Self testing for STDs and HIV

What is an STD home testing kit? 

An STD home testing kit, or self-test, is a test you can do on yourself. In other words, you don’t need to go to the doctor for this. This is how it works: 

• You order the test online, or you buy it at the pharmacy 
• You do the test on yourself, at home, and send it to a lab 
• Your samples will be checked for STDs there. You will get the results online a couple of days later 
• Do you have an STD? Usually you can get medication where you bought the test. Is it not possible? Then go to your GP or the GGD for medication 

What STDs to check on?

Heb je seks met mannen? Dan is het advies altijd een uitgebreide soa-test:

Do you have sex with men? Then the advice is always an extended STD test:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• HIV
• Hepatitis B: take this test if you have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis B yet. 

Do you use PrEP? Then it is sometimes always necessary to take a Hepatitis C test. Discuss this with the doctor who gives you PrEP.

Rapid HIV test

Pharmacies and websites also offer rapid HIV tests. To get tested, you collect a saliva sample from your mouth. Or, in some cases, a couple of drops of blood from your finger. Within an hour you will see if you have HIV or not.  

Rapid HIV tests have some disadvantages: 

• You could do the test the wrong way. If that happens, you won’t know if the results are correct 
• Did you risk getting HIV recently? Then the result won’t be reliable 
• Is the test result positive? Then you need to do a second test with your doctor or at the GGD. It will take a couple of days to get the result. You have to pay if you get tested with your GP. 

Do you want to do a self-test for HIV? Reliable home testing kits are available for example on Soapoli-online.nl 

Is an STD home testing kit reliable? 

Not all STD home testing kits are reliable. Only buy STD home testing kits that you’re supposed to send to a lab. That’s where researchers will check your samples for STDs. Then you know for sure that the result is reliable. 

Do not buy tests that promise immediate results. Such tests are often not reliable. So the results you get might be false. 

Where can I buy a reliable home testing kit? 

Here you can order reliable STD home testing kits: 

All STDs 

• Soapoli-online: here you can order home testing kits for all STDs. You can also buy a rapid HIV test.
• https://www.soapolinoord.nl/: here you can order home testing kits for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Blood collection for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B only in Groningen. 

If you have sex with men, it’s better to get tested for all STDs. Do you still only want to get tested for chlamydia or gonorrhoea?  Soastudentarts.nl: you can order a home testing kit here even if you’re not a student. 

Free home testing kits for HIV and STDs in Limburg 

In Limburg you can get a free home testing kit from the GGD. To qualify, you need to: 

• Live in Limburg 
• Be a man or transgender person who (also) has sex with men 
• Not have HIV and not use PrEP 

Request a home testing kit here

STD testing with your GP or the GGD 

Do you want to know for sure if you have an STD? Then it’s better to go see your GP or visit the GGD for an STD test. Advantages of getting tested with your GP or at the GGD: 

• The doctor knows if you need multiple STD tests. And if your throat and anus should be tested too 
• You can ask questions 
• You will immediately get medication if you have an STD 
• The doctor or nurse can help you tell your sexual partners that you have an STD. This can also be done anonymously