FAQs - About your OraQuick HIV Self Test brought to you by BioSure
Read our FAQs to find out how the OraQuick HIV Self Test works, how and when to carry out the test and what to do once you have taken your test.
About your test.....
Is an HIV Self Test the right choice for me? HIV self-testing is another testing choice and puts you in control. You may want to talk to someone before performing your HIV test or have someone with you while you do. Also consider what you are going to do when you get your result - whether positive or negative. It is always your choice.
How does my test work? The technology is very similar to a human pregnancy test but detects specific antibodies to HIV in your oral fluid sample. When your body detects something harmful (like a bacteria or a virus) your immune system starts to produce antibodies to try and defend your body. Each type of antibody is unique, and everybody makes them at different rates.
How accurate is the OraQuick Hiv Self Test? The OraQuick HIV Self Test is proven to be extremely effective at diagnosing HIV. Extensive research and advancements in technology have evidenced this oral fluid HIV Self Test kit to be exceptionally usable and extremely accurate when performed correctly and more importantly a blood sample is no longer needed.
If you are at all unsure of your result you must visit a healthcare professional to perform another test.
Important to note:
DO NOT eat or drink for at least 15 minutes before you start the test or use mouth cleaning products 30 minutes before you start the test.
After 20 minutes your test will be completed, and you will be able to read your result. DO NOT read the result after 40 minutes.
Why should I wait until 12 weeks after exposure to be sure of my negative result? Everybody makes antibodies at different rates and there needs to be antibodies in your oral fluid sample to be able to detect them. A negative result may not be accurate until 12 weeks after possible exposure because it can take your body that long to produce enough antibodies. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV within the last 4 weeks you should see your local healthcare professional who may be able to send a sample of your blood for a laboratory test.
What is the ‘window period’? The time from when possible exposure to HIV occurs to when a test can correctly give a positive result is called the ‘HIV window period’ or ‘HIV test window period’. During this period, someone who has been exposed to HIV could still get a negative HIV test result because they may not have produced the antibodies needed to generate a positive result. This does not mean the person testing is negative. 4 weeks after exposure about half of people have made the antibodies, by 6 weeks after exposure this goes up to about 95%, however some people don't make these antibodies until up to 12 weeks after exposure. This is why it is so important not to rely on a negative test result until 12 weeks after your most recent possible exposure.
I’m worried I have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours. You need to visit a specialist HIV clinic or A&E department as soon as possible, where you may be able to access a course of PEP (anti HIV medication). Our test will not give you an accurate result only 72 hours after potential exposure.
Performing your test......
What is the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test?
The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test is a private, and accurate way to test for HIV in your own home. It is the same test preferred by many healthcare professionals worldwide.
The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test uses oral fluid to check for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. It can give you your own results in just 20 minutes, and if you follow the instructions carefully the test can detect HIV in over 99% percent of people who have been exposed to HIV. Because the test is a "screening" test, it is always advised to have a second test with a healthcare professional to confirm your results.
The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test should only be used to test for HIV and should not be used for other purposes. If you need to be tested for pregnancy or for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or other infection, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider. They can help you get tested.
How does an HIV antibody test work?
An HIV antibody test detects the cells that the body's immune (defence) system creates in response to HIV exposure. When HIV enters the body, the body starts to produce antibodies. In the case of HIV, the antibodies can't fight off HIV. But, their presence can be used to tell whether a person has HIV in their body. Most HIV tests detect the presence of HIV antibodies, not the virus itself.
How can the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test use oral fluid for HIV testing, when HIV can't be transmitted through saliva?
The CDC has determined, and multiple supporting studies confirm, that HIV transmission (spread) does not occur through saliva. The OraQuick® test detects antibodies produced in response to HIV, not the virus itself.
What are the advantages of rapid tests for HIV using oral fluids?
Rapid HIV tests that use oral fluid are safe and accurate, and they provide quick results. They're a good option for people who don't like to have blood drawn or their fingers pricked. The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test also provides benefits like convenience and privacy.
Rapid HIV tests that use oral fluid are safer for healthcare workers. The risk of exposure to infectious diseases is much lower from oral fluid than from blood. Contact with saliva has never been proven to result in the transmission (spread) of HIV.
How soon should I get tested if I think I have been exposed to HIV?
The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test can give you accurate results 12 weeks from exposure. Most people will develop antibodies to HIV within this period of time.
If you test within 12 weeks of possible exposure and the result is negative, you may want to repeat the test at least 12 weeks after the possible exposure.
97% of people develop antibodies within the first 12 weeks after exposure. In rare cases, it can take up to 6 months.
If there is a need to test sooner, please contact a healthcare professional in your area.
What could cause false positives on an HIV test?
A false positive is when an HIV test shows that a person has HIV when they don't actually have it.
Conditions that can lead to a false positive HIV test are:
- Incorrectly reading the test as positive
- Not following the instructions for use carefully
- Not waiting 15 minutes after eating, drinking, or 30 minutes after using oral care products before taking the test
- Having participated in a HIV vaccine clinical trial
- Swiping each gum several times during oral collection
If you have a positive test result you must get your result confirmed by a healthcare professional.
Can I use the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test on my child?
The OraQuick® HIV Self-Test is intended for use by individuals' ages 18 and older. It is not for use in children under 18 years of age. If your child is younger than 18 years of age, and you are concerned that your child has HIV, talk with your child's doctor. They can help you with testing for HIV for your child.
I'm pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Can I use the test?
It is safe to use the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding.
I wear braces. Can I still use the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test?
It is safe to use the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test if you wear braces or a retainer.
If I wear dentures to cover my gums, can I still take the test?
If you have dentures that cover your gums, there are steps you should take prior to testing. You should:
- Remove the dentures.
- Wash any remaining paste off of the gums.
- Wait 30 minutes.
- Perform the test according to the instructions.
Will antibiotics (or other non-HIV-related medications) influence my test result?
To date, there is no evidence that the use of antibiotics or medication (other than antiretrovirals) may affect the test results.
I'm preparing to take the test and don’t know how to swab my gums correctly?
When you take the OraQuick® test, you must swab both the left and right side of your upper gums and the left and right side of your lower gums. Each gum must be swabbed only once. You must follow the test directions carefully to get an accurate result. If you are not sure you swabbed your gums correctly, check for a line next to the letter "C" on the test stick. If a line appears next to the letter "C" on the test stick, you will know your test is working and your results will be accurate. This will occur if you have followed the instructions carefully and you have waited at least 20 minutes after placing the test stick in the test tube. If you do not see a line next to the letter "C," the test is not working properly and you will need to get a new test.
I opened my test and there is no fluid in the tube. What should I do?
If there was no fluid in the test tube when you opened the kit, the kit is defective. We apologize for this inconvenience. Please discard the test kit.
Please begin the OraQuick® testing procedure with a new test kit and carefully follow all the handling and testing instructions.
What should I do if I (or my child, friend, or partner) accidentally drank the testing fluid from the test tube?
The ingredients in the test fluid are not toxic and pose no known health risk in the amount provided in the vial. If you or someone you know has swallowed some of the liquid and you are concerned, please contact your doctor.
If you were unable to complete the test, please obtain a new test kit.
What should I do if I got fluid from the test tube in my eye?
The ingredients in the test fluid are not toxic. If you got fluid from the test tube in your eye, flush your eye with water immediately.
There is a small pouch of absorbent material inside the package that contains the test stick. Should I do anything with it?
The small pouch inside the test stick package is designed to prevent moisture from affecting the test stick during storage. It is not to be used when performing the OraQuick® test, and you may discard it in general waste.
I mistakenly/accidentally removed the test stick (or it fell out) from the vial early (before 20 minutes). Will my results be valid?
If you removed the test stick, or it fell out, at any point after you placed it in the test tube, the result of the test is not valid even if you immediately replaced the test stick. The test stick must remain in the test tube for at least 20 minutes as shown in the instructions. Therefore, do not consider your result an accurate indication of your HIV status.
You can dispose of the test in general waste.
Please repeat the OraQuick® testing procedure with a new test kit and carefully follow all the handling and testing instructions, including the diagrams, that are included in your testing material.
I left the test stick in the vial for longer than 40 minutes. Will the results be accurate?
If you read the test more than 40 minutes after the test stick was placed in the vial, the result of the test is not valid. Do not consider the result an indication of your HIV status.
You can dispose of the test in general waste.
Please repeat the OraQuick® testing procedure with a new test kit and carefully follow all the handling and testing instructions. Please read the instructions before you begin the test and be sure that you understand how to take your sample, place the test stick in the test tube for no less than 20 minutes and no more than 40 minutes before you read the test.
What should I do with the materials after taking the test?
You can dispose of the test in general waste.
Reading my result....
How will I know if my test has run correctly?
All OraQuick HIV Self Test devices have an inbuilt sample control line to make sure you know that your test has been performed and run correctly. This means it must have the actual sample applied to the test in order for the control line to appear.
There are many HIV self-tests that do not have this special in-built feature and will produce a clear control line even if no sample has been added. You will see this as a negative result which may actually be incorrect.
Having a sample control line is the only way you can know that your test has been performed and run correctly. It is the only way to be confident in your result.
How do I read my result?
You can read your test result from 20 minutes after it has run, but do not read your result after 40 minutes as your result may not remain stable after this time.
There are two lines that can appear on your test - the 'T' which is the Test Line and the 'C' which is the Control Line.
The lines can vary in strength and it is super important that you read ANY LINE AS A LINE, no matter how faint.
The window period is very important when relying on a negative result. A negative reualt within 12 weeks of possible explosure is encouraging but should not be relied upon. This is because your test detects antibodies to HIV (not the virus itself) and it may take your body up to 12 weeks to make these antibodies. You should always test again at 12 weeks after possible exposure.
A positive test result is always a positive test result, regardless of the window period. If you have a positive test result you must get your result confirmed by a healthcare professional.
If you have any doubts about your result or have any symptoms, you should visit
your local healthcare professional.
What do the letters "C" and "T" mean on the test stick menu?
The letter "C" on the test stick stands for "control." A line should appear next to the letter "C" if you have followed the instructions carefully and have waited 20 minutes after placing your test stick in the test tube. This line means that your test is working.
If NO line appears next to the letter "C," it means your test is not working and you will need to get a new test.
The letter "T" on the test stick stands for "test." A line next to the letter "T," even if the line is faint, and a line next to the letter "C", means that you have a positive test result and you may have HIV.
If you have a positive result, you must get your result confirmed by a healthcare professional.
A "T' line, even if the line is faint, and no "C" line means the test is not working and you will need to get a new test.
When I read my test result, there were no markings or colourings on the test stick at all. What does this mean?
If the test stick did not have any lines on it when you read your test result, then your test did not work. You can dispose of the test in general waste. Please repeat the OraQuick® testing procedure with a new test kit.
There are no lines on my test, what does this mean?
If your test device does not have any lines on it after 20 minutes, then your test did not work. You can dispose of your test in usual household waste, there are no extra precautions necessary.
You will need to repeat with a new OraQuick®HIV Self Test kit.
Please make sure you read the instructions carefully before you begin your test. It is important to understand how to take your sample and then place it in the tube of buffer solution for no less than 20 minutes and no more than 40 minutes before reading your test result.
It is extremely rare, but if your test has a line at the 'T' but not at the 'C' this also means your test has not work and your result is invalid. Please disregard your result, dispose of your test in normal household waste and retest again with a new OraQuick HIV Self Test kit.
My test has a line at the "C" and a very faint line at the "T". What does this mean?
Any line next to the letter "T" on the test stick, regardless of colour or shade, means you have a positive test result.
If you have a positive result, you must get your result confirmed by a healthcare professional.
Until your test result is confirmed, please take precautions and look after yourself.
My test result was positive. Can someone get HIV by touching, licking, or other contacts with the saliva on the test stick, or the test tube/liquid?
Scientists and medical experts agree that HIV does not survive well outside the body. This means that the risk of environmental transmission (spread) is remote. Therefore, if someone came into direct contact with your test stick, there is extremely little risk of transmitting HIV to them. Contact with saliva has never been shown to result in the transmission of HIV.
How do I know if my result is correct?
A positive test result can always be relied upon but a negative result within the first 12 weeks following possible exposure may not be accurate because you haven't produced antibodies yet. If you have any doubts about your result or have any symptoms, you should visit your local healthcare professional. If you are not sure of the exact timing of possible exposure, you should test again after 12 weeks.
My test result is positive, what do I do now?
Firstly, don’t panic, HIV is treatable - remember HIV is 3 letters, not a sentence. Your OraQuick HIV Self Test, is extremely accurate but you must go and see a healthcare professional who will perform another test to confirm your result. The earlier diagnosis is made and treatment started, the better the outcomes. You can phone the NHS on 111 or use the postcode searcher to find your nearest Sexual Health Clinic.
My test result is negative, what do I do now?
Fantastic that you have taken control and Know Your Status.
You must remember that from initial HIV exposure it can take up to 12 weeks for your body to produce enough antibodies for your test to give a positive result.
If you have any doubts about your result or have any symptoms, you should visit
your local healthcare professional.
Don't put yourself or others at risk based on your test result. Using condoms is an effective and easy way to protect your own and others sexual health.
Choose to Stay Negative.
How often should I test for HIV?
If you make choices that put you at an increased HIV risk exposure it is a good idea to test every 3 months
How do I dispose of my test?
A disposal bag is included with your test.
When you have finished you can put everything into this bag and throw it away with your usual household rubbish.
No special precautions are necessary.
Making sense?
If you have questions about HIV self testing feel free to get in touch, we'll be glad to help info@biosure.co.uk
You can also message us anonymously on Whatsapp: 07763 489170.
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