Sexual health is a very important part of not just an individual’s health but also the health of a society. This is why getting regularly tested for STIs should be a standard for any sexually active adult.
And, the old excuses of embarrassment and privacy in having to go to a sexual health clinic are no longer valid, since we have STI home testing kits, right?
Well, today, Chappie is going to be telling you everything you need to know about STI home testing kits and, most importantly, if they are reliable.
Are STI home tests reliable?
The reliability of an STI home testing kit depends entirely on yourself. According to NHS advice on home test kits, there is no STI home test kit that is 100% reliable … the same way there is no private STI test carried out in a clinic by a professional that is reliable. These tests have a contingency percentage but the reliability of the results depends on how well you carry out the test.
To ensure your results are as accurate as possible, you must complete the test after your incubation period – this is the period between being infected by an STI and when the body begins to produce antibodies to fight it.
Completing an STI test before the incubation period will provide a false result. And, most importantly, diligently follow all the instructions on the kit. This will give you peace of mind that you have done the test correctly and also give you the best chance at getting accurate results.
What’s the difference between a private STI test & a home test?
The only difference should be where you are doing the STI test. If you’re doing it at home, that’s a home test. And guess what? If you’re doing it at a sexual health clinic, that’s a private STI test. This may seem like stating the obvious but some people may have limited transportation and won’t be able to get to a clinic easily. These home kits are convenient for them.
But, all jokes aside, one difference is that home tests provide a level of privacy you won’t get going into a sexual health clinic in person.
Home test kits are even delivered in discreet and private packaging to make sure you don’t have to indulge the postman and his embarrassing questions about the STI test he just pulled out of his bag.
Other than that, the STI test kit will include all the same trappings as a private STI test. This includes:
- a urine sample pot with a lid
- a swap with a tube for packaging
- a sterile lancet for pricking the finger
- plasters
- and a transport tube containing serum that preserves the sample on the way to the lab
How long does it take to get results from home STI kits?
This usually depends on the type of test you do, who you do it with and what their laboratory status is.
Some private sexual health clinics have their own private labs or are in partnership with one, meaning they can provide results within 24-48 hours.
However, the average time period from sending your home test kit to receiving results is 3 days. This period can be delayed if you have sent your sample incorrectly or if there is an unfortunate error in transport or in the lab during testing.
STI Home Test Kits in Conclusion
If you’re worried about STIs, don’t worry alone. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are so common in the UK, the chances that your worries about STIs are unique to you are nil.
However, we get it, it’s normal to get worried about any sort of test, especially one so intimate. But, just the fact that you are here reading this means that you are taking the right and necessary steps to get regularly tested as a socially conscious and sexually active adult.