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Home Access HIV - 1 Test System - 1 ea | Health and Beauty

by Home Access

List Price:

$42.84

Sales Rank:

14,607th

FEATURES

Please read all label information on delivery
Tests for HIV from home; confidential and anonymous
4 easy steps; greater than 99.9-percent accurate
Results in about a week; postage and lab service included
Results, counseling, and referrals available 24 hours a day

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Product Description
Please note: Due to packaging updates, the image shown may temporarily appear different

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 15 reviews)

Well worth the cost by Mickey (Baltimore, MD)

5 Stars
September 17, 2009
If you have access to a clinic that offers free anonymous testing... sure... use it. But not everyone does. There is such a clinic not too far from me but this test is more convenient and more anonymous. I still don't trust insurance companies to do the right thing not to mention others who may have access to medical records... so anonymous is important. I have been using this test periodically for a few years now... almost since it came out. I am HIV- but my partner is HIV+ so it is important to test regularly even without any unsafe activity. Several people complain about the lancets and not being able to get enough blood. Frankly I think in many cases this is probably because they did not read or follow the directions. True you won't open a vein with these things. But the kit includes 2 in case the first one doesn't do it. And if you wash your hands in warm water that should help stimulate blood flow in your fingers. Holding your hand down by your side and shaking it (before lancing) helps too. You should be able to feel pressure in your fingers when there is enough blood in them. And you will have to squeeze... so yes it takes a little work. But you're not trying to donate to the Red Cross... you just want a few good drops. Fortunately I have not needed to take advantage of the live counseling (my results have always been a pre-recorded message and they don't leave you hanging) but it's nice to know I can talk to someone with the push of a button and even call back if I change my mind. If you are a big Chicken like I was at first... have someone else handy to use the lancet on you. I could not do it to myself the first couple times. It has never hurt... it just feels strange and wrong to make myself bleed. But once you do it one time it is a breeze.

If you're terrified of self-administering lancets: my advice by random lady (ny)

4 Stars
January 06, 2009
Obviously tackling this kind of test for the first time is stressful for many reasons. At this point (especially after viewing "Sicko"), I want to keep my HIV status as far away from insurance companies as possible. In addition to the results themselves, some of us have additional anxiety with self-administering lancets and drawing blood. I had read all literature carefully, and had everything out on the table to do the test (before that day's mail pickup - you have to do both on the same day). I started to shake when it came to the "surprise" mechanism of the lancet, and I had no idea what to expect. I took a chance and discharged the first one on cardboard to get an idea of the pressure and depth, but was still terrified to do the second. I then decided to take a Valium. A half hour later, I was relaxed enough to go through with the other one...for the most part! I found a utensil with a rough edge that I could hit with the other hand while doing the lancet as a distraction. I washed my hands and applied the wipe as directed, and discharged the second into my middle finger. Now, I am the biggest baby possible in these situations, but I can guarantee it was NOTHING (and then felt stupid for testing the first one), and I would do it again in a heartbeat. So, I proceeded to squeeze the hell out of my finger, quickly shaking at intervals to ensure it wouldn't clot. It was really difficult, but I managed to fill the first side. After flipping over, I discovered the other side had only soaked through halfway, and in a panic I kept squeezing more to fill the remainder of the other side (forgetting that you're not supposed to do this). I then called to register the number, and then spoke to a counselor about my concerns with the sample. She said it wasn't the end of the world that I filled the other half of the backside, and that it was perfectly fine to take a Valium beforehand. She was very kind and helpful! Sorry for the length, but I know this kind of thing can be traumatic for some. I just wanted to share my experience and go into enough depth to reassure anyone nervous about the procedure.

Words of wisdom for taking an HIV test by Brett Grodeck (Los Angeles, CA)

5 Stars
March 02, 2008
Taking an HIV test isn't easy, I know. I've taken three HIV tests in my life, all with the same result: HIV positive. Why take an HIV test when I already know that I'm HIV positive? As the author of the book, The First Year: HIV, I was curious about this product. Originally, I reviewed the HIV Home Express Test. Basically, the Standard Test is identical. But instead of offering results in 1-3 business days, the Standard test offers results in 3-7 business days. Otherwise, they are the same test: FDA approved, accurate, timely results, anonymous but with a "live person" for questions about your results. My test arrived in a standard Amazon box, just like a book from Amazon. If you're worried about being discreet, it's just fine. Inside the test kit, you'll find some instructions, advertising, envelopes, bandages, and two little blue things called Lancets. I found the instructions to be a little confusing. It's not as easy as you're first led to believe. Honestly, I was so confused by the "pre-registration" process that I lost my motivation and put the test away for a few days. I imagine many people lose motivation to follow through. When I finally got inspired, I washed my hands, studied the blood sample collection card, and pricked my finger with the Lancet. It felt like a paper cut. I had a hard time squeezing out enough blood to fill the dime-size circle on the collection card. When I finished, I sealed the card into the provided envelope, put that envelope into the pre-paid FedEx package, and shipped it off. Home Access delivers on their promises of being accurate (100% for me) and FDA approved (other cheaper and unregulated HIV tests can be found online; avoid them). The test certainly is confidential and anonymous. When I called to get my results, the phone counselor was to-the-point, sincere, and helpful. Overall, the hardest part was waiting and wondering. For me, it was well over two weeks, from ordering the test from Amazon, understanding what to do, struggling with motivation, squeezing blood, shipping the sample to Home Access, waiting through a weekend and a holiday, and then getting my results. For the Standard Test, figure about three weeks to get your results. Don't let yourself worry or obsess during this time. Ultimately, the real value of an HIV test is in knowing your results. If you test HIV negative, carry on. If you test positive, relax. It's not the end of the world. A positive test result means you've been exposed to the virus, that's all. It doesn't mean you're a bad person or God is punishing you. And it doesn't necessary mean that you'll need medicine any time soon. Of course a positive test result can still rock your world. But remember, the reality is that -- in 2008 in the developed world -- there is excellent medicine to keep the virus at bay indefinitely. I've been positive for over 20 years and today I have a pretty good life. In fact, the knowledge focused my attention to maintaining good health, not just with HIV, but with all areas of my life. Either the Standard or the Express tests from Home Access are fine. Personally, I'd go with the Standard Test, take advantage of the free shipping, and save money. Both tests provide verification of your results by mail or email (should you need to prove it). Ultimately, the test offers you knowledge. Knowing your results can save your life. Knowing is better than not knowing; it gives you the power to take control of your health and make better choices. In my opinion, it's money well spent.

TOO DIFFICULT TO GET ENOUGH BLOOD by S. Cullum (Las Vegas, NV)

1 Stars
September 21, 2005
You practically need a gunshot wound to get the amount of blood they want. The lancets they provide have razor blades in them that don't even work, so I went and bought my own lancet from a drug store. I pricked myself THREE separate time with the lancet to get enough blood to fill the area they need filled. They provide a card with a bout a 1" diameter circle that needs to be filled with blood. But the blood also has to soak through to fill 100% of the reverse side too. Even after 3 needle pricks from the drug store lancet, I couldn't get enough blood to fully soak through. I just mailed it in anyways, and I'm hoping it's enough blood for them to give me a test result, but I'm expecting it to not work.

Not worth the money by watchdog (USA)

1 Stars
September 19, 2005
Blood sample is extremely difficult. I followed all the instructions, yet had to cut myself in order to collect a large enough blood sample. Despite this, the sample was untestable and no refunds are offered. I wasted 3 weeks and $45 on this worthless product.

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