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Vagina pack

Vagina packs are recommended for all women with a vagina. The pack contains a vaginal swab to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and a blood sample tube to test for syphilis and HIV

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

How to take a Finger Prick Blood Sample at Home.

It’s free, easy, and confidential.

Welcome to this tutorial on how to take a blood sample for your at-home STI test kit. The pack you have received contains:

  • A cleansing wipe
  • 2 lancets for pricking your finger, in case one doesn’t work or you need to try again
  • A plaster
  • A vial for collecting the blood- you must fill it to the 1ml mark.

The pack also contains an absorbent pouch or pad you can use to put the blood pot in, and a plastic bag to place it in.

Before starting, you should wash your hands in warm water, and to facilitate blood flow to your fingers, make sure you keep your hands hanging by your side for a couple of minutes. You can also shake your hands or jump up and down just to ensure better blood circulation.

Step 1- Start by wiping your finger with the wipe.

Step 2- Press down on the finger you’re going to pierce, and unscrew the top of the lancet.

Step 3- Press down the lancet on your finger, like a button, and you should see a drop of blood. Wipe away the first drop of blood and squeeze a few drops of blood into the vial.

Step 4- Position your hand above the vial and massage your finger downwards to ensure that you get enough blood drops.

Plaster your finger afterwards!

Check that the blood collected is at least 1 millilitre. Do NOT dilute your blood sample in any way as this makes it unsuitable for testing. Discard the lancets and wipe once you’ve collected your sample.

Lastly, You must post your samples back the same day you collected them. you can place the blood vial in the pouch, along with any other samples. Place it in the plastic bag and put it back in the box, remove the yellow seal, close the flap, and your test is ready to post!

Thanks for watching.

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