What is OraQuick

What is the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test?

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is a private, and accurate way to test for HIV in your own home. It is the same test preferred by many public health professionals.

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is an in-vitro diagnostic home-use test for HIV (HIV-1 and HIV-2) in oral fluid. This test works by looking for your body's response (antibodies) to fighting the HIV virus. A positive result is preliminary and follow-up confirmatory testing is needed.

The OraQuick test should only be used to test for HIV, and should not be used for other purposes. If you need to be tested for pregnancy or for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or other infection, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider. He or she can help you get tested.

Is the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test a qualitative or quantitative testing device?

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is a qualitative test that is designed to be visually read and test for the presence of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. It can provide results such as:

- preliminary positive,

- negative, or

- test not working (invalid).

The test is not quantitative in nature. So, the intensity of the lines on the test stick does not correlate with the stage of the disease or infection potential.

How does an HIV antibody test work?

An HIV antibody test detects the cells that the body's immune (defense) system creates in response to HIV infection. When HIV enters the body, the body starts to produce antibodies. In the case of HIV, the antibodies can't fight off the infection. But, their presence can be used to tell whether a person has HIV in his or her body. Most HIV tests detect the presence of HIV antibodies, not the virus itself.

How much faster are rapid HIV tests than standard HIV tests?

A rapid HIV test can produce accurate results in about 20 minutes. Standard screening tests can take up to 2 weeks.

What are the advantages of rapid tests for HIV using oral fluids?

Rapid HIV tests that use oral fluid are safe and accurate, and they provide quick results. They're a good option for people who don't like to have blood drawn or their finger pricked. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test also provides benefits such as convenience and privacy.

Rapid HIV tests that use oral fluid are safer for healthcare workers. The risk of exposure to infectious diseases is much lower from oral fluid than from blood. Contact with saliva has never been proven to result in the transmission (spread) of HIV.

What is a rapid HIV test?

Rapid HIV test results are as accurate as other screening tests for HIV. The OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test is a personal test that gives you fast results in just 20 minutes. As with all HIV screening tests, a positive test result must be confirmed with an additional test before a diagnosis of HIV can be made.

How well do HIV rapid tests work?

In a professional setting, rapid HIV tests are more than 99% accurate. As with standard HIV tests, a positive test result must be confirmed with another type of test. The FDA approved OraQuick in Home HIV Test performance resulted in 99.9% of people (4,902 out of 4,903) tested correctly reporting a negative test result and 91.7 % of HIV positive people (88 out of 96) tested correctly reporting a positive test result. As with standard HIV tests, a positive test result must be confirmed with another type of test.

Is the OraQuick rapid test a saliva test?

The OraQuick oral fluid rapid HIV test is not a saliva test. It uses oral fluid, which is slightly different from saliva.

Oral fluid, collected from the gumline, contains antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the body's immune (defense) system to fight infection. If there are antibodies to HIV, it indicates that the person has been infected with HIV.

Other Topics

About HIV

Learning about HIV, treatments, and how to live a long, healthy life.

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Taking the Test

Answers to questions about doing the rapid HIV home test and reading the self-test results.

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Additional Questions

Still have additional questions, find them here.

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Questions about HIV self testing or OraQuick HIV rapid test results? We are available 24/7 for any questions you have. Call our US support center toll-free at 1-866-436-6527.

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