HIV SELF-TEST:
HIV self-testing allows people to take an HIV test and find out their results in their own homes or other private locations. Currently, it is estimated that about 21% of people living with HIV do not know their status. As part of the effort to ensure that more persons know their HIV status, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed various HIV self-testing methods using own specimen – blood or oral fluid, often done in a private setting or in the company of a trusted ones. Up to 77 countries have adopted HIV self-testing, while many others are currently developing them. This has a proven clinical specificity of about 99%.
There are two methods of HIV self-testing:
– Rapid self-test
– Mail-in self-test
RAPID SELF-TEST
The only approved rapid self-test is OraQuick®, and this is the HIV self-testing method available in the facility. The OraQuick® HIV self-test is a single-use qualitative immunoassay to detect antibodies to HIV I&II in oral fluid intended for use by lay users.
The test kit is given to individuals who are unable to visit the facility for testing, or who prefer to do the test in the privacy of their homes. One pouched kit contains two divided pouches with single-use test device, preservative and a developer solution vial; a test stand; Instruction for use.
How to perform the test:
A timer is needed to keep track of time.
1) Tear open the pouch and cross-check the expiry date on the test kit.
2) Then tear open the pouch containing the tube with the developer solution vial, the test stand and the preservative, and discard the later.
3) Bring out the tube containing the solution, open it and slide the tube into the test stand.
4) Tear open the second pouch that has the test device
5) Withdraw the test device by holding the end opposite the flat pad, and ensuring the flat pad isn’t touched.
6) Press the flat pad of the test device firmly against the upper gum once, and then the lower gum once.
7) Then put the flat pad all the way into the bottom of the tube containing the developing solution and leave it there for 20 minutes before reading the results.
Result Interpretation:
After 20 minutes, the results are read in a well-lit area as follows:
– If two red lines appear on the T (test) and C (control) marks on the test device, the test is POSITIVE.
– If one red line appears on the C mark and no red line on the T, the test is NEGATIVE.
– If no line next to the C mark (even if there is a red line next to the T) or a red background makes it impossible to read, then the result is INVALID.
Implication of the result:
– Positive self-test results should be followed up in a laboratory where a confirmatory test is done.
– Negative results in individuals who have not had any possible exposure in the previous 3 months need not do a follow-up laboratory confirmatory test.
– Invalid test results need to be repeated with another OraQuick® test kit, a mail-in self-test kit, or laboratory testing.
Warnings and precautions:
– Do not eat or drink 15 minutes before starting the test.
– Do not use mouth cleaning products (including mouthwash) 30 minutes before starting the test.
– Do not use the test if you are HIV positive.
– Do not open any of the pouches until you are ready to begin the test.
– Do not use the test kit if it has been exposed to a housecleaning product (e.g. bleach).
– Test is done with oral fluid only.
– Do not use the test kit if its expired.
– Test kit is stored in acceptable temperature of 2-30 ⁰C, and test performed at 15-37 ⁰C.
Limitations of the test:
– Oral bleeding may give an invalid test result.
– Individuals on HIV treatment, or positive for Hepatitis B, C, HTLV I&II may have false results.
– OraQuick® may not detect HIV infections that occurred within the last 3 months.
– Positive results should be verified using another HIV confirmatory test.
MAIL-IN SELF-TEST:
This is another HIV self-testing method that involves the use of blood, in contrast to the OraQuick®. It comes with a test kit that contains tools that aids fingerprick blood sample collection into a card, which is then mailed to a laboratory for testing. As with OraQuick®, positive test results are followed up with a confirmatory testing in the laboratory. In contrast to the OraQuick®, however, test results are not immediately available, but recent HIV infection (including that acquired in the preceding 3 months) can be detected. This method is not available in our facility.
HIV SELF-TEST:
HIV self-testing allows people to take an HIV test and find out their results in their own homes or other private locations. Currently, it is estimated that about 21% of people living with HIV do not know their status. As part of the effort to ensure that more persons know their HIV status, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed various HIV self-testing methods using own specimen – blood or oral fluid, often done in a private setting or in the company of a trusted ones. Up to 77 countries have adopted HIV self-testing, while many others are currently developing them. This has a proven clinical specificity of about 99%.
There are two methods of HIV self-testing:
– Rapid self-test
– Mail-in self-test
RAPID SELF-TEST
The only approved rapid self-test is OraQuick®, and this is the HIV self-testing method available in the facility. The OraQuick® HIV self-test is a single-use qualitative immunoassay to detect antibodies to HIV I&II in oral fluid intended for use by lay users.
The test kit is given to individuals who are unable to visit the facility for testing, or who prefer to do the test in the privacy of their homes. One pouched kit contains two divided pouches with single-use test device, preservative and a developer solution vial; a test stand; Instruction for use.
How to perform the test:
A timer is needed to keep track of time.
1) Tear open the pouch and cross-check the expiry date on the test kit.
2) Then tear open the pouch containing the tube with the developer solution vial, the test stand and the preservative, and discard the later.
3) Bring out the tube containing the solution, open it and slide the tube into the test stand.
4) Tear open the second pouch that has the test device
5) Withdraw the test device by holding the end opposite the flat pad, and ensuring the flat pad isn’t touched.
6) Press the flat pad of the test device firmly against the upper gum once, and then the lower gum once.
7) Then put the flat pad all the way into the bottom of the tube containing the developing solution and leave it there for 20 minutes before reading the results.
Result Interpretation:
After 20 minutes, the results are read in a well-lit area as follows:
– If two red lines appear on the T (test) and C (control) marks on the test device, the test is POSITIVE.
– If one red line appears on the C mark and no red line on the T, the test is NEGATIVE.
– If no line next to the C mark (even if there is a red line next to the T) or a red background makes it impossible to read, then the result is INVALID.
Implication of the result:
– Positive self-test results should be followed up in a laboratory where a confirmatory test is done.
– Negative results in individuals who have not had any possible exposure in the previous 3 months need not do a follow-up laboratory confirmatory test.
– Invalid test results need to be repeated with another OraQuick® test kit, a mail-in self-test kit, or laboratory testing.
Warnings and precautions:
– Do not eat or drink 15 minutes before starting the test.
– Do not use mouth cleaning products (including mouthwash) 30 minutes before starting the test.
– Do not use the test if you are HIV positive.
– Do not open any of the pouches until you are ready to begin the test.
– Do not use the test kit if it has been exposed to a housecleaning product (e.g. bleach).
– Test is done with oral fluid only.
– Do not use the test kit if its expired.
– Test kit is stored in acceptable temperature of 2-30 ⁰C, and test performed at 15-37 ⁰C.
Limitations of the test:
– Oral bleeding may give an invalid test result.
– Individuals on HIV treatment, or positive for Hepatitis B, C, HTLV I&II may have false results.
– OraQuick® may not detect HIV infections that occurred within the last 3 months.
– Positive results should be verified using another HIV confirmatory test.
MAIL-IN SELF-TEST:
This is another HIV self-testing method that involves the use of blood, in contrast to the OraQuick®. It comes with a test kit that contains tools that aids fingerprick blood sample collection into a card, which is then mailed to a laboratory for testing. As with OraQuick®, positive test results are followed up with a confirmatory testing in the laboratory. In contrast to the OraQuick®, however, test results are not immediately available, but recent HIV infection (including that acquired in the preceding 3 months) can be detected. This method is not available in our facility.