Home Testing Kit Resources

Why you need to take your time

 

We get a lot of Home STI Kits returned to our lab too little blood for the necessary tests. Please take time to read the advice on this page, before you attempt your test, and follow all the instructions in your Guidance Notes carefully. In addition, take your time with the test, and label your samples slowly and accurately.

Take a look at your kit and make sure you have all the items needed to complete it properly before beginning to take your samples. Please ensure your kit contains the white request form, and the sample labels. If you do not have these, please contact us. 

Steps to follow to complete your Home STI Test

Find below some good advice on how to complete your Home STI Kit tests, these may help you to provide sufficient and accurate samples to the Lab:- 

• Do not label your blood bottle until you have taken your sample, so that you can see how much blood you have collected.
• Fill the blood bottle to above the top orange line – that’s really important.
• If the side of your little finger doesn't work for you, choose a more fleshy finger instead.
• Drink as much water as you can on the day you do the home test kit – try and get at least a litre down yourself so you are well hydrated before you attempt to take your blood sample. This will make it easier!
• Try to avoid sugary foods and drinks on the day, as these can make your blood much thicker. 
• Warm your hands for a few minutes in hot water, or take a hot shower – it really does help you bleed. 
• When you use the lancets press firmly on your skin, they're designed to create a crescent wound that will bleed but not to injure you. They only work once and make a snapping sound like a stapler.  Once you hear the snap, release the pressure on the lancet and have your bottle ready to capture the blood.
• Use the fingers of your other hand to drag tightly down the finger that you've cut, to draw blood towards the finger tip, away from your palm. 
• If you need to, use all 3 lancets. If one wound dries up or clots then use another finger and another lancet. If you stop bleeding it's easier to make another cut than to try and get more blood out of a closed wound.
• Once you have filled your blood bottle and put the lid on firmly, shake the bottle a few times to mix the blood with the preservative, to ensure it gets to the lab in a form that can be used for your test. 
• When you do your throat swab, try and avoid touching your tongue and give the back of your throat a good scrub with the swab to pick up the bacteria we need to look for – use the guidance notes in the box for assistance.
• When you do your urine test, make sure you collect the very first part of your pee that you let go of. That’s really important and don’t pee for at least an hour to 1.5hrs before you collect your urine sample, so that any bacteria shows up in the test.
• Screw up all the sample bottles tightly, to prevent any leakages of the samples in transit.
• Label all your samples & check the expiry date of your kit by looking at the box and the blood collection bottle.
• There is a white “request slip” in the box. It has your name, date of birth and phone number on it – make sure you put all your completed tests back in the box and tape that request slip on the top and around the box to keep it closed and sealed. If the Lab don’t get your request slip, then they won’t process your kit.
• Check your phone number is correct on the request slip, to make sure you get a text and let us know if you don’t hear within 7 days (this allows 2 days for postage).

 

With your kit you will also receive guidance notes which will have instructions on how to complete your kit. 

You can also watch our instructional video on taking your own blood

The below video will help you take your blood sample, using the safety lancets provided in the pack you'll have received from us. Please watch this step-by-step video, before attempting to collect your blood sample. It will take you through filling in the form, what to expect in your pack and instructions on taking the blood sample.