STI Test Kits

STI home test kits include everything you need to check if you have an STI, without having to go to your GP or a sexual health clinic. They are easy to use and are sent to a laboratory, where your samples can be tested.

You can get STI test kits for men or women. Female test kits involve using a cotton swab of the inside of the vagina, male test kits involve taking a urine (pee) sample. Some STI test kits, such as HIV, also need a blood sample.

You can get an STI test online, which will be delivered to your home with our online doctor service. You can also get tested at:

• your GP surgery, if they do not do STI tests they can refer you to the right place
• a local sexual health clinic
• a sexual health service
• a community contraceptive clinic

Your local pharmacy may also offer some types of STI testing.

Each home STI test kit may be slightly different but there are 3 main ways to use the test. The test kit will contain full instructions for use.

1. Take a cotton swab sample. You may be asked to take a swab of your penis or the inside of your vagina. You can do this by gently rubbing the swab over the area for at least 10 seconds. Then, snap the end of the swab and place it in the sample pot, closing the lid firmly. Some female tests, like chlamydia, will only ask for a cotton swab sample.
2. Take a urine sample. You will be given a sample pot which you need to collect urine into. There is usually a line on the bottle which tells you how much you need to fill it. Some male tests, like chlamydia, will only ask for a urine sample instead of a cotton swab sample.
3. Take a blood sample. Not every STI test kit will ask for a blood sample. If you need to take one, there will be alcohol wipes, lancets, and sample tubes in your kit. Clean the tip of your finger with a wipe and make sure it is dry before you use the lancet. Take the sample on the top half of your finger, at the side. Gently squeeze your finger to collect blood into the tube. There is more than one lancet if you need it.

Before using your home STI test kit, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water. You do not need to clean your genitals. Make sure to write your name and other details on each bottle correctly, as stated in your STI test kit. This is so the laboratory can test your sample and send your results to one of our doctors to review.

Home STI test kits can be just as accurate as getting samples taken by a sexual health professional, as found by this study. When taking a home STI test kit, taking your samples correctly will improve accuracy. You should also make sure you take the STI test at the right time, which will depend on the STI you are testing for.

Once you have sent your test results to the lab, you can expect to get your results back within 3 to 5 working days, depending on the type of test. This includes the time it takes for your samples to arrive at the lab, results to be processed, and then checked by one of our doctors.

When we get your results, one of our doctors will check them and send you a message through your online account. This is a secure message that can only be seen by you. We will never call or text you.

If you have tested positive, our doctors will give you support and advice on what to do next. You will need treatment if you have tested positive for an STI. You should also speak to your sexual partners, as they will need to get tested too.

An infection might not show up on an STI test kit if you take it too early. This is called the incubation period. For STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, the NHS advise waiting 2 weeks before getting tested.

For other infections like HIV, you should wait 4 weeks after sex then take another test 3 months after this. If you are having unprotected sex regularly, you should get tested every 3 months. If you have symptoms of an STI, you can take a test straight away.