Answered by:
Stuart D. Federman, PharmD, AAHIVP
Gateway Apothecary
Saint Louis, MO


The over-the-counter (OTC) rapid HIV test retrieves antibodies against the virus from your saliva. Antibodies are proteins in the body that fight off infections. Follow the instructions to collect your saliva and interpret the results, which are available in about 20 minutes.

Your body may start to make HIV antibodies six to 12 weeks after you are infected. It may take six months to make enough antibodies for OTC test results to be positive.

Other OTC HIV test kits come with sterile lancets, an alcohol pad, gauze pads, a blood specimen collection card, a bandage, a lancet disposal container, a shipping pouch, and instructions. Results are available three to seven business days later.

Get an HIV test if you:
• are sexually active and younger than 25 years
• had sex without protection, like condoms
• have ever had a sexually transmitted infection, like syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea
• had more than one sex partner or unknown sex partners
• injected drugs or shared needles and syringes
• are exposed to HIV during a medical test or at work
• plan to become pregnant or are pregnant

If your test result is positive, you have HIV. If your test result is negative, you may not have the virus. Because it takes time to have enough antibodies in your blood to show an HIV infection, your doctor may suggest that you be tested again in a few months. During this time, it is important that you follow precautions in case you have the virus not to pass it on.

If you test positive for HIV, schedule an appointment with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss your results. Your doctor may ask you to make lab appointments to the office to check on your HIV status. Tell anyone you have had sex with in the past three to six months of your HIV status. They need to be tested, too.

Additional writing by Rebakkah Johnson, Pharm. D candidate 2015.