How Does STD Home Testing Work?
Looking for more information on whether home STD tests work and how to take them at home? You’re in the right place. Find out everything you need to know about home testing – what samples you’ll need, how to do an STD test at home, whether home STD tests work and more.
So, how does STD home testing work? First, order the test that you require and wait for your test to arrive. Follow the instructions included in the test kit and deposit your urine, blood and/or swab sample. Finally, put it in the included envelope, send it to us and that’s it. Once we’ve analysed the results, we’ll communicate them to you.
We’ve discussed each step in more detail further down this blog, so read on to find the answers to your questions.
What is an STD Home Test?
An STD home test is a sexual health test that you take at home and post back to us. Order your test online at Your Sexual Health, deposit your sample as instructed, and post it back to us where we will analyse your sample and provide your results via our portal. Order individual tests or profile tests that will check for multiple conditions using the same sample.
How Do Home STD Tests Work?
Home testing works exactly the same as in-clinic testing, except you take the test in the comfort of your own home. When you order an at-home STD test, we include everything you’ll need to collect a good sample and a pre-paid return envelope.
Deposit your sample, put it in the included envelope and post it back to us. It’s that simple. We’ll begin analysing your sample as soon as we get it, and your results will be communicated to you via our online portal.
Which Samples Do I Need to Send?
To complete Your Sexual Health’s home testing, you might be asked to provide one or more of the following samples depending on the test that you choose. We’ll include everything you need to collect them, as well as full, detailed instructions.
- Urine sample
- Blood sample
- Swab sample
How to Take the STD Test at Home
Full instructions on how to do the STD test at home will be included in the test kit, but here’s an overview of what you need to do:
- Urine sample: collect the first stream of urine and fill the sample to the line.
- Blood sample: collect it by using a finger pricker, which you can read more about in our blog on finger prick blood test.
- Swab sample: although less common, you might need to provide a vaginal swab sample and detailed instructions will be provided.
What are the Benefits of Using an At-Home STD Test?
Your Sexual Health’s at-home testing kits offer multiple benefits, not least the ability to deposit your sample in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Other benefits include:
- Avoid any embarrassment of visiting your sexual health clinic or GP in person
- No waiting for an appointment or long waits at the clinic
- Deposit one sample and be tested for multiple sexual health conditions with our Profile tests
- Accurate and trustworthy results with laboratory testing
- Discreet plain white packaging. Click and collect services are also available
- Quick turnaround times once we receive your samples
- Positive tests can be actioned by your own GP. We can also recommend an independent private GP service should you require it
Do At-Home STD Tests Work?
The STD home tests that we offer have the same accuracy as clinic testing, so you can rely on the results. Of course, no test is 100% reliable, but if you follow the instructions when taking the sample, you will get an accurate result.
What At-Home Services Does Your Sexual Health Offer?
Your Sexual Health offers a range of profile tests and individual STD tests available for at-home testing. These tests include:
Profiles:
Individual Tests:
What is the Turnaround Time for At-Home STD Testing?
Turnaround time on home-testing depends on how long the post takes and how long it takes you to deposit your sample. Once the laboratory receives your sample it can take between 2 and 5 days to analyse your results, based on the test you ordered.
It is absolutely essential to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active. Some diseases don’t have obvious symptoms, or may be mistaken for something else, so you might end up passing them onto your partner(s). Testing for STDs reduces the chance of transmission and will also reduce the risk of the condition, and its symptoms, becoming more severe. Check out our range of tests online to see what is right for you.
