SURE CHECK® HIV Self-Test – Home Test Kit 99.9% accurate, gives your result in minutes – CE Marked

Product Information

Summary of the differential characteristics between diagnostic tests performed in laboratory environments compared to self-test diagnostics. The principle and methodology of HIV self-testing should be discussed for both ethical and financial reasons. It is not assumed that pre-test or post-test counseling will be provided, although a study performed in Asia found that 73% of patients were willing to receive a professional consultation [19]. It has also been reported that unskilled individuals are equally able to perform these HIV tests on themselves compared to trained medical staff [19]– [21], with a preference for OF tests [21]. Self-test acceptability was shown to be good [21], [22], although high prices pose a problem even in developed countries [20], with only 28% of patients willing to pay 15 US dollars for a test [19]. Moreover, the vast majority of HIV-infected subjects live in low-resource countries where in-home tests could be an option only if they were affordable for the population. However, the confidentiality of self-test results is a major asset of this approach, which would give more independence to people who are afraid to share their diagnosis while AIDS remains a stigmatizing disease. Health workers involved in the study received a one-day training session for each test prior to the beginning of the study. However, all nurses were already highly experienced with these tests, as HIV rapid tests and INSTI HIV rapid tests had been used routinely for several years at our centers.

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. 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. There is one rapid, point-of-care test that looks for both antibodies and p24 antigen, in a similar way to antibody/antigen laboratory tests. The Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo was originally introduced in 2009, with an updated version that is now called the Determine HIV Early Detect launched in Europe in 2015 (the older version is still marketed in the United States and in some parts of the world).

Types of HIV Tests and Their Window Periods

The fourth-generation Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo was estimated to have a median window period of 19 days (interquartile range 15 to 25 days). This indicates that half of all infections would be detected between 15 and 25 days after exposure. Ninety-nine per cent of HIV-infected individuals would be detectable within 43 days of exposure. In people who are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If they acquire HIV, they may have a delayed antibody response, extending the window period. Some HIV tests may need to be repeated 1-3 months after exposure to HIV infection, but you should not wait this long to seek help. The number of steps required for HIV self-testing varied from 4 to 14, including sampling and reading. All tests were read twice, first by the investigator who administered the test and then by a second investigator who was blinded to the serological status of the patient. The results were recorded as positive (including weakly positive), negative, invalid (no control band), or impossible to perform (in the case of test B) due to difficulty with sample collection.

In people who are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If you acquire HIV, you may have a delayed antibody response, extending the window period. 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 are testing with a rapid, point-of-care test and you are concerned that you may have been exposed to HIV during the test’s window period, you could also be tested with a fourth-generation laboratory test. This requires a blood sample, taken through a needle from a vein in the arm, which is tested in a laboratory using a more sensitive test. The results should be available after a few days. Situations in which rapid tests may not be accurate 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.

Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist, Boots UK, says: “Community pharmacy is well placed to support patients to manage their own health and we can play a much bigger role in supporting the health of our customers through the delivery of new products, services and advice. Inci et al. presented a detection technique utilizing the immobilization of intact HIV virus specific antibodies on a plasmonic biosensor surface for capture and quantitative detection of whole blood samples due to antibody selectivity and specificity at clinically relevant concentrations ( Figure 7C) [ 136]. Spectral analysis was analyzed and upon intact HIV virus binding, peak shifts were recorded. The platform can be used on unprocessed whole blood samples with high detection efficiency and short detection time (1 h for intact virus capture and 10 min for detection and data analysis), with detection of multiple HIV subtypes to a LOD of 98 ± 39 viral copies/mL [ 136].