HIV test
£29.00
- Only £29.00 for confidential results in 4 working days
- Tests for the presence of HIV antibodies
- All tests performed at our UK laboratory – so your samples won’t be sent abroad
- Adheres to BASHH, FSHR and MHRA guidelines for sexual health testing
- Test kit sent out in discreet, plain packaging
- Suitable for people with or without symptoms
- Only a finger prick blood sample required
If you are experiencing symptoms causing severe pain and discomfort or require face-to-face examination, we advise you to contact your GP or local sexual health clinic as soon as possible.
Discreet, reliable HIV testing from our award-winning laboratory
Why choose an at-home HIV test?
Whether you are experiencing symptoms, or do not have symptoms and just want a test to put your mind at rest, an at-home HIV test from AlphaBiolabs is a simple, accurate way of finding out whether you have been infected with HIV.
There are many reasons why you might want an HIV test including:
- You are experiencing symptoms e.g. headache, fever, muscle aches and/or joint pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhoea and/or unexplained weight loss
- You engage in unprotected sex (or have engaged in unprotected sex in the past)
- You and/or your partner(s) have multiple sexual partners
- You and/or your partner(s) engage in drug use before/during sex
- You’ve met someone new and want to be sure you’re both healthy before beginning a physical relationship
- You are HIV positive, are currently being treated with antiretroviral treatment, and want to assess your viral load
Our HIV test can be used to detect HIV infection using only a finger prick blood sample.
Your test kit will contain everything you need to collect your samples and return them to our UK laboratory.
Once we receive your samples, your results will be emailed to you in just 4 working days, using the email address you supply when registering your test.
Order your at-home HIV test online now or by calling our friendly and discreet Customer Services team on 0333 600 1300.
IMPORTANT: If you believe you have been exposed to HIV within the past 72 hours, you should seek PEP medication from your local sexual health clinic before ordering a HIV test.
How does the HIV test kit work?
Order your test kit and register online
Collect your sample
Post back to our UK laboratory
Receive your confidential results by email
When is the best time to take an at-home HIV test?
The window period for HIV – the amount of time from when you are first infected to when the infection can be detected in a blood sample – is 4-12 weeks (1-3 months/90 days).
For this reason, we recommend that you take an HIV test no sooner than four weeks after potential exposure to the infection.
If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because after you have been infected with HIV, it takes time for HIV antibodies to show up in a blood sample.
However, if you have started to experience symptoms, you can test immediately.
If you have no symptoms, you should take the test four weeks after potential exposure to the infection.
If you take a HIV test within the window period (4-12 weeks) and receive a Non-reactive result, it is recommended that you take another test after the window period has ended (after 12 weeks) to be sure you are clear of any infection.
You can take the test whether you are symptomatic (experiencing symptoms) or asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms).
Sample collection
An AlphaBiolabs HIV test requires a blood sample to be collected using a small, finger prick lancet device.
When you receive your sample collection kit, simply follow the enclosed instructions to collect your blood sample.
Once you have collected your blood sample, carefully package the sample in the protective packaging, place it into the pre-paid tracked return polythene envelope and return it to our UK laboratory.
If you would like confidential advice on how to collect your blood sample, please contact our Customer Services team who will be able to assist you (call 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com)
Results emailed to you in just 4 days
How accurate is a HIV test?
Our HIV test is 100% accurate and reliable based on the samples we receive at our laboratory.
The test meets the highest possible quality standard for STI testing, including laboratory testing methods and sample types used for testing.
Better still, all our STI/STD tests have been developed in accordance with stringent guidelines as set by the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH), Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health (FSHR) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Learn more: Why is compliance with guidelines so important for STI testing?
What does the HIV test kit include?
The HIV test kit includes:
- Sample collection kit box
- Instruction leaflet
- Sterile blood collection tube with protective case
- Two sterile alcohol wipes
- Three finger prick lancet devices
- Three small zip lock bags (for used finger prick lancet devices)
- Pre-paid tracked return polythene envelope
Detects HIV, even when you do not have symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HIV?
The virus weakens your immune system over time and, although there are some early symptoms you can look out for including fever, headache, tiredness or fatigue, loss of appetite, a sore throat and/or swollen lymph nodes, many people do not display any symptoms at all for weeks, months or even years.
This means that HIV is highly transmissible and is often passed on through sexual intercourse, by people who don’t realise that they have the virus.
There are three stages to HIV infection, and symptoms vary for each stage.
- Stage 1: This is known as primary or acute HIV infection, or acute retroviral syndrome. Some people will experience flu-like symptoms at this stage of infection.
- Stage 2: This is known as the clinical latency/chronic HIV infection stage. This means that even though the virus is still in the body, it becomes less active. This stage of infection can last a decade or longer, with many people showing no symptoms during an approximate 10-15-year period.
- Stage 3: At this stage, known as AIDS, the immune system is severely damaged, making the body vulnerable to other infections. Symptoms will also become more apparent such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and rashes.
Thanks to advances in medical science including early detection using laboratory testing, and treatment for HIV using antiretroviral drugs, we can stop the virus from replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself, and ensuring the virus remains undetectable.
When HIV is undetectable, the virus cannot be passed on to other people, even while it remains in the body. This means you can have sex without passing the virus onto your partner. This is known as undetectable = untransmittable (U=U).
If you are sexually active, regular HIV testing can help give you peace of mind, or ensure the infection is detected early, so that you can seek the appropriate treatment.
For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV?’
When should I consider having an HIV test?
Examples include:
- You are experiencing symptoms e.g. headache, fever, muscle aches and/or joint pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhoea and/or unexplained weight loss
- You engage in unprotected sex (or have engaged in unprotected sex in the past)
- You and/or your partner(s) have multiple sexual partners
- You and/or your partner(s) engage in drug use before/during sex
- You’ve met someone new and want to be sure you’re both healthy before beginning a physical relationship
Whatever your situation, an HIV test can help put your mind at rest or enable you to seek the correct medical treatment for the infection.
If you’ve decided to take an HIV test, we would advise that your current partner and any other partners with whom you’ve had a sexual relationship in the past six months be tested as well.
This can help ensure your partner is able to seek treatment if they are found to have a detectable HIV infection. It can also help prevent the spread of the infection to other people.
For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV?’
How often should I take an HIV test?
Symptoms of HIV may not appear for many years, so regular sexual health checks are important. If left untreated, HIV can severely damage the immune system, making your body much more susceptible to other infections and illnesses.
General guidance
If you are sexually active, a comprehensive sexual health check is recommended once a year, and should include a multi-panel test, such as our 7-panel STI test which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:
If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, you may want to consider having a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.
For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/
Which STIs should I get tested for?
If you’re a man who’s sexually active…
It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
If you’re a woman who’s sexually active…
- It is recommended that you get an STI test annually. However, you may want to consider having a test every three- to- six- months if you are having regular unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
- If you are pregnant, it is recommended that you get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and syphilis. Women who are high risk may also consider being tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
AlphaBiolabs offers a range of STI tests to help you keep your sexual health in check, including:
- Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test
- 7-panel STI test
- HIV test
- Herpes test
- Syphilis test
- Herpes & Syphilis test
- HIV & Syphilis test
- Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test
If you are having regular unprotected sex – especially if you and/or your partner have multiple sexual partners – it is recommended that you have a comprehensive sexual health test at least once a year.
This should include a multi-panel test such as our 7-panel STI test, which tests for some of the most common STIs in the UK, and at least one blood test, such as our:
For more information on symptoms and complications see ‘What are the symptoms of HIV?’
When is the best time to take an HIV test?
For this reason, we recommend that you take an HIV test no sooner than four weeks after you potential exposure to the infection.
If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because after you have been infected with HIV, it takes time for HIV antibodies and antigens to show up in a blood sample.
However, if you have started to experience symptoms, you can test immediately.
If you have no symptoms, you should take the test four weeks after potential exposure to the infection.
If you take a HIV test within the window period (4-12 weeks) and receive a Non-reactive result, it is recommended that you take another test after the window period has ended (after 12 weeks) to be sure you are clear of any infection.
Early detection will enable you to seek the correct treatment and reduce the risk of you becoming seriously ill.
You can take the test whether you are symptomatic (experiencing symptoms) or asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms).
How accurate is an HIV test?
Our UKAS-accredited laboratory works to strict, government enforced protocols to ensure your results are as accurate as possible.
Unlike many other online STI testing providers, our range of STI/STD tests has been developed in accordance with stringent guidelines as set by the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV (BASHH), Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health (FSHR) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
If you have any concerns about the reliability of your results, we would be happy to talk to you and answer any questions you might have.
For further guidance, we recommend making an appointment with your GP or visiting your nearest sexual health clinic.
You can also learn more about STIs/STDs by visiting https://www.sexwise.org.uk/
How do I register my test?
Please follow this link to complete your registration form online, ensuring that all your personal details are correct before collecting your samples.
If you have not received the email by the time you receive your test kit, please contact us on 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com for assistance.
IMPORTANT: You MUST register your test online before returning your samples to our laboratory.
We will not be able to start the testing process until you have registered your test.
What samples are required?
When you receive your sample collection kit, simply follow the enclosed instructions to collect your blood sample.
Once you have collected your blood sample, carefully package the sample in the protective packaging, place it into the pre-paid tracked return polythene envelope and return it to our UK laboratory.
If you would like confidential advice on how to collect your blood sample, please contact our Customer Services team who will be able to assist you (call 0333 600 1300 or email health@alphabiolabs.com).
How can HIV be detected in a blood sample?
Our HIV test will tell you whether you have HIV-1 and HIV-2 markers, as well as the p24 early detection marker.
For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.sexwise.org.uk/
What are the symptoms of HIV?
Our HIV test can detect a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, using a finger prick blood sample. The test requires that a blood sample be collected using a small, finger prick lancet device.
Below is an overview of some of the most common HIV symptoms along with possible complications if left untreated. All these symptoms and complications have been known to affect both men and women with HIV.
| STI/STD | SYMPTOMS | POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS |
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) |
|
|
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) | |
| Symptoms | Possible Complications |
|
|
What will the results of my HIV test tell me?
Our test will provide results for HIV-1 and HIV-2 markers, as well as the p24 early detection marker.
If you receive a Reactive result, this means HIV antibodies or antigens were present in your sample at the time of collection.
If you receive a Reactive result, you MUST contact your GP or local healthcare provider to seek confirmatory testing as soon as possible.
If you receive a Non-reactive result, this means that HIV antibodies or antigens were NOT present in your sample at the time of collection.
If you receive a Non-reactive result but believe you have been exposed to HIV, you should take another test after 12 weeks (from when you believe you were first exposed to the infection).
Can I take a HIV test if I don’t have symptoms?
If you do not have symptoms, we recommend taking an HIV test no earlier than four weeks after you believe you were first exposed to the infection.
If you collect your sample too soon, the results of your test may not be as accurate. This is because it takes time for HIV antibodies and antigens to show up in a blood test after you have been infected.
The approximate window period for HIV, the length of time it takes from when you were first infected, to when the infection can be detected using a blood sample, is 4-12 weeks (1-3 months).
However, if you are experiencing symptoms, we recommend that you get an HIV test immediately to either rule out the risk of HIV, or ensure the virus is detected early. If you have no symptoms, you should take the test four weeks after you believe you were first exposed to the infection.
Early detection will enable you to seek the correct treatment and reduce the risk of you becoming seriously ill.
If you have taken a test within the 12-week window period and received a Non-reactive result, we recommend that you take another test after the window period has ended (after 12 weeks) to confirm the result.
Other AlphaBiolabs tests that you can take even if you do not have symptoms include our 7-panel STI test, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV test, HIV test and Syphilis test.
Are the results of my HIV test private and confidential?
In the interests of public health and safety, AlphaBiolabs is required to report certain ‘clinically significant’ core organisms to Public Health England if they are detected within your sample
However, this does not include HIV.
Organisms that we are required to report to Public Health England include chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma hominis, mycoplasma genitalium, neisseria gonorrhoea and trichomonas vaginalis.
Reports made to Public Health England include the individual’s full name, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, and postcode.
Can you take an HIV test when you’re pregnant?
If you are expecting a baby and you are experiencing symptoms that could indicate you have an STI, it’s especially important to get a test before the baby is born, as treatment during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of passing an infection onto your baby.
Certain STIs/STDs, including HIV, can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or during delivery.
You can still collect your blood sample while you are pregnant, and your test result will be just as conclusive as if you weren’t pregnant.
Should my partner also take an HIV test?
However, if you receive a Reactive result (indicating that an HIV infection has been detected), you MUST let your sexual partner(s) know so that they can also arrange to be tested.
We strongly advise that you get an STI test if an infection has been detected in your partner’s sample.
My test results show that I have HIV. What should I do?
Confirmatory testing is essential for anyone who receives a Reactive result in order to provide a diagnosis and determine whether you have a current or past infection. Although extremely rare, it is possible to receive a false positive result for this test.
You should also abstain from sexual contact, to avoid passing the infection on to other people and contact any sexual partners as soon as possible to inform them of the result.
