When you’ve ever questioned about your HIV standing however haven’t gotten the check for no matter purpose—time, price, nervousness—now could be your likelihood to bypass at the least a few of these considerations.
You possibly can order as much as two HIV self-tests at no cost when you dwell within the US (together with Puerto Rico) and are age 17 or older, because of a CDC-funded program known as Collectively TakeMeHome that launched in 2023.
It’s tremendous straightforward to fill out the shape, and when you obtain your check within the mail, all you must do is swab your gums and wait 20 minutes on your outcomes, which you’ll learn within the privateness and luxury of your house. Plus, you too can order one other spherical of exams each three months till 2027.
This program has been a reasonably large success up to now; the company mailed about 440,000 exams within the first yr, in keeping with a latest CDC report. About 40,000 individuals who ordered a package had by no means been examined for HIV earlier than, and of these, 151 reported testing constructive.
HIV is now very treatable (and preventable, when you use PrEP treatment and/or condoms) however there are nonetheless about 40,000 new HIV infections per yr. Practically 40% of individuals with the virus don’t know they’ve it or know however aren’t receiving remedy. (Simply notice that this self-test will not be useful for you in case you are utilizing PrEP as a result of the drugs can have an effect on its means to detect the virus.)
“Most adults within the US have by no means been examined for HIV, regardless of the CDC’s advice for everybody ages 13–64 to get examined at the least as soon as of their lifetime,” Travis Sanchez, MPH, govt director of the Collectively TakeMeHome distribution program, tells SELF. This initiative “offers folks the ability to check on their very own phrases.”
Listed below are crucial issues to find out about these free HIV self-tests.
How lengthy does it take to get a free HIV self-test?
You possibly can count on to obtain your exams within the mail inside three to 5 days. You simply have to offer your identify, birthday, e-mail, and residential deal with. After three months, you may order a brand new pair of exams—which is a good suggestion when you had anal or vaginal intercourse with a brand new companion or companions or shared drug injection gear with different folks inside that interval and haven’t been examined once more.
For these youthful than age 17, free HIV exams should be out there through group well being facilities or substance abuse packages; take a look at this CDC listing to see if organizations in your space are providing free or cheaper exams.
How does the HIV self-test work?
When you’re able to take the check, keep away from consuming, ingesting, or utilizing mouthwash half-hour beforehand. Then swipe your higher and decrease gums with the swab that is available in your package and put it into the offered tube. The “check window” will flip pink for a short time, however wait a full 20 minutes earlier than studying your outcomes. (Right here’s a video tutorial.)