HIV Home Tests

[Kingfisher69]

I've been punting since the 90's. From picking up street girls, to calling adverts from the paper, to using magazines like Oasis and now the internet. And yes there have been many times when condoms have split on me, and on one occasion came off inside her while I was fucking her (but that's another story). I've been tested for sti's when these things have happened.

But now you can test yourself at home for HIV with a simple finger prick and have the results in 15 minutes. If you're worried or just want to check your health this is the website you need.

External Link/Members Only

The tests are £15 and are posted to your home or any address of your choice. I've tried it and I'm negative.

Stay safe guys, look after your health. 

[LanceVance]

Thanks for that! 

If you are based in London, you can also order a free STI testing kit through Sexual Health London (SHL). They will send a kit to test for a number of STIs including HIV. Just collect the samples (blood, urine, oral and anal swabs) following the instructions, and send them off by post. Results are provided via the website and will come within a few days.

External Link/Members Only

[Lucky Luciano]

Thanks for that! 

If you are based in London, you can also order a free STI testing kit through Sexual Health London (SHL). They will send a kit to test for a number of STIs including HIV. Just collect the samples (blood, urine, oral and anal swabs) following the instructions, and send them off by post. Results are provided via the website and will come within a few days.

External Link/Members Only

This is the same in the North- East and I can imagine throughout the UK.If you google NHS Sexual Health Clinic and locate your nearest clinic, they offer a free service.

[downdog]

Thanks for that! 

If you are based in London, you can also order a free STI testing kit through Sexual Health London (SHL). They will send a kit to test for a number of STIs including HIV. Just collect the samples (blood, urine, oral and anal swabs) following the instructions, and send them off by post. Results are provided via the website and will come within a few days.

External Link/Members Only

And you can get a kit here if you don't want it posted to you
External Link/Members Only

[RandomGuy99]

Free NHS STI testing External Link/Members Only

[Strawberry]

This is the same in the North- East and I can imagine throughout the UK.If you google NHS Sexual Health Clinic and locate your nearest clinic, they offer a free service.

My local health authority and GUM clinic has never yet offered a postal STI testing service.

Some years ago however I did participate in a trial of deployment and use of rapid, home HIV testing kits. I found them very easy to use compared to the 'fill a phial with blood, send to lab' type required by most postal STI GUM kits. My experience of postal kits has been by private purchase e.g. Fettle, or sent from outreach projects based in/by other authority areas.

[RandomGuy99]

New vaccine

BBC News - World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
External Link/Members Only

[Strawberry]

New vaccine

BBC News - World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
External Link/Members Only

Good to see this being rolled out unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, I bought this vaccination privately in April/May (£220 total for the 2 doses) but at least I have received it. Interesting to see each dose costs the NHS £8, whereas I was charged £110 per dose.

[RandomGuy99]

Good to see this being rolled out unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, I bought this vaccination privately in April/May (£220 total for the 2 doses) but at least I have received it. Interesting to see each dose costs the NHS £8, whereas I was charged £110 per dose.

You probably did the right thing as it's not available to everyone. They're initially focusing on gay and bisexual men.

[Strawberry]

You probably did the right thing as it's not available to everyone. They're initially focusing on gay and bisexual men.

I managed to get the Mpox even though it was aimed at gay and bisexual men, but that may be because of the authority/area and the fact I made it known quietly but consistently that I would like to receive it.

[MLawro93]

I managed to get the Mpox even though it was aimed at gay and bisexual men, but that may be because of the authority/area and the fact I made it known quietly but consistently that I would like to receive it.

Clinicians can exercise discretion at clinics, which is what will happen with the Gonorrhoea vaccine as well. Some are more stubborn, but once you find a good one, they should do it for you.

[Punter75]

Similar to the OP, I can highly recommend THT HIV tests. I ordered one after a scare a few months back (abroad). Easy to use and very reassuring. Look similar to the Covid test sticks. You don't even feel the little prick to get the blood (insert own joke here!)

[Cambridgy]

And you can get a kit here if you don't want it posted to you
External Link/Members Only

These guys are excellent - recent trip to London and not from the area - receptionist said “just pop in a random London postcode - as we don’t post anything and will email/text the results”

[myothernameis]

But now you can test yourself at home for HIV with a simple finger prick and have the results in 15 minutes.

There now a new device which is being used, which dosn't involve any finger pricks.  Blood sample can now be taken from your arm, and almost painless, and gets more blood out



Hidden Image/Members Only

[MLawro93]

There now a new device which is being used, which dosn't involve any finger pricks.  Blood sample can now be taken from your arm, and almost painless, and gets more blood out

Company Thriva uses these quite a bit now. They'll become more common for at home testing, they are supposed to be painless.

[Omadon2001]

Tesco offer a hiv test. It's about £18 and you can pick it up from the shelf where the medicines are - such as pain killers.

I'm not sure how accurate they are