FAQ

There are many questions in each section. Here are three that you may have that are time-sensitive:

  • Tested positive? Click here for what to do next.
  • Exposed to HIV within the last 24 to 72 hours? Click here to access emergency HIV prevention (PEP).
  • Did your test not work? Email us for assistance.

Getting started

Together TakeMeHome is an HIV self-testing program throughout the U.S. including Puerto Rico. Our program mails you free HIV tests. You can take the test in a place that is safe, private, and convenient without having to go to a clinic or testing site.

A self-test is a test you can take yourself and get the results yourself, kind of like a COVID self-test or a home pregnancy test. The self-test we use will tell you your HIV status by using fluid from your gums–no needles or blood required! Some people like using a self-test option because you can take it privately on your own time and in your own space.

We want to make getting tested as easy and private as possible. When you click ORDER NOW, you will be asked just a few questions to see if you are eligible to use our free service. If you are eligible, you will be able order your HIV self-test in less than 1 minute. We will also ask you to help the program by answering a few optional questions that will take less than 2 minutes after your order. You can order a test every 90 days.

We will ask for your date of birth, an email address and mailing address for your HIV self-test to be shipped. After you place your order, there are additional questions such as your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity. These additional questions allow us to ensure we are reaching the people who are most impacted by HIV in the U.S.

Anyone 17 years of age and older living anywhere in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, can order a test.

The HIV self-test we use, the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test, is only approved for people 17 years-old and older. Don’t give up on getting tested! You can get tested at a clinic. There are different laws in each state about your ability to give consent as a minor and about privacy of your test results. Talk to your local clinic and ask them what they offer to young people. Find a clinic here.

If you live in Puerto Rico or you need more information about these laws in Spanish, contact us at support@together.takemehome.org or call 628-899-4662.

No. Our HIV self-tests cannot tell if you have HIV when your last exposure was only a few days ago. You should go to a clinic immediately and get a blood test for HIV and an HIV-prevention treatment called PEP. You can prevent HIV by taking medications called Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of when you were potentially exposed (like having condomless sex or sharing syringes) to prevent infection. Find where to get PEP near you here.

Only contact our support team at support@together.takemehome.org or 628-899-4662 if you’re having trouble accessing PEP on your own. We have limited business hours, so please get help from a healthcare provider immediately and don’t wait for our response.

No. You should go to a clinic as soon as possible. You can find a healthcare provider or find a local service here. It’s important to get a lab test for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as soon as possible.

If you know you have HIV, you can order an HIV self-test and give it to someone else, like a partner or a friend. You should not use the test on yourself. If you need a healthcare provider to help you manage your HIV, you can find one here. Using the same link, you can also find testing locations for other STIs, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.

PrEP medications can affect the ability for a self-test to detect HIV. Using an HIV self-test is not a substitute for your regular PrEP lab work you get from your healthcare provider. You can always order an HIV self-test and give it to someone else, like a partner or a friend.

Together TakeMeHome is completely free to you. You will not be asked to pay anything for the HIV self-test when you order. Additionally, health insurance is not used to cover the cost of your test so you will never receive a bill for the free HIV self-test. This program is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Together TakeMeHome is a collaboration between Emory University, Building Healthy Online Communities, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NASTAD, Orasure, and Signal.

Click here to find an HIV testing program in your country. HIV self-tests may be available in your location.

Ordering an HIV self-test

We send the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test (also known as a rapid HIV self-test). This will only test for HIV. It does not test for other STIs, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis. If you need STI testing, you can find your closest clinic here.

Yes. We are providing these tests free to anyone who may benefit from using the tests. If you order two HIV self-tests, you can give one to someone else, like a partner or a friend. You can also share our link with them so they can order a test. You can even test together!

Sometimes our system doesn’t recognize an address. If you are having trouble ordering your HIV self-test, you can email support@together.takemehome.org or call 628-899-4662 and we can help you.

Yes! Please double check your information as you enter the shipping address and on the confirmation screen before submitting your order. Remember to put your apartment number if you have one.

If you live in Puerto Rico, make sure to list your urbanization as well.

Your comfort and privacy are important to us. We want you to feel safe and confident ordering an HIV self-test. If using your legal name means you won’t order, then please use whatever name allows you to safely receive the package. If you decide to not use your legal name, please don’t change any other information. Use your actual date of birth and contact information (email and phone number) so we can verify your order. Please note, once you have submitted your order, the name on the order can’t be changed.

There are many reasons why you may need to use a mailing address that isn’t your legal one. You can always use the mailing address for a trusted person in your life, your work address, or the address of wherever you are currently staying or living. If you run into any issues when entering your address, reach out to our team at 628-899-4662 or support@together.takemehome.org.

The OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test provided by Together TakeMeHome should not be used by people currently on PrEP. This rapid test is not recommended for people on PrEP due to its lower sensitivity in detecting recent HIV infection. PrEP medications can also affect the ability of this self-test to detect HIV. People on PrEP should get testing from their health care provider.

At this time, there is no reason to believe that hormone therapy impacts the accuracy of results from the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test.

Shipping

Most HIV self-tests will arrive within 3 to 5 days. Instructions with a link to a video on how to use the HIV self-test are included. We’ll email you tracking information when your HIV self-test is on its way. Be sure to check your spam folder and add no-reply@together.takemehome.org to your address book to make sure you don’t miss it!

You cannot cancel your order once it is placed. We are not able to cancel orders because they are fulfilled automatically by our shipping partner. When you receive your HIV self-test, you can either keep it to use later or give it to someone else who would use it. The test must be used before the expiration date printed on the OraQuick® box.

Please don’t order another HIV self-test if you made a mistake. As you are entering your shipping address, please remember to enter all information, including your apartment number if you have one. If you notice a mistake after you’ve ordered, email support@together.takemehome.org or call us at 628-899-4662 as soon as you can so we can try to fix the issue.

Please don’t order another HIV self-test since that can cause confusion. Email support@together.takemehome.org or call 628-899-4662 to make any changes.

USPS Priority Mail flat rate envelope

Our HIV self-tests are shipped by ShipBob. They arrive in an unmarked white plastic envelope with a label that does not list our program’s name or HIV test. The return address of the send is listed as TTMH, 46 Isidor Cr. Suite 101, Sparks, NV, 89441 or TTMH, 2201 Green Ln Unit 3, Levittown, PA 19057.

Using my HIV self-test

You will get instructions in your package that describe how to complete each part of the HIV self-test. You can find instructional videos and other information here. You can always reach the OraQuick® helpline 24/7 at 1-866-436-6527.

Yes. The tests do expire, but typically last up to 30 months. Check the side of the OraQuick® box to make sure the expiration date has not passed. Email us at support@together.takemehome.org or call 628-899-4662 if it has expired, and we will help you order a new test.

Most people who were exposed to HIV will have a positive HIV self-test within 3 months of that exposure. People can get HIV through having anal or vaginal sex or sharing needles, syringes, and other drug injection equipment (for example, cookers).

All HIV tests have a window period. This is the time from infection until the time the test is able to detect HIV infection. The OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test is an antibody test and can usually detect HIV between 23 and 90 days since your last exposure.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, you should go to a healthcare provider immediately and talk to them about taking HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure to HIV to be effective.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV less than 3 months ago, you should see a healthcare provider and get an HIV blood test. You can also contact our customer service team at support@together.takemehome.org or call 628-899-4662.

Don’t worry. The HIV self-test is the same. Recently, the company that makes the OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test made updates to reduce the amount of packaging. The OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test in both versions of the box can be used, if you use it by the expiration date on the side of the box.

We cannot accept an HIV self-test back, even if it is unused. You can either keep your HIV self-test to use later or give it to someone else to use. You must use the test by the expiration date listed on the OraQuick® box.

Getting my results

Once you take the test, you will be able to see your results within 20 minutes. You can find out more about reading the OraQuick® test results here.

No worries! This happens sometimes. Let us know so we can help you get a new test by calling 628-899-4662 or emailng support@together.takemehome.org.

Testing positive can be a stressful experience. If you have a positive result, you will need to go to a healthcare provider or clinic to get a lab test to confirm if you have HIV. HIV self-tests can sometimes show a “false positive” result, meaning that your test says you’re positive but you actually don’t have HIV. That’s why you need to get another HIV test to verify your self-test results. Find your closest clinic here. If you need help, reach out to us by calling 628-899-4662 or emailng support@together.takemehome.org.

Click here for what to do if you get a positive result.

We do not provide medications for HIV treatment or PrEP. You can find out how to get HIV treatment in this step-by-step guide.

If you are interested in PrEP, reach out to a local PrEP provider. If you cannot use this locator, please reach out to our PrEP navigation team by calling 628-899-4662 or emailng support@together.takemehome.org.

If you are already on PrEP, you can apply for free PrEP at Ready Set PrEP.

To read the results of your HIV self-test, you must be able to clearly see the test result lines. If you cannot, you may ask a friend, partner, roommate, or another trusted person to help you read the instructions and your results, or visit GetTested.CDC.gov to find your nearest clinic to get an HIV test in person.

Privacy

Your comfort and privacy are important to us. We want you to feel safe and confident ordering an HIV self-test, and we know that you may be concerned about ordering a sexual health test. You can see what our discreet packaging looks like here. You may choose to send packages to a trusted friend or family member’s address. If using your name means you won’t order, then please use whatever name feels best. If you decide to not use your legal name, please don’t change any other information. Use your actual date of birth and contact information so we can verify your order if there are any issues. Please note, once you put a name on your order, you will not be able to change it later.

You are agreeing to share information regarding your order with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is covering the cost of the program and kits. Your personally identifiable information will not be shared with CDC. The CDC will use your order information to plan their HIV testing and prevention services. You can find out more in our Privacy Policy.

Support

Email us at support@together.takemehome.org or call us at 628-899-4662. We aim to get back to you within 1-2 business days.

Thank you for helping let people know about our program! There are a variety of ways you can do so:

  • Fill out the follow up survey that we email to you after you complete your HIV self-test. Your feedback helps us ensure we are reaching people who will benefit from our service.
  • Tell your partners, friends, and other people in your life who would use this service.
  • Post on your social media about us! You can follow us and share our posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for being part of our program and taking control of your sexual health and wellness.

two people conversing