Insti 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.

INSTI® 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. Sample, pour and read your results in just 60 seconds. It’s that easy.

Please note that this test is a 3rd 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.

As seen on the BBC programme “The truth about HIV” presented by Dr Chris van Tulleken and contributions by Sir Elton John and Prince Harry.

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 our carrier DPD, in a very convenient 1 hour delivery slot or you can divert it to 1 of 2,500 pickup shops.

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.

If you order on a Friday before 4pm you can upgrade your delivery, for a small premium of only £2, to a Saturday or Sunday tracked delivery.

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

You may test positive with INSTI® HIV Self Test in as little as 21-22 days after infection(1), however it can take as long as 3 months to produce a positive result.

A negative result may not be accurate until 3 months after the infection. 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.

(1) Moshgabadi N, Galli RA, Daly AC, Ko SM, Westgard TE, Bulpitt AF, Shackleton CR., 2015. “Sensitivity of a rapid point of care assay or early HIV antibody detection is enhanced by its ability to detect HIV gp41 IgM antibodies.” J Clin Virol. 2015 Oct;71:67-72.

It’s the world’s fastest and most accurate HIV1 and HIV2 POC Rapid Antibody Test.

The INSTI state of the art rapid HIV test was developed in Canada and offers advanced diagnostic technology at your fingertips.  It provides qualitative and accurate detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV1) and Type 2 (HIV2) in just 60 seconds.

It is manufactured in a state of the art facility under ISO9001 and ISO13485 quality control systems. Large scale clinical trials have been conducted in Canada and Europe to satisfy the requirements of the most stringent quality regulations. For more information visit Biolytical.

The test uses simple flow-through technology to detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies using a drop of human fingerstick blood. The test does not detect the virus itself. The test dot will only be visible if HIV antibodies are present.

The INSTI® 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).

INSTI® HIV Self Test has been shown to have a sensitivity of 99.8-100% and a specificity of 99.5-99.8%.

INSTI is designed to be a simple and straightforward home HIV test. Follow the link for a video for step by step instructions.

The INSTI® HIV Self Test has a built-in control dot to show that the test has been performed correctly and that you have added the proper amount of fingerstick blood.

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

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

If two dots are visible your test result is positive. This means you likely have HIV.

Although the results of the INSTI® 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.

Bottle 1 won’t fit into the hole?
The hole is designed to fit Bottle 1 securely so that it won’t tip over and spill during the fingerstick blood collection process. Gently push down on Bottle 1 to fit snuggly in the hole before removing the cap.

Will the lancet hurt?
You might feel a slight pinch. It does not matter which finger you use, the blood will be the same.

What happens if I spill some of the contents of Bottle 1, Bottle 2 or Bottle 3?
As long as the control dot shows a visible dot after pouring Bottle 3 into the membrane unit, the test results are valid.

I can’t see any dots?
Make sure you have adequate lighting. If no dots are visible, you may not have completed the test correctly, or collected enough blood. You will need to do another test.

The contents of Bottle 1, Bottle 2 or Bottle 3 do not absorb into the membrane unit?
It is very rare for this to happen, but if it does, you will not be able to complete the test procedure and read the results. You will need to perform another test.

How do I dispose of my test?
A sealable, plastic bag is included with your test. Place all components back into the box, including the lancet, pipette, tissues (used to clean up spills) and solution bottles, place the box into the bag and seal. You can then throw the bag away with your household waste.

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  

Online advice

Emotional support and counselling

Groups for people who are living with HIV