HIV Home Tests

In recent time there are lots of options to be tested whether you are infected with HIV or not. Now you can test yourself at home because home tests for HIV kits are available. Nevertheless these home testing is not for everyone. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved HIV home tests are as exact or accurate as the antibody tests that are done in health departments and doctors. They use the same ELISA/Western Blot/IFA tests. However there are certain differences among these home kits. Some companies are selling their kits though they are not approved by FDA. As well as the accuracy of these kits is unknown. On the other hand the FDA approved home tests are more than 99% accurate after six months of possible disclosure to the virus.

Let us see the information regarding some of HIV home tests

The FDA approved tests are available at the clinics, with the doctors, and at public health clinics. The FDA approved home collection kit can be helpful as you can collect the sample of blood and can send it to the laboratory for analysis. The "Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System is approved by FDA and it is sold legally in United States.

How do home tests work?

HIV tests work by permitting a person who wants to be test for HIV at home. In this process an individual has to prick his/her finger and draw a bit of blood. After that it has to place on a testing strip. This strip then shows a graphic image that is generally a stripe or a colored dot. It determines that whether the individual is positive. However these tests are subject to errors, but show easily that whether the individual is positive or not.