At-home STI testing: how it works

Why test at home

Your kit arrives in a plain, unmarked box, so nothing on the outside shows what is inside.

An at-home kit lets you collect your own samples in private, on your schedule, and mail them to a certified lab. The lab runs the same kinds of tests used for samples collected in a clinic.

CDC guidelines consider self-collected urine and swab samples a reasonable alternative to samples collected by a clinician, as long as you follow the kit instructions.

What a kit can test for

Your kit is matched to your service and the kinds of sex you have, so not every kit includes every sample.

• Finger-prick blood sample: HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B or C. For people on PrEP, it can also check kidney function.
• Urine sample: gonorrhea and chlamydia in the genitals.
• Throat and rectal swabs: infections at those sites, mainly gonorrhea and chlamydia. A urine test alone can miss them.
• Vaginal swab, when included: gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Before you start

• Most people finish collecting samples in about 10 minutes.
• Collect samples on a day you can mail them, so they reach the lab quickly.
• For the urine sample, try not to urinate for at least 1 hour beforehand.
• Wash your hands and lay out everything in the kit on a clean surface.

Collecting your samples

• Finger prick: run your hand under warm water for about a minute, clean your fingertip with the alcohol pad, then prick it and let drops fall onto the card. Fill each circle completely, and let the card dry for about 10 minutes.
• Urine: fill the tube until the liquid sits between the two marked lines.
• Throat swab: rub the swab against the back of your throat for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Rectal swab: insert the swab about 2 inches (5 cm) and gently rotate it for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Label every sample as the kit shows, seal them in the bag provided, and mail them back in the prepaid envelope.

Getting your results

Results are usually ready 2 to 3 business days after the lab receives your samples. You will get a notification, and you can view your results securely in your account.

If a result is positive, your care team will contact you about treatment and next steps. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. After treatment for chlamydia or gonorrhea, the CDC recommends retesting about 3 months later.

When an at-home kit is not the right fit

• You have symptoms such as sores, discharge, or pain. Contact your care team to be seen.
• You may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours. Contact a provider about PEP right away instead of waiting for a kit.
• You have had syphilis before. Syphilis antibody tests usually stay positive after treatment, so a new infection needs a different test arranged by your care team.
• Your exposure was very recent. Tests can miss an infection during the window period. See our guide to testing windows.

Prefer a lab visit? You can choose in-person testing instead. Most appointments take 15 minutes or less.