test result mean?

If you have received a negative test result, this usually means that no HIV infection was found in the sample you provided. Because the infection can take some time to develop, it means it was not present at the time the blood sample was collected.

You should consider another test if you are unsure of when you were exposed to HIV exactly.

If you’re at a high risk of HIV, you may want to consider taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if you do not already. This is a medication that can significantly lower your chances of getting HIV.

What does a positive test result mean?

A positive result means that HIV was detected in the blood sample you provided. One of our doctors will advise you on the next steps you need to take, which usually involves taking another test to confirm your positive result. We’ll let you know where you can do this.

If you have HIV, you will likely need anti-HIV medication called an antiretroviral, which lowers the amount of HIV in your blood to a level that cannot be measured. It is not a cure, but it can help you to live a long and healthy life.

It usually takes around 6 months of treatment for HIV to be undetected in your blood, also known as an undetectable viral load. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we do not provide HIV treatment, but your doctor will give you advice on where you can get further help and support.

What does a false positive result mean?

A false positive is when a test says that HIV has been detected in your sample when it is not actually present. Sometimes a test identifies the wrong antibodies or those that are not caused by HIV. It is rare to receive a false positive, but it is important to do a follow-up test to confirm an HIV diagnosis to rule out any false positives.

Do I need to contact my sexual partners if I test positive for HIV?

Yes, you should contact your sexual partners if you test positive for HIV, so that they can get tested and receive treatment if required. HIV can be passed on to others through unprotected sex, and letting your partners know can limit its spread.

Although there is no cure for HIV, treatments are available to help keep the virus under control. HIV treatment is known as combination therapy because you’ll usually be given 2 or more different medications to take at the same time, or antiretroviral therapy (ART).

ART works by stopping the virus from reproducing in the body, keeping the levels low and undetectable, so you cannot pass the infection on to others.

How to prevent HIV

You can take pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP to lower the chance of getting HIV. It works by stopping HIV from entering your body and replicating. You can either take it:

• daily, and you will be protected after 4 days for anal sex and 7 days for vaginal sex
• before an event or ‘on-demand’, which means taking 2 tablets 2 to 24 hours before sex, then every day until 48 hours after the last time you had sex (for people who have anal sex only)

When taken correctly, PrEP is 99% effective in preventing HIV transmission. You can request PrEP from Superdrug Online Doctor.

There are several other things you can do to reduce the chance of getting HIV. These include:

• always using condoms when you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex
• using water-based lubricants rather than oil-based types that can cause condoms to break or tear
• avoiding sharing needles, syringes, spoons, swabs, drugs, or liquids used to dilute drugs
• taking a medication called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours

HIV is easily spread through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has HIV. It is spread through infected bodily fluids, such as:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluids
• mucus from inside the anus

HIV can also be spread through:

• sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injecting equipment with someone who has a detectable viral load
• sharing sex toys with someone who has a detectable viral load
• childbirth or during pregnancy to your child if you have a detectable viral load

HIV symptoms

HIV symptoms can vary from person to person and may depend on what stage you’re at. Early symptoms may appear 2 to 6 weeks after you have been infected and can include:

• a sore throat
• a high temperature
• swollen glands
• muscle aches and pains
• a skin rash

After these initial symptoms, it is possible that you may not get any other symptoms for years. That is why it is important to get tested as early as possible to reduce the chance of complications.

What HIV test does the NHS use?

The NHS uses both rapid or point-of-care finger-prick or saliva tests, as well as laboratory tests for HIV. If you have your test in a sexual health clinic, you’ll likely be given a lab test, and you should receive your results within a few days.

Should I be worried if I am HIV positive?

It is natural to be worried if you have tested positive for HIV because it’s a lifelong condition. However, with the right treatment, most people will not go on to develop AIDS and can lead relatively normal lives.

Can I have HIV and test negative?

Yes, it is possible to test negative and still have HIV, especially if you have taken your test too early. If you take the test outside the window period, there is a chance that it may not be sensitive enough to detect the virus. That’s why it is important to wait for as long as the test states since you think you were infected before taking it.

What are the 7 warning signs of HIV?

There is no definitive list of warning signs for HIV, but flu-like symptoms may appear 2 to 6 weeks after you have been infected.

How much does a HIV test cost?

An at-home HIV blood test kit costs £39.99 from Superdrug Online Doctor.

Can you get a HIV test for free?

Yes, you can get a free HIV test from sexual health clinics, GP surgeries, and by ordering from NHS-partners.

Can a normal blood test detect HIV?

No, a normal blood test, usually referred to as a full blood count, does not look for the presence of HIV in the body. Only specific tests that detect HIV can pick up the virus.

Can a urine test detect HIV?

Yes, there are some urine tests available to test for HIV. However, they can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis.