If you’ve ever wondered about your HIV status but haven’t gotten the test for whatever reason—time, cost, anxiety—now is your chance to bypass at least some of these concerns.
You can order up to two HIV self-tests for free if you live in the US (including Puerto Rico) and are age 17 or older, thanks to a CDC-funded program called Together TakeMeHome that launched in 2023.
It’s super easy to fill out the form, and once you receive your test in the mail, all you have to do is swab your gums and wait 20 minutes for your results, which you can read in the privacy and comfort of your home. Plus, you can also order another round of tests every three months until 2027.
This program has been a pretty big success so far; the agency mailed about 440,000 tests in the first year, according to a recent CDC report. About 40,000 people who ordered a kit had never been tested for HIV before, and of those, 151 reported testing positive.
HIV is now very treatable (and preventable, if you use PrEP medication and/or condoms) but there are still about 40,000 new HIV infections per year. Nearly 40% of people with the virus don’t know they have it or know but aren’t receiving treatment. (Just note that this self-test will no longer be helpful for you if you are using PrEP because the medicine can affect its ability to detect the virus.)
“Most adults in the US have never been tested for HIV, despite the CDC’s recommendation for everyone ages 13–64 to get tested at least once in their lifetime,” Travis Sanchez, MPH, executive director of the Together TakeMeHome distribution program, tells SELF. This initiative “gives people the power to test on their own terms.”
Here are the most important things to know about these free HIV self-tests.
How long does it take to get a free HIV self-test?
You can expect to receive your tests in the mail within three to five days. You just have to provide your name, birthday, email, and home address. After three months, you can order a new pair of tests—which is a good idea if you had anal or vaginal sex with a new partner or partners or shared drug injection equipment with other people within that period and have not been tested again.
For those younger than age 17, free HIV tests may still be available via community health centers or substance abuse programs; check out this CDC directory to see if organizations in your area are offering free or cheaper tests.
How does the HIV self-test work?
When you are ready to take the test, avoid eating, drinking, or using mouthwash 30 minutes beforehand. Then swipe your upper and lower gums with the swab that comes in your kit and put it into the provided tube. The “test window” will turn pink for a little while, but wait a full 20 minutes before reading your results. (Here’s a video tutorial.)
