OK, so you’ve decided to test for HIV

You can choose between two HIV home tests: The mouth swab saliva test or the finger prick blood test. Both arrive in the post and are really simple and quick to do.

You can use the following table to help decide which test is right for you:

Mouth swab ‘saliva test’Finger prick ‘blood test’
The mouth swab detects HIV that was caught more than 14 weeks ago.The finger prick test detects HIV that was caught more than 4 weeks ago.
This test uses a mouth swab. Place the absorbent pad against your gum for 2 minutes. The test uses a few drops of blood. Prick your finger using the supplied lancet. The drops are collected in a small collection tube.
You shouldn’t eat or drink for 30 minutes before using the mouth swab.The finger prick test isn’t affected by the last time you ate or drank.
If the mouth swab reacts, there is about a 90% chance that you have HIV. If you need one, we’ll be there to help you get a confirmation test.If the blood test reacts, there is over a 95% chance that you have HIV. If you need one, we’ll be there to help you get a confirmation test.

The mouth swab ‘saliva test’

The finger prick ‘blood test’