OraQuick HIV Self Test

Buy OraQuick HIV Self-Test

The OraQuick HIV self-test detects the antibodies your body creates to fight HIV-1 and HIV-2, without requiring any blood. It’s quick, painless and can be done from the comfort of your own home.

These antibodies can take up to three months to develop after exposure, so it is important to consider when you were last at risk. If you test too soon, the result may be inaccurate.

What's included?

Each test contains:

• testing device
• developer vial
• product leaflet
• disposal bag

Is it possible to test for HIV at home?

With the OraQuick HIV self-test, you get an accurate, private way to test for HIV in your own home. However, you should always follow up your self-test with a test at a sexual health clinic.

When to use an HIV self-test

You should use the OraQuick HIV self‑test at least 3 months (90 days) after a potential HIV exposure, because the test detects antibodies, which can take up to 3 months to reach detectable levels. For tests that are accurate for more recent possible exposure to HIV, you should contact your local sexual health clinic.

Many people will routinely self-test to keep themselves protected. Situations that can increase the risk of HIV transmission include:

• unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a new partner
• not knowing the HIV status of a sexual partner
• sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment

If you think you have been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours, you should not take an HIV self-test.

Instead, contact a sexual health clinic about PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a short course of medication that can help prevent HIV if taken early enough.

What to do if you test positive

HIV self-tests don’t produce false positives very often, meaning that if you’ve got a positive test result, it’s possible you’ve got HIV.

If this happens, try not to panic. Instead, contact a clinician at a sexual health clinic. They will carry out another HIV test to confirm your results and discuss your options going forward.

They may suggest that you start HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy) straight away. While not a cure, antiretroviral therapy allows people with HIV to live long, healthy lives. It can also stop you from transmitting HIV to other people by reducing your viral load.

Your clinician isn’t just there to confirm a diagnosis. They’ll listen to your concerns and provide you with the necessary support and resources you need to manage your diagnosis.

What to do if you test negative

If you test negative on your self-test, then you should still visit a sexual health clinic and get a follow-up test to confirm the result.

If you’re still concerned after your test and feel that you’re at a high risk of contracting HIV, then you should speak to a clinician about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). This is a preventative HIV medication that is up to 99% effective at stopping transmission.

How accurate are OraQuick HIV self-tests?

OraQuick HIV self-tests are extremely accurate. When used properly, they have an expected performance of 92% for test sensitivity (percentage of results that will be positive when HIV is present) and 99% for test specificity (the percentage of results that will be negative when HIV is not present).

However, as this is still just a screening test, any result should be confirmed with a clinician.

How to use an OraQuick HIV self-test

Using an OraQuick HIV self-test is easy:

1. Swab. Place the flat pad of the swab against your outer gum, above your teeth. You should gently swab the entire outer gum area, both top and bottom. Only swab once.
2. Insert. You should insert the flat pad you’ve just swabbed your gums with into the vial, then start a 20-minute timer.
3. Read. You’ll see pink fluid travelling up to the ‘T’ and ‘C’ in the results window. The fluid will disappear as the test develops. You should read your results after 20 minutes, but no later than 40 minutes.

Make sure you avoid eating, drinking, brushing your teeth and using mouthwash for at least 15-30 minutes before taking the test.

For complete instructions, you should read the product leaflet that is provided in the box.

Understanding your result

After 20 minutes, your results will be ready. Here’s what to look for:

• Negative test: A negative test will have one line next to the ‘C’ and no line next to the ‘T’.
• Positive test: A positive test will have two complete lines, one next to the ‘C’ and any line next to the ‘T’ (even faint) may mean you have HIV.

When should you not use an HIV self-test

You should not use an OraQuick HIV self-test for recent potential HIV exposures. If it’s still within three months of exposure, the test may be inaccurate.

If you are already on antiretroviral therapy, then the test is not suitable for you, as this may cause false results.

Other reasons you should not use a self-test include if:

• your test is past the expiration date printed on the box
• the test has been stored outside the correct temperature (2° to 27°C)
• you are under-18
• you have recently participated in an HIV vaccine clinical trial

Are there any side effects?

There are currently no known side effects to using the OraQuick HIV self-test.

It’s still safe to test if you are pregnant/breastfeeding or on antibiotics (or other non-HIV-related medication).

Sources

• How to use. OraQuick. [Accessed 23/02/2026]
• Testing and Understanding Results. OraQuick. [Accessed 23/02/2026]