HIV 1 & 2 Test with Confirmation

This test is an HIV antibody/antigen test that checks whether or not you have been exposed to HIV.

This HIV test checks a sample of your blood for antibodies against HIV. Tests that only measure antibodies can take 23-90 days to detect an HIV infection after an exposure. This HIV test can usually detect an HIV infection in 18-90 days after exposure because it also checks for HIV p24 antigens (viral proteins) in the blood. Tests that are both an HIV antigen test and also an HIV antibody test are often referred to as 4th generation HIV tests.

If you're having symptoms, it could mean that you have another infection or condition. Talk to your healthcare provider about what’s right for you. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, it may be too soon to tell if you have it. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting retested. As with any lab test, there is a very small chance that this test can give a result that is a false positive or false negative result. Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine the best testing plan for you based on the test results, medical history, and your symptoms.

In the event that your HIV test results are positive or abnormal, an associate from our independent physician network partner will contact you directly to discuss your particular case.

As is the case with all HIV testing—whether through Everlywell, Quest or through your healthcare provider—the testing laboratory is required by law to report positive test results to state health departments. These reports of infection are confidential and used by state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a means of disease surveillance to inform disease prevention activities. It’s important to keep in mind that a positive result on this test is not a diagnosis of HIV–only a healthcare provider, after reviewing results and medical history, can make that determination.

HIV antibody-based tests check a sample of blood or saliva for the presence of antibodies that your body has made in response to HIV. Antibodies work by attaching themselves to invading viruses and microbes, marking them for destruction by the immune system's defender cells.

1. ELISA tests

This HIV test uses the ELISA technique and is a fourth-generation antibody/antigen test. Fourth-generation tests are extremely sensitive (the percentage of results that are correctly positive when HIV is actually present) and specific (the percentage of results that are correctly negative when HIV is not present).

However, it is important to take into account the “window period” (the time between when a person may have been exposed to HIV and when a test can detect the virus). A 4th generation test using blood collected from venipuncture can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after an exposure. Fourth generation tests done with blood from a finger prick can take longer to detect HIV, 18 to 90 days after an exposure.

2. Rapid HIV tests (HIV self-test)

Another kind of antibody-based test is the rapid HIV test, also known as an HIV self-test. Rapid tests can give results in just 15–30 minutes. But there’s a downside to rapid testing methods: they’re less sensitive than other types of tests, which means rapid HIV testing is more likely to generate false negatives.

You can test for sexually transmitted infections, or STIs (which can progress to sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) with an at-home lab test or at a lab. For at-home lab testing with Everlywell, you collect a sample yourself and send it to a lab—and get your results online. This confidential testing makes it easy to get tested for STIs where you want and when you want.

Whether you opt for at-home collection or in-person testing, the type of sample you collect depends on what STIs you’re testing for. Samples can include urine, blood, or genital swabs. If you go to a lab for STI testing services, a healthcare provider may draw blood from your arm, versus the finger pricks that are common for at-home lab testing. Both collection locations usually also require a urine or swab sample, which may be self-collected or clinician-collected.

After purchase, you will be logged in to your MyEverly dashboard to see your lab order status. Once the lab order is processed by the physician network, typically in about 2 hours, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule your appointment at or walk in to any Quest® Patient Service Center near you.

Per the CDC, many of the most common STIs often have no noticeable symptoms, which means that without testing, there is no way to know your status for certain. Certain STIs can progress to more severe health conditions if not caught and treated properly. Anyone who's sexually active should engage in regular STD screening, and we're excited to make testing easier and more discreet than ever before.

Consider these STI at-home lab tests Everlywell offers:

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea

• Hepatitis C

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 

• Syphilis

• Trichomoniasis

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Once your purchase is complete, your lab order will be processed the same or the next day. You will receive a notification to let you know you can schedule an appointment or walk into a Quest® location of your choice. After sample collection is complete, you will receive your digital results as soon as they are available, likely within a few days.

The frequency of necessary STD testing really varies based on how sexually active you are and if you’re currently outside of a monogamous relationship. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends every 3-12 months depending on risk category, but most medical professionals would agree that a yearly STD test is the minimum responsible frequency and testing should be done more if—and when—you engage in unprotected sex with a new partner. Preventing the spread of STIs and STDs is everybody’s responsibility and knowing your status is a great way to do your part while also keeping yourself and your partner(s) healthy.

Various risk factors are linked with a greater likelihood of getting an STI. These include the following:

• Age - According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 15–24 year olds account for half of all new sexually transmitted infections.

• Biological sex - Young people assigned female at birth are more biologically susceptible to many sexually transmitted infections than those assigned male at birth at the same age. 

• Sexual behaviors - Certain behaviors, like having unprotected sex, can heighten the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.

• Substance use - Among sexually active people, using drugs or alcohol is linked with a greater likelihood of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection.

• Sex partners - The risk of getting an STI increases the more sex partners you have and if you have sex with someone who has an STI.

Not all sexually transmitted infections result in symptoms, so it’s important to screen regularly. 

That being said, STIs often do result in symptoms. These symptoms can include:

• Vaginal discharges or penile that may have an unusual odor or color

• Genital warts (small bumps on the genital area or inside the vagina)—typically caused by genital herpes or an HPV infection

• Other sores in and around the genital area

• Flu-like symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, or fevers

• Pain or burning sensations while urinating or during sex

• Spotting between periods (in those who have menstrual cycles)

Wondering if you can treat STIs at home? Because of the potentially severe health consequences related to STIs if left untreated —or if not treated properly—do not try to treat an STI on your own. It’s very important to talk with your healthcare provider about treatment options if you test positive for an STI.

If you receive an abnormal test result, our independent clinician network partner will contact you to schedule a consultation at no additional cost, so you can discuss your results with a board-certified physician in your state. When appropriate, and at the physician’s discretion, you may be offered a prescription for medication.

Yes, oral sex is one kind of sexual contact that can increase the risk of getting or transmitting STDs like HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Using a physical barrier (like a condom) during sexual activity can help reduce this risk, as well as making sure there aren’t any cuts in the mouth (like bleeding gums or lip sores) or sores on or near the genitals. This test, as well as others that measure vaginal swabs or urine, cannot detect STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhea in locations like the mouth or throat.

Though these terms are often used interchangeably, they don’t actually mean exactly the same thing. STD – or “sexually transmitted disease" – is a common term used to describe an infection that is passed on through sexual contact, and becomes a disease after a certain point of severity. STI stands for “sexually transmitted infection.” Many people, mostly within the medical community, have begun transitioning from “STD” to “STI” in an effort to clarify that not all sexually transmitted infections turn into a disease.

 “Venereal disease” (or VD) is an old term for sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. So a “VD test” is simply another way of referring to an STD test.

Sexually transmitted infections can harm your health, especially if they aren’t detected early. In people with penises, STIs can cause infertility—as well body aches, fever, nausea, vomiting, or other flu-like symptoms; a burning sensation of pain during urination; abnormal genital discharges; pelvic inflammatory disease; and more. In people with vaginas, STIs can lead to complications like cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. If you have multiple sex partners, engage in unprotected sex, or have any other STD risk factors, regular STI testing may help prevent health complications associated with untreated sexually transmitted infections.