What can cause false positives when using the HIV self- test kit?

A false positive is when an HIV test shows that a person is HIV positive when they are not.

The conditions that can lead to a false positive HIV test are as follows:

• Not following the instructions on how to use the self-test kit carefully,
• Incorrectly reading the test as reactive
• Not waiting for 15 minutes after eating or drinking, or 30 minutes after using oral hygiene products, before taking the test