Our 8 Top Picks for At-Home HIV Tests to Help You Maintain Your Sexual Health

In many cases, you may have an STI/STD without having any symptoms. That’s why it’s a good idea to get tested for several STIs at once—including HIV—if you’re sexually active. Getting tested for a variety of STIs before becoming intimate with a new partner is also a great way to keep both of you safe. MyLAB Box offers comprehensive, full-panel, at-home STI test kits that include HIV testing.

In addition to an antigen and antibody HIV test ($79), myLAB Box has an STI testing kit for older adults that tests for common STIs including HIV (Boomer Box at Home STD Test for Seniors, $189). Other myLAB Box packages that test for HIV include the Uber Box – 8 Panel at Home STD Test Pack ($199) and the Total Box ($369), which tests for 14 different STIs. 

Depending on the package you select, your myLAB Box test may require a finger prick blood test, urine samples, vaginal swab, throat swab, and/or rectal swab. After your sample is received by mail, it typically takes about two to five business days for your results to arrive via a HIPAA-compliant digital portal. If you test positive, you’ll receive a consultation with a physician in your state, free of charge. Two-way shipping is always free with your order. You can also subscribe to receive a myLAB Box test every six months at a discount. 

MyLAB Box is a reliable, convenient option for many people who want to take control of their sexual health and wellness. However, our research revealed that some users might find the tests hard or uncomfortable to complete on their own. Also, some myLAB Box users reported that their boxes were shipped or their test results arrived later than they expected.

When you think you may have been exposed to HIV, it’s important to arm yourself with all the information you may need to take care of your health moving forward. Medical support from a qualified physician can help you along the way. Everlywell is a digital healthcare platform that offers high-quality medical support from licensed healthcare providers in addition to shipping sexual health tests directly to your home.

You can order either a stand-alone HIV test ($69) that tests for HIV 1 and 2 antibodies as well as p24 antigen or a bundled package of six STI tests for either men or women ($169). Both require you to prick your finger to collect a blood sample, which some people may find uncomfortable or difficult. The STI panel for people who menstruate also requires a vaginal swab, while the STI tests for people with testicles ask for a urine sample. 

Your Everlywell package will arrive with a discreet, plain shipping label and no external indicators of what’s inside. You can pay for your chosen product with your HSA/FSA card, but the company doesn’t currently work with insurance companies to cover at-home tests. 

Most of Everlywell’s testing products ship within three to five business days, and most results arrive in five to seven days through the company’s HIPAA-compliant digital platform. After they arrive, you can schedule a consultation as well as follow-up appointments with a medical provider via Everlywell’s online platform to learn more about your specific test results. You’ll be matched with a physician who is board-certified in your state. Your provider can prescribe any medications you might need and refer you to health resources in your area if necessary. In many cases, you can use insurance to pay for your virtual care visit.

Our research found that while users are generally satisfied with Everlywell’s quality and accuracy, some think the shipping process takes too long. For express shipping within one to three days, you’ll have to pay an additional fee.

Personalabs is a lab testing facility that allows you to choose medical tests, including HIV and STI tests, from Quest and Labcorp locations across the U.S. While not completely a self-test you can do at home, you can order the test and receive results and consultations at home. You just need to visit one of Personalabs’ 4,000-plus centers to have your test administered by a healthcare provider. 

Personalabs’s stand-alone HIV test isn’t the least expensive of those we reviewed, but its comprehensive STI panels that include HIV testing are less expensive than many of its competitors. Because the facility works with multiple labs, you can also choose the least expensive HIV test available in your area. 

You can select from a fourth-generation antigen/antibody HIV test ($46 at Labcorp, $97 at Quest) or one of many STI testing bundles. The company’s 11 STD Blood Test Panel ($250 at Labcorp, $281 at Quest) is one of the most comprehensive STI testing bundles on the market for the price. Finally,  Personalabs’ Comprehensive Recent Exposure STD Test ($347 at Labcorp, $399 at Quest) screens for recent exposure to HIV 1 and 2, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2, hepatitis B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. 

If you test positive, you’ll receive a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. In certain states, that provider can prescribe treatment such as medication.. 

Personalabs also offers 24/7 customer support, including phone support from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. You can leave a message for one of the company’s customer service representatives, contact the support desk, or start a conversation via live chat outside of work hours.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, quick results can keep you and your sexual partner(s) better protected by getting you test results within minutes . After you find out your status, you can take steps to prevent transmission, start treatment, and inform your most recent partners of the results. 

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, which can detect HIV about three months after HIV exposure, is a rapid HIV self-test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One test costs just $40, and you can get it shipped via standard shipping (five to 10 days) for free; expedited shipping costs up to $25.

Your OraQuick test will arrive in an unmarked box for privacy. Each package includes detailed testing instructions, as well as a post-test booklet to help you understand your results. If you have further questions, you can call the company’s hotline for 24/7 customer service in both English and Spanish. 

To complete the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, you’ll simply need to swab your upper and lower gums with the provided test stick and place it in a test tube filled with solution. After 20 to 40 minutes, you’ll receive your results. This test may be a good choice if you have a fear of needles or want to test frequently at home. While the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is FDA-approved and has a high level of accuracy, it’s not perfect. It tests only for HIV antibodies, which may not show up in your body for up to three months after exposure. Also, HIV tests that use oral fluid aren’t as accurate or sensitive as blood tests, so you may want to consider follow-up testing via a blood sample to confirm your results.

iDNA is a digital healthcare solutions company that offers both at-home HIV and STI test panel kits as well as memberships that include telehealth visits. If you want to test at home for HIV, your options include a finger prick antigen/antibody test ($78), the Standard Test (which tests for seven STIs at $198), and the Complete Test (which tests for 10 STIs at $298). You can also mix and match STI tests to create a custom bundle.

After receiving your iDNA HIV test or bundled STI test kit—which will arrive in a discreet package about the size of a smartphone—you’ll register your package with a QR code and enter a secure digital portal where you can track it. The test requires you to collect a small drop of your blood with a finger prick. You’ll get an email notification when your results are in, and you can read them either on the iDNA app (available for iOS and Android) or the website. Then, you can easily download your lab report to bring to your healthcare provider, if you choose.

In addition to individual tests, iDNA offers the following memberships:

iDNA+: $25 monthly for one free test per month, 25% discounts on all tests and labs, and a virtual consultation with a doctor for $45

iDNA+ Telemedicine: $50 monthly for one free test or doctor consultation per month, 25% discounts on tests and labs, and additional consultations at $45 per session

If you don’t register for a membership, iDNA doesn’t offer free medical support or post-results counseling (even if you test positive).

STDCheck.com offers testing for HIV and other STIs at over 4,500 locations across the U.S. While this isn’t a self-test service, it still landed a spot on our list due to its fast results and high degree of accuracy because when it comes to HIV testing, accuracy can give you invaluable peace of mind. Getting tested at a lab removes the chance of user error and allows you to feel confident about your results. It can also be preferable for people who feel squeamish about gathering their own blood samples at home. 

To order an HIV test from STDCheck.com, you’ll just need to visit the website, select a test and location, and enter your payment information online. Same-day tests are often available. Tests will be administered by a healthcare provider, typically through a blood draw. 

A fourth-generation antigen/antibody test for HIV 1 and 2 at STDCheck.com costs $49, while a 10-STI panel costs $149. HIV RNA early detection tests, which can detect HIV as early as nine to 11 days after exposure, are also available for $119, or as part of a panel of 10 STI tests for $259. Results will be sent within one to two business days, and you’ll get a phone consultation with a doctor if you test positive.

In terms of payment, STDCheck.com customers have a variety of options. Patients can pay for their tests via their HSA/FSA card, PayPal, money order, cryptocurrency, or cashier’s check, as well as prepaid, debit, or credit cards with a Mastercard, Visa, American Express, or Discover logo. “Pay later” options are also available, so you can spread out your payments over time. 

Nurx is relatively unique in the at-home medical testing market in that it accepts both HSA/FSA payments and many major insurance plans for STI testing, doctor’s visits, and prescriptions. Plus, on the Nurx website, you can choose from several different STI home test kits. The Basics Covered Home STI Test Kit ($150 without insurance) tests for HIV (antigen/antibody test), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The Healthy V STI Home Test Kit ($190 without insurance) tests for all of the above plus trichomoniasis, while the Full Control STI Test Kit ($220 without insurance) tests for all of the above plus hepatitis C. Some users may find some of the tests (such as throat, rectal, and vaginal swabs for chlamydia and gonorrhea) uncomfortable, but Nurx provides helpful, easy-to-follow instructions.

While Nurx offers comprehensive testing kits, some of its packages are a bit expensive without insurance. With insurance, you only a service fee of $30 plus $45 per kit box. However, without insurance, you’ll pay a $15 service fee plus the out-of-pocket cost of the kit.

Nurx’s partner lab, Molecular Testing Labs, is FDA-cleared, CLIA-certified, and approved by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), so you can feel confident about the results you receive. After around seven business days, you’ll be contacted by a Nurx medical provider for a consultation, which costs $15 without insurance, to discuss your results, even if you test negative. You’ll also be eligible for unlimited messaging with Nurx’s network of medical providers for up to a year after your order. If you test negative, you can receive a prescription for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP—medication that can lower your risk of getting HIV—and ongoing medical support through Nurx.