More information on home specimen collection kits for HIV and other tests required for PrEP patients will be added to this Web page as it becomes available, including additional laboratories providing this service.
This laboratory-conducted test is sensitive enough to detect recent HIV infection. The kit is then mailed back to the lab with test results returned to the clinician who acts on results accordingly. Specimen kits are mailed to the patient’s home and contain supplies to collect blood from a fingerstick or other appropriate method (e.g. Some laboratories have validated protocols for testing home-collected samples for the panel of tests required for those initiating or continuing PrEP. Home collection kits can be ordered by physicians and are covered by most insurance plans. Home Specimen Collection KitĪ home specimen collection kit can be used to test for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI). Findings from self-testing research and additional resources provided below may be helpful if you are considering offering HIV self-testing in your program. While HIV self-tests are available for retail purchase by consumers, CDC encourages health departments to consider HIV self-testing as an additional testing strategy to reach persons most affected by HIV. The availability of HIV self-tests in the US may help increase awareness of HIV infection for people who wouldn’t otherwise get an HIV test. HIV self-testing allows people to take an HIV test and find out their result in their own home or other private location.