Principle: Chromatographic Immunoassay
Approval: CE, Health Canada
Analyte: HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies
Test Sensitivity: 100%
Specificity: 99.5%
Country of Origin: Canada

When should I get tested for HIV?
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 undergo at least one HIV test as part of routine health care. For people with certain risk factors, the CDC recommends getting tested once a year. Anyone involved in high-risk activities (e.g., sharing drug needles, having sex with HIV-positive people without using a condom) should get tested every three months. This frequency of testing would ensure that an infection is detected as soon as possible.

Can I safely test myself at home?
The INSTI HIV home kit is the only Health Canada approved test that people can test at home or in a private location. The INSTI HIV Self Test kit was approved for in-store and online sale. The kit does not require sending a sample to a lab.

What if I get a negative result?
Please keep your efforts to stay negative by reducing your risk of HIV by, for example, practicing safe sex (with condoms) and other prevention methods such as PrEP. If you think you have had exposure in the past three months, repeat the test. A test is recommended every 3-12 months if you are at high risk of HIV. Anyone involved in high-risk activities (such as sharing drug needles, having sex with HIV-positive people without using a condom) should get tested for HIV every three months. This frequency of testing would ensure that HIV is identified as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is important, as studies have shown that it is beneficial to start treatment for HIV as soon as possible.

What if I get a positive result?
If you got a positive result on the INSTI HIV self-test, go to your doctor or the nearest testing center for a confirmatory test. Remember that any HIV self-test is just a screening test, not a conclusive diagnosis. Confirmatory tests should be coordinated with your doctor.

What is the window period? - How soon after exposure to HIV should I get tested?
After exposure to HIV, it can take from 3 to 12 weeks (21-84 days) for an infected person’s body to make enough antibodies for a screening test to detect them. This is called the window period.

Home HIV Testing Accuracy - How accurate is the INSTI HIV Self Test?
Extensive research studies have shown that the INSTI HIV Home Test is extremely accurate when performed correctly. The accuracy of medical tests are typically described in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity means that all truly positive individuals test positive. Specificity means that all all truly negative persons test negative. The INSTI HIV Self Test has a sensitivity of 99.8%, which means a positive result will be correct 998 out of every 1000 tests. This means that you could expect a false negative result 2 times out of 1000 tests (Rate of 0.2% - 2 false negatives in 1000) The INSTI HIV Self Test has a specificity of 99.5%, which means that a negative result will be correct 995 times out of 1000 tests. This means that you could expect a false positive result 5 times out of 1000 tests (Rate of 0.5% - 1 false positive in 200). The INSTI HIV Self Test is a screening test and is used to test individuals who may have been exposed to HIV. The INSTI HIV Self Test looks for antibodies which are produced in response to the HIV infection. The self test is not a final confirmation of HIV infection, therefore if a positive result is given, it must be followed up on with a doctor for a conclusive laboratory test. All positive results generated from a screening test, require follow up with a doctor for final confirmation.