• Safe Sex
• STDs & STIs

My first time using HIV self-test

By Steph Haase on

HIV self-testing kits were launched in Kenya about a few years ago. High time we try and review them, don’t you think?

Buying the kit

I buy the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-testing kit from the chemist on the ground floor at YAYA Centre in Nairobi. They even have a big sign outside, advertising them. You can also find them at a range of other chemists.

There are two different kinds: a blood test and an oral test, where you have to swab your gums. I ask which one is easier to use and am told the oral on. That suits me just fine – I’d rather not start poking myself for droplets of blood.
I’m feeling uneasy; the chemist seems to be a bit judgmental. I am tempted to tell her that this is for research. But I bite my tongue: she should be open in the first place.

I put the pack (which is about the size of a book) into my bag, go home, and get straight to work. Now that I’ve committed to taking the test, I want to get started as soon as possible!

DIY HIV-testing

The package comes with detailed instructions in both English and Swahili. There are also lots of pictures, so the process is very easy to follow.

I am instructed to put the test tube that contains a liquid into the little stand that comes with the kit. Then I swab my gums, top and bottom, and put the ‘test device’ (their word, not mine) into the tube. And that’s it: all I have to do now is wait.

After twenty minutes, I walk back into the bathroom. I must admit, the wait was more uncomfortable than I thought it would be. My brain went into overdrive: have I made any bad choices, what if, could I…?

Pregnancy tests are unnerving, but at least you get your results in two minutes; try 20!

Thankfully, the test turns out to be negative. It’s easy to read, and again, the instructions are clear and come with pictures. I let out a sigh of relief and go about my day.

Pros

• You can take the test from the comfort of your home. This might be an advantage if you are afraid of being judged or you feel uncomfortable going to a health facility. This could be because you are a sex worker, or you identify as LGBT, or you don’t want to be seen around a clinic. It’s also a good option if you are housebound or the VCT isn’t easily accessible for you.
• The test is very easy to use.

Cons 

• It’s expensive. At KSh 500, it’s not a bargain and might be unaffordable for many. VCT, on the other hand, is free.
• While you don’t have to go to a clinic or VCT, you still need to buy the test from a chemist, and you might be seen doing it. So if anonymity is an issue, you might want to get someone else to buy it for you and dispose of it carefully.
• You are on your own. Which can be an advantage, but I felt a bit left alone and wondered what would happen if the result is positive. You are missing the support and counselling aspect you get at a VCT centre.
• A colleague of mine used the blood test and said it wasn’t easy at all, so if you have a choice, go for the oral test kit instead.

Would you be interested in getting a home testing kit? Or would you rather go to a VCT facility? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.