How to Use an STD Home Testing Kit
Posted on: 23 August 2021
Share
If you want to get tested for a sexually transmitted disease but do not want or do not have time to go to a sexual health clinic, using an STD home testing kit is an option. By following these steps, you can ensure that you use the kit safely and get reliable results.
1. Purchase a Kit From a Reliable Source
Many websites sell STD home testing kits. To protect yourself, you should only buy kits from sources you trust, such as a regulated pharmacy. Look for reassurances on the website of the legitimacy of the pharmacy, avoid buying from foreign sites, and check that the website is secure before you purchase anything.
2. Check the Seal
All STD home testing kits should come in sealed packaging. This seal helps to prevent infection by ensuring that the kit is sterile. Take a moment to check the seal before you open the kit.
3. Wash Your Hands
Before you handle any parts of the kit, you should wash your hands with soap and dry them. This step helps you to avoid contaminating the sample that you take, as well as protecting you from introducing any bacteria to your genitals when you take the swab.
4. Read the Instructions
Read the instructions provided with the STD home testing kit before you take your sample. Depending on what infections you are testing for, you might need to take a swab from your penis or vagina or produce a urine sample. If you are testing for HIV, you might even need to take a fingerprick blood sample. Reading the instructions allows you to be confident that you are taking the correct type of sample and that you collect the right material.
5. Return Sample
STD home testing kits usually require you to send your sample to a laboratory for analysis. Be sure to pack the sample according to the instructions and fill in the label clearly so that the sample can be clearly identified as yours.
6. Wait for Results
While you wait for your results to arrive, which may happen by email or text message, try to relax. Most STDs are treatable. You have done the responsible thing by getting tested. Check that the testing service that you are using has your up-to-date contact details so they can deliver your test results as soon as they are available.
To learn more, contact a STD testing kit provider.