Sexual health is an important aspect of your overall health. Maintaining it can take a lot of thought and attention.
As STDs continue to have a profound impact on those who have them, it is important to ensure that people have the tools they need to maintain their sexual health.
Home STD test kits offer a safe, convenient and accurate way for people to get a complete picture of their sexual health status, giving them the information they need to manage their health or get treatment if required.
Here are a few reasons why home test kits are a great choice for most people.
Worried about a recent sexual encounter? Get full screen with Better2Know.
Accurate results
Some people may think that home test kits are less accurate or reliable than laboratory tests.
But this is not the case.
Research conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) shows that samples collected from individuals are often as good as samples collected in sexual health clinics by clinicians, especially for infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Better2Know’s home test kits were created to make testing so easy that anyone can do it.
This means that whether you are testing at home or in a clinic, you will receive the same high-quality samples that can provide accurate results for your test.
More privacy
The thought of having an STD can be very stressful for many people.
Part of this anxiety comes from the stigma surrounding STIs. Many people, for various social, psychological and emotional reasons, do not feel comfortable going to a sexual health clinic.
With a home test kit, you can be tested in the privacy of your own home without having to travel to a clinic. It also eliminates the need to have a clinician take any samples. Many people are not comfortable taking swab samples, especially in close quarters.
A home test kit can also be delivered straight to your door in a non-descript box with a different nameensuring maximum privacy.
Home test kits also offer an alternative for people who are afraid of needles. Most home tests that require blood samples use scalpels that poke a small hole in the finger to release blood. This method of sample collection is sufficient to detect most blood-borne STIs.
With home test kits, all you have to worry about is collecting and shipping your samples to a lab. Easy!
Time saved
Clinics can be busy. Human and material resources may be limited at all times.
With a home test kit, you don’t have to worry about long wait times or traveling to and from the clinic. You can order the test and have it delivered straight to your door.
Better2Know also offers Special Delivery on home test kits in the UK and Ireland, allowing you to receive your test kit the next working day after ordering.
Safe and easy delivery
All Better2Know home test kits include a pre-paid delivery envelope for your samples. After you have collected your samples, seal them in the envelope and post them. Your samples will be sent directly to our certified laboratory for analysis.
Detailed instructions
Each test kit includes detailed instructions on how to obtain the test samples and send them to our laboratory, making the whole process quick and simple.
How to improve the chances of a great result
There are some things you can do to ensure you get reliable and accurate test results with your home test kit.
Test after the incubation period
The incubation period is the time between the initial infection and the time when that infection can be detected by a test. The length of an incubation period depends on the infection and the test.
Testing before the incubation period can lead to an inaccurate test result, so it is important to get tested at the right time.
Keep your hands and surfaces clean
When using your test kit, keep your hands and the surfaces you place the test materials on clean. This will ensure that no contaminants can affect the samples you send.
Talk to a Sexual Health Counsellor
If you need help with your home test kit or have any questions about the testing process, please call the number at the top of this page to speak to one of our trained Sexual Health Consultants. They can guide you through the process and advise you on any questions you may have about getting your sample.
Follow the instructions on the home test kit
Each Better2Know home test kit includes detailed instructions for collecting and delivering your samples. Follow these instructions to get your test results home as soon as possible.
Popular Home Test Kits
If you want to test at home but don’t know where to start, here are some of Better2Know’s most popular home test kits.
- Full screen: A screen for the UK’s seven most common STDs – a great choice for anyone who wants a full picture of their sexual health
- Platinum screen: Tests for 11 different STDs, offering the most comprehensive STD screening service in the UK
- Blamish screen: Ideal for anyone concerned about an STD who has symptoms on their skin such as warts, sores or chancres
- Comfort screen: Ideal for anyone experiencing discomfort in their genital area, including itching, burning, unusual discharge and pain during urination or sex
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: An affordable test for the two most common bacterial STIs in the UK
- Urine for microscopy and culture: Get tested for harmful bacteria and yeast with this simple urine test
We also offer a range of home tests for general health and wellness.
Final thoughts
Home testing for STDs is quick, easy and often just as effective as a clinic visit.
Click the button below to browse our selection of home test kits.
Try it from the comfort of your home.
