What should you know about OraQuick at home?

At-home testing may feel more private, yet it does not change what the result means. A valid non-reactive result indicates that HIV antibodies were not detected by that test at that time. It may be too early after exposure for antibodies to be detectable. A reactive result is preliminary and must be confirmed through a healthcare service. An absent control mark means the test did not work and the result cannot be interpreted.

Keep the instructions beside you. The collection area, waiting period, and result-reading window matter. Food, drink, smoking, or oral-care products shortly before testing may affect whether you can test correctly, so follow the kit directions.

Before starting, check the packaging, expiry date, storage conditions, and contents. Perform the test exactly as directed and use a timer for the reading window. Keep the kit away from children and protect your privacy when disposing of it. Write down the date and result. Arrange a clinic or laboratory HIV test if exposure was recent, if the result is invalid, or if you need a more sensitive test. A reactive result should lead to confidential confirmatory care rather than self-diagnosis.

Contact a healthcare service promptly after a reactive result or a possible recent exposure. Seek urgent advice if the exposure was recent enough that preventive treatment might be considered. Get medical help if you are unwell or worried about symptoms; symptoms alone cannot establish HIV status. A clinician can explain timing, confirm results, and connect you with care.

Was my test timing suitable for the exposure I am concerned about? Should I have a laboratory HIV test? What should I do after an invalid or reactive home result? Where can I receive confidential advice?