: There are more than a dozen different HIV home test kits being advertised on the market today. Only the Home Access® test system is FDA approved and legally marketed in the United States for over the counter use (all other HIV testing kits must be done through a STD clinic or a doctors office/hospital). This HIV test kit allows you to test from the privacy of your own home. No chance that someone will see you going to a clinic, no chance that someone you know may work at the clinic (your are just a "random number", no name or phone number needed), no worry about insurance company finding out you may have had a risky situation, no worry a employee may call and leave a phone message for others to hear, no worries about your employer finding out you "got tested", etc. This service even provides included counseling that's available through a free 800# (get counseled before your test or after, whether postitive or negative results)!

Because the Home Access test consists of multiple components, including materials for specimen collection, a mailing envelope to send the specimen to a laboratory for analysis, and includes pre- and post-test counseling, it is considered a testing system.

This approved system uses a simple finger prick process for home blood collection which results in dried blood spots on special paper. The dried blood spots are mailed to a laboratory with a confidential and anonymous personal identification number (PIN), and analyzed by trained clinicians in a certified medical laboratory using the same procedures that are used for samples taken in a doctor's office. The results are obtained by the purchaser through a toll free telephone number using the PIN, and post-test counseling is provided by telephone when results are obtained.

This approved HIV test systems, has undergone extensive study and review by the manufacturer of the product to ensure that they work, that the results they provide are specific, meaning that they will accurately detect antibodies to the HIV-1 virus that causes AIDS, and that they are sensitive, meaning that they can detect even low levels of these antibodies, indicating that someone has been exposed to HIV-1.

Clinical studies have shown that this approved HIV test system is able to correctly identify 100% of known positive blood samples, and 99.5% of HIV-1 negative blood samples.

In addition, manufacturer's tests on the approved HIV test system have been carefully reviewed by the FDA to assure that the tests conducted were themselves adequate to demonstrate that the system is capable of yielding accurate, dependable results. FDA review also assures that the system contains adequate directions for proper use, and that the quality standards will be monitored to ensure that each kit is as consistently accurate and sensitive.

This approved HIV test system has a built in mechanism for pre-and post-test counseling provided by the manufacturer. Counseling is an important part of HIV testing. It is anonymous and confidential. Counseling, which uses both printed material, and telephone interaction, not only provides the user with an interpretation of what positive or negative results really mean, but provides information on how to keep from getting infected if you are negative, and how to prevent transmission of disease if you find you are infected. Counseling also provides you with information about treatment options if you are infected, and can even provide referrals to doctors that treat HIV-infected individuals in your area.

This approved HIV home test system is anonymous. It can be purchased anonymously at pharmacies, or by mail order from the manufacturers. The mail-in system uses a confidential code number that is unrelated to the identity of the buyer or user.

Since the approved HIV home test system has been independently tested, validated, and approved by the FDA for marketing, the consumer can feel confident that the approved HIV test system will provide the most accurate results available from an HIV-1 home test. In addition, the user is provided with counseling and referrals if needed. Use of an approved HIV test system also assures that accurate numbers of infection are reported to public health departments so that adequate services can be provided.

(information from this table is taken directly from the FDA website)

• 1 Directional Insert
• 1 "Things you should know about HIV and AIDS" booklet
• 1 Blood specimen collectioncard with Home Access code number
• 1 Alcohol prep pad
• 1 Gauze pad
• 2 Safety Lancets
• 1 Adhesive bandage
• 1 Specimen return pouch
• 1 Lancet disposal container
• 1 Express Shipping envelope

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