What the vagina pack contains
- Vagina swab
- Swab sample tube
- Blood sample tube
- Plaster
- Lancets
- Alcohol wipe
- Protective absorbent pouch & bag
- Freepost return box
Vaginal swab
This pack contains a white swab and a sample tube (green cap). You will take your sample using the white swab, and then snap off the end of the swab (below the black line) into the sample tube.
Wash your hands
- With soap & warm water
- Unpack the kit on a clean surface
Prepare the swab
- Remove the swab from the packaging tube
- Hold the swab by the white cap
- Be careful not to touch the tip of the swab or lay the swab down
- Do not lubricate the swab in any way, including with water, or it may not be able to be tested
Insert the swab
- Insert the swab about 5cm into your vagina, rotating the swab as you push
- Rotate the swab 5 to 10 times around the inside of your vagina
Put the swab in the sample tube
- Unscrew the green cap from the sample tube labelled ‘vaginal’
- Be careful with the liquid inside – do not spill it or get it on your skin/eyes/mouth
- Put the swab into the tube (absorbent tip down)
- Carefully snap the swab below the black line by pressing it against the side of the tube
- Screw the lid back onto the sample tube tightly
- Put the sample tube inside the white protective absorbent pouch & bag, along with any other samples, and then seal the bag
- Throw away the swab cap and packaging
Blood sample
This pack contains a blood sample tube (the smallest tube with a yellow cap), 2 finger-prick lancets, an alcohol wipe, and a plaster for collecting your blood sample.
You will return the filled blood sample tube to us, and dispose of the lancets and alcohol wipe after you have taken your sample.
Instruction video: How to take a home blood sample
In this video, we will show you how to do one of our finger prick blood test kits. These test for HIV and syphilis, unless you have had syphilis in the past, in which case please call the clinic to discuss.
First, wash and dry your hands, then arrange the contents of the pack on a clean, flat surface. You will also need a clean tissue or cotton wool ball to wipe away the first drop of blood.
Next, remove the blood tube from the clamshell case. Take off the lid, set the lid to one side. Stand the tube on a flat, stable surface.
It is important that you warm your hands up before taking the sample, as this makes it much easier to collect enough blood. We recommend resting your hands in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes beforehand.
Next, clean your chosen finger with the alcohol wipe and dry thoroughly. We recommend using the middle or ring finger on your non dominant hand.
When taking the sample, you should be standing with your arms straight and your hands below your waist. To prepare the lancet, gently twist and pull the safety cap out, and place the body of the lancet to one side.
Use your thumb to push from the knuckle to the tip of your chosen finger, then with your hand flat against the surface and your thumb pushing the tip of the finger, firmly press the lancet against the tip until it clicks. Place the lancet to one side and gently wipe away the first drop of blood with your tissue or cotton wool ball.
To fill the tube, massage from the knuckle to the tip of the finger, and gently squeeze out the drops of blood into the tube. This can take some time, and you may need to use the additional lancet. Aim for the one milliliter mark on the tube.
Once you’ve filled the tube to the one milliliter mark, securely twist the lid back on.
With the cap on, rotate and shake the tube. This helps to prevent the sample from drying out before we can get to the lab. Then, place the tube back into the case and close it.
Put all the samples into the sample bag. Seal it up and then put the sample bag into the prepaid envelope and send it back the same day.
Negative results are sent out via text and any positive results will receive a phone call to discuss. If you have any issues or questions, please give us a call on 01273 523 388.
Tips for collecting your blood sample
- Warm your hands: wash your hands in warm water or hold a warm drink for 2 to 3 minutes
- Do some light exercise beforehand for example star jumps or running on the spot for a couple of minutes
- Stand up when taking your sample
- Keep your hand below your waist and your arm straight
- Squeeze the full length of your finger, not just the tip
Collecting your blood sample
Wash your hands
- With soap & warm water
- Unpack the kit on a clean surface
Prepare tube and clean your finger
- Stand the blood collection tube (the smallest tube with a yellow cap) on a flat, stable surface
- Use the alcohol wipe to clean one of your middle fingers & let it dry
Prick your finger
- Twist and remove the blue tip of the lancet
- Place the small white tip of the lancet against the side of your finger, on the side closest to your little finger
- Push firmly – this activates the needle once
- Wipe away the first drop of blood with a clean tissue
- Dispose of lancets safely – they can go in your household bin (don’t return lancets to us)
Massage your finger
- Holding your hand downwards, massage from the base up to the tip of your finger and collect the drops of blood in the tube (the smallest tube with a yellow cap)
- Fill the tube to at least 1.0, as quantities smaller than this will not be sufficient for testing
- Twist cap on tightly
- Apply plaster and use spare lancet on a different finger if needed
- Gently turn the tube upside down 5 times
Returning your samples to us
- Put your sample tubes in the white protective absorbent pouch & bag, and then seal the bag
- Place the bag of samples in the box, and then seal the box by removing the yellow peel-away strip inside
- Post your samples back on the same day you collected them