Biosure HIV home self test kit

The test kit checks whether you have contracted  HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, the body’s defence against illness. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV and AIDS can’t be cured, but the medications available today help people live normal life spans.

BioSURE® HIV Self Test is designed as a single-use HIV test kit that allows you to get results in the comfort of your home and at a time that works best for you. A single drop of blood is all that's needed, and you're results are ready in just 15 minutes . It’s that easy!

Please note that this test is a 2nd generation test that will detect HIV in your blood if used 90 days after exposure. Whereas our Lab test kit, the very latest 5th generation test kit, will detect HIV  only 28 days after exposure to the virus.

We will send your test kit in discreet packaging with no mention of the contents or who it’s from. Your parcel will be delivered by Royal Mail recorded delivery.

If you order before 4pm we will send out your test kit the same day for free tracked delivery the next working day. If you order after 4pm it will be processed the next working day.

This is the time from when you are exposed to the HIV infection to when a test can correctly give an accurate result.

You may test positive with BioSURE® HIV Self Test in as little as 28 days after infection, however it can take as long as 12 weeks to produce a positive result if the body has not produced enough antibodies to HIV.

A negative result may not be accurate until 3 months after the infection due to people producing antibodies at different rates. A negative result, whilst encouraging, may not be accurate until 12 weeks after, therefore if you use the test before 12 weeks since exposure, you will need to test again at 12 weeks. If you think you have been exposed to HIV within the last 3 months, and your results are negative, you should test again after at least 3 months have passed since your exposure.

If you think that you may have contracted HIV in the last 72 hours then please visit your local sexual health clinic or A&E department of a hospital immediately.

This is very important as you can be offered post exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is a treatment that can prevent HIV infection after the virus has entered a person's body.

To help you work out if PEP is appropriate for you or someone you’ve had sex with you can call THT(Terrence Higgins Trust) Direct on 0808 802 1221.

The technology is very similar to a human pregnancy test. The process  detects specific antibodies in your blood sample, (not actual HIV) and this is what produces the second line on the test readout (Test Line).

The BioSURE® HIV Self Test is simple to perform and very accurate, but it will only work correctly if you carefully read and follow the instructions.

Extensive research studies have shown that this test is extremely accurate when performed correctly.

The accuracy of medical tests is typically described in terms of sensitivity (all truly positive individuals test positive) and specificity (all truly negative persons test negative).

BioSURE® HIV self test has shown to have a sensitivity of 99.7% and a specifity of 99.9%

BioSURE is designed to be a simple and straightforward home HIV test. Follow the link for a step-by-step instructional video.

The BioSURE HIV self test has a built in control line to show that the test has been performed correctly and that you have added the correct amount of fingerstick blood.

If the control line does not appear, your test has not worked. Please discard your test and test with a new test.

If only the control line is visible it means your result is negative and you probably do not have HIV.

If two lines are visible it means your result is positive and you likely have HIV.

Although the results of the BioSure® HIV Self Test are very accurate, you MUST have a positive result confirmed by a doctor as soon as possible so that treatment can be started immediately. It is essential for your health and wellbeing that you seek medical advice if your result is positive.

What if my result is negative?
Continue to make efforts to stay negative by reducing risks of exposure to HIV, such as practicing safe sex and other prevention methods.
If you believe that you have been exposed in the past 3 months, repeat testing after 3 months.

It is recommended to test every 3-12 months if you are high risk to acquiring HIV.

What if my result is positive?
Go to your doctor or nearest sexual health clinic to receive confirmatory testing. Remember that any HIV self test is a screening test only and is not a conclusive diagnosis.

What if my result is invalid or I am unsure of my result?
Visit your doctor or nearest sexual health clinic for further testing.

I can't find the buffer pot

You will find it at the top of the device, at the other end from the tip. Remove it and place it in the tray.

The buffer pot won't fit into the hole

It needs to be foil side up to fit into the hole and is a snug fit.

The lancet won't click

The lancet is designed to only work once. You may have already clicked the lancet by mistake.

Will using the lancet hurt?

Not really. It is best to take the sample from the side of the tip of your finger as there are less nerve endings there.

Does it matter which finger I take blood from?

No, the blood will be the same from whichever finger you get it from.

How does the tip fill up?

The device automatically sucks 2.5µl of blood into the tip by capillary action. You can see when the tip has filled with blood.

My test hasn't started to run

The tip of the device must be fully inserted into the buffer pot for the test to run. Make sure the tip has been pushed right to the bottom of the buffer pot. You may need to push quite hard.

When will I get my result?

You will get your test result in 15 minutes.

Why does the test have to stand up?

Because the buffer has to run up the test strip contained within the device. The test may not run properly if it is run laying down, the control line may not appear and the result will not be valid.

What happens if my test falls over?

Stand it up as soon as possible. Your test should still work. You will know that your test has run correctly by the appearance of the control line after 15 minutes.

I can't see any results

Make sure the blue wording on the test strip is facing towards you when you place the device into the cut out shape in the box.

How do I dispose of my test?

Place all components back into the box and slip into the opaque disposal bag included. Seal the bag and throw away with your normal household rubbish. Not suitable for recycling.

Your parcel will be delivered in plain packaging with no mention of the contents or who it’s from.

You perform the test yourself and so you will be the only person who is aware of the test results.

According to The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), around 101,200 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2015. Of those 101,200 over 13% (1 in 7) don’t know they have HIV because they have never had an HIV test or they have got HIV since their last test.

Recent years have seen around 6,000 people test positive for HIV each year- more than half are gay or bisexual men.

Around 47,000 gay or bisexual men and around 49,500 heterosexuals were estimated to be living with HIV in the UK by the end of 2015.

In the heterosexual population of those living with HIV, 58% are from black African communities.

HIV spreads through contact with blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluid, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of an infected person.

Transmission can occur from unsafe sex.

It can also result from exposure to blood through the sharing of used syringes or needles.

Women living with HIV can pass the virus to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It is also possible to become infected with HIV through a blood transfusion, although this is now very rare.

HIV cannot be passed on from one person to another through casual contact. There is no risk of infection when we share everyday items such as food, dishes, utensils, clothes, beds and toilets with a person living with HIV.

The virus is not spread from contact with sweat, tears, saliva, or a casual kiss from an infected person. People do not become infected from eating food prepared by a person living with HIV. People have not become infected with HIV through insect bites.

People who are at higher risk of becoming infected with HIV include:-
• Men who have had unprotected sex with men
• Women who have had sex without a condom with men who have sex with men.
• People who have moved to the UK from parts of the world where HIV is much more common eg Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, central and southern America.
• Drug users who share injecting equipment

Most people who are infected with HIV experience a short (lasting around 2 weeks) flu-like illness that occurs within 6 weeks of infection. The most common symptoms are :-
• fever
• sore throat
• body rash

They are a sign that your immune system is putting up a fight against the virus.

Once this passes an infected person usually feels fine for a number of years.

During this time, known as asymptomatic HIV infection, the virus continues to be active and causes progressive damage to your immune system. This can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, tuberculosis (TB) and pneumonia. Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV can prevent these illnesses.

Therefore, it’s extremely important that you get tested if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, even if you have no symptoms.

You should wait until 90 days after you think you have been exposed to the virus before you get tested as the test will only detect an HIV infection that you have caught more than 90 days ago.

However, if you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours please go to your local sexual health clinic immediately to receive treatment.

Anyone who thinks they could have HIV should get tested.

Certain groups of people are at particularly high risk and are advised to have regular tests :-
• men who have sex with men are advised to have an HIV test at least once a year, or every 3 months if they’re having unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
• black African men and women are advised to have an HIV test and a regular HIV and STI screen if they’re having unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
• People who share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.

Testing at the start of a relationship as part of a full sexual health check is recommended, especially if you plan on not using condoms.

Also, a negative test result in the past is no longer accurate if you’ve taken risks since.

If you have been exposed to the virus more recently than 3 months ago you would be better to buy our Lab HIV Test Kit that is a 5th Generation test. This is the first commercial screening assay to be able to distinguish between HIV-1 antibodies, HIV-2 antibodies and HIV-1 p24 antigen.

This 5th generation assay provides more information by specifically identifying HIV-1 or HIV-2 and allows results of antigen and antibody detection to be reported individually. Because antigens and antibodies are detectable at different stages of the infection, reporting of both helps to differentiate between acute and established HIV infection.

The blood sample has to be taken at least 28 days after potential exposure to the virus when it will be 99.8% accurate at detecting the presence of HIV in your blood.

To find your nearest sexual health clinic you can click on the appropriate country specific links below :-
England
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales

You may wish to talk anonymously in confidence to a trained telephone advisor on one of the national helplines. These are:-
Sexual Health Line England 0300 123 7123,
Sexual Health Line Scotland 0800224 488
Sexual Health Local Services Wales 0845 4647
Northern Ireland (NHS sexual health helpline) 0800 567123.
Terence Higgins Trust Helpline 0808 802 1221  

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