
Frequently asked questions
About HIV self testing
- There were no discolourations or marks on my self-test stick. What does this mean?
- Who are the ‘Virtual Support Team?
- My test has a line at the “C” and a very dark line at the “T”. What does it mean?
- My test has a line at “C” and a very weak line at “T”. What does this mean?
- My test does not have a “C” line but a “T” line. What does this mean?
- There were no discolouration or marks on my self-test stick. What does this mean?
- What do the letter “C” & “T” on the HIV self-test stick mean?
- My test result was positive. Can someone get HIV by touching, licking, or other contacts with the saliva on the test kit stick or the test tube or liquid?
- I mistakenly/accidentally removed the test kit stick (or it fell out) from the vial early (before 20 minutes). Will my results be valid?
- There is a small pouch of absorbent material inside the package that contains the test kit. Should I do anything with it?
- I wear braces. Can I still use the HIV self-test kit?
- Will other non-HIV medications e.g., antibiotics, etc. affect my results
- Can I use the HIV self-test kit on my child?
- I am on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can I use an HIV self-test kit?
- Can the HIV self-test be offered to partners/peers?
- What can cause false positives when using the HIV self- test kit?
- What are the benefits of using rapid oral HIV self-tests?
- What is the (OraQuick) HIV self-test?
About the Self Test service
There were no discolourations or marks on my self-test stick. What does this mean?
If there were no lines on the self-test stick when you read your result, your test did not work, hence the result is invalid. Do not take the result as a valid indication of your HIV status.
Please repeat the procedure with a new self-test kit and carefully follow the instructions.
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Where do we deliver to?
We currently deliver to the follow ing areas within Accra, Ghana. If you do not live in one of the these areas, we will not be able to complete delivery and your order will not be sent out.
In the future we hope to expand our delivery network. We are sorry if we cannot get you a kit at this time.
NEIGHBOURHOODS | |
A | Abeka |
Ablekuma | |
Abofu | |
Abokobi | |
Abossey Okai | |
Accra Central | |
Accra New Town | |
Achimota | |
Adabraka | |
Adenta | |
Adjiringanor | |
Agape | |
Agege | |
Airport | |
Akweteyman | |
Alajo | |
Alhaji | |
Amanfro | |
Amasaman | |
Amrahia | |
Anyaa | |
Apenkwa | |
Ashale Botwe | |
Ashiyie | |
Ashongman | |
Asylum Down | |
Avenor | |
Awoshie | |
Awudome | |
Ayi Mensah | |
B | Baatsona |
Banana Inn | |
Bortianor | |
Bubiashie | |
Bukom | |
Burma Camp | |
Burma Hills/Tse Addo | |
C | Cantonments |
Chantan | |
Chorkor | |
D | Danfa |
Dansoman | |
Darkuman | |
Dome | |
Dzorwulu | |
E | East Legon |
F | Frafraha |
G | Gbawe |
Greda Estate | |
H | Haatso |
I | Israel |
J | Jamestown |
K | Kanda |
Kaneshie | |
Kaneshie | |
Kokomlemle | |
Kokompe | |
Kokrobite | |
Korle Bu | |
Korle Gonno | |
Kotobabi | |
Kuntunse | |
Kwabenya | |
Kwame Nkrumah Circle | |
L | La |
Labone | |
Lake Side | |
Lapaz | |
Laterbiokorshie | |
Legon | |
Lom Nava | |
M | Maamobi |
Madina | |
Makola | |
Mallam | |
Mamprobi | |
Mataheko | |
McCarthy HIll | |
Mile 11 | |
Mile 7 | |
N | Ngleshie Amanfro |
Nii Boi Town | |
Nima | |
North Kaneshie | |
North Legon | |
North Ridge | |
Nungua | |
Nyamekye | |
O | Odorkor |
Ofankor | |
Ogbojo | |
Okaishie | |
Okpoi Gonno | |
Osu | |
Oyarifa | |
Oyarifa | |
P | Pantang |
Pokuase | |
R | Race Course |
Regimanuel Estate (East Airport) | |
S | Santa Maria |
Sapeiman | |
South La | |
Sowutuom | |
T | Tabora |
Taifa | |
Tantra Hills | |
Teshie | |
Tudu | |
U | Ussher Town |
W | Weija |
West Hills |
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Can I order for a friend?
No. Please give them the link to our app and ask them to order for themselves. We cannot provide kits to you for use by other people in order to protect their privacy and confidentiality. Reach out to us on 0303-960-212 , If you have further questions about this.
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Who are the ‘Virtual Support Team?
They are a team of friendly healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, who provide online support about HIV self tests and specialist sexual health advice, education and counselling when you need it.
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Who is behind it?
Self Test is a partnership between WAPCAS (Ghana-West African Program to Combat AIDS & STI) & SH:24 (UK) in collaboration with the National AIDS/STI Control Programme and the Ghana Health Service. We provide free HIV self test kits, education and counseling on HIV/STI and sexual health.
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Is it confidential?
Yes. Privacy and confidentiality are crucial to our service. All data is encrypted when you send it and when it is stored. We adhere to a strict privacy and data protection policy. Your data is never shared outside of the team.
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Is it free?
Yes. If you live in Accra and are over 18 years. Both the kit and the delivery are free of charge.
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My test has a line at the “C” and a very dark line at the “T”. What does it mean?
Source: OraQuick Information and Answers. http://www.oraquick.com
If your test result shows a line next to the letter “C” and a line next to the letter “T”, your test is reactive. This result shows that there is a possibility that you may be infected with HIV. However, the intensity of the lines on the test key does not correspond to the stage of the disease or the potential for infection.
You will need a second test to confirm your result. Until your test result is confirmed, please take precautions to avoid the risk of spreading HIV.
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My test has a line at “C” and a very weak line at “T”. What does this mean?
Any line next to the letter “T” on the self-test kit stick, regardless of its colour or hue, means that you have a reactive result. You will need a second test to confirm your result. Until your test result is confirmed, please take precautions to avoid the risk of spreading HIV.
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My test does not have a “C” line but a “T” line. What does this mean?
If your test has a line next to the letter “T”, but no line next to the letter “C”, it means your test did not work. For a test to work, a line MUST appear next to the area marked “C”. Therefore, the result is invalid. Please repeat the procedure with a new self-test kit and carefully follow the instructions.
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There were no discolouration or marks on my self-test stick. What does this mean?
If there were no lines on the self-test stick when you read your result, your test did not work, hence the result is invalid. Do not take the result as a valid indication of your HIV status.
Please repeat the procedure with a new self-test kit and carefully follow the instructions.
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What do the letter “C” & “T” on the HIV self-test stick mean?
The letter “C” on the spatula means “control”. A line should appear next to the letter “C” if you have followed the instructions carefully and waited 20 – 40 minutes after placing your self-test kit stick in the tube. This line means that your test is working. If NO line appears next to the letter “C”, it means that your test is not working, and you will need to obtain a new one.
The letter “T” on the spatula means “test”. A line next to the letter “T”, even if the line is weak, and a line next to the letter “C”, means that you have a reactive result and that you may have HIV. You will need a second test to confirm your result. A “T” line, even if the line is weak, and no “C” line means that the test is invalid, and you need to be retested.
If you have a reactive result, you will need a second test to confirm your result. You will need to get in touch with a health provider to assist you.
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My test result was positive. Can someone get HIV by touching, licking, or other contacts with the saliva on the test kit stick or the test tube or liquid?
Medical experts agree that HIV does not survive well outside the body. This means that the risk of environmental transmission (spread) is remote. Therefore, if someone comes into direct contact with your self-test stick, there is extremely little risk of transmitting HIV to them. Contact with saliva has never been shown to result in the transmission of HIV. However, with a positive test result, you will need a second test to confirm your HIV status. Until your result is confirmed, be sure to take extra precautions to avoid any chance of spreading HIV. Generally, it will be helpful to avoid all sexual activities until you know your HIV status.
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I mistakenly/accidentally removed the test kit stick (or it fell out) from the vial early (before 20 minutes). Will my results be valid?
If you removed the test kit stick, or it fell out, at any point after you placed it in the test tube, the result of the test is not valid even if you immediately replaced the test kit stick. The test kit stick must remain in the test tube for at least 20 minutes as shown in the instructions.
Therefore, do not consider your result an accurate indication of your HIV status. You can dispose of the test kit, reorder a new test kit, and carefully follow the handling and testing instructions on how to properly use the kit.
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There is a small pouch of absorbent material inside the package that contains the test kit. Should I do anything with it?
The small pouch inside the self-test package is designed to prevent moisture from affecting the test kit during storage. It is not used when performing the test and you may discard it in the trash.
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I wear braces. Can I still use the HIV self-test kit?
Will other non-HIV medications e.g., antibiotics, etc. affect my results
To date, there is no evidence that the use of antibiotics or other medication (other than antiretrovirals) may affect the test results. Please proceed with the test.
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Can I use the HIV self-test kit on my child?
The HIV self-test kit is intended for use by individuals’ ages 12 and older. It is not for use in children under 12 years of age. If your child is younger than 12 years of age, and you are concerned that your child may have HIV, kindly talk with a health provider.
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I am on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can I use an HIV self-test kit?
Yes, a person on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV can use the self-test kit in testing for HIV
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Can the HIV self-test be offered to partners/peers?
Offering a self-test kit and encouraging a sexual partner, peer, or friend, to take an HIV self-test is often an excellent way to help people learn their HIV status. But it is still important not to force or coerce them. The decision to take an HIV test should remain personal and voluntary.
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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
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What are the benefits of using rapid oral HIV self-tests?
Rapid HIV tests that use oral fluid are safe and accurate, and they provide rapid results. They are an alternative to conventional HIV testing. The HIV self-test (OraQuick) also offers advantages such as convenience and privacy.
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What is the (OraQuick) HIV self-test?
The HIV self-test (OraQuick) should only be used for HIV testing and should not be used for any other purpose such as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or other infection.
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