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How is HIV rapid test performed?
Clean fingertip with alcohol and prick with a lancet. Get a small drop of blood with EDTA capillary tube. Transfer the sample to the test strip and apply one drop of Chase Buffer. Result of the test can be read after 20 minutes.
Text Description
Performing HIV test using a rapid test kit
The testing procedure may vary with different test kits
Take out the test strip from the package and place it on a flat surface
Clean the fingertip with alcohol pad and allow to air dry thoroughly
Puncture the fingertip with a sterile lancet
Wipe away the first drop of blood with sterile gauze
Collect blood sample by using the EDTA capillary tube (until the sample reach the area between 2 black markers)
Apply a sterile gauze to the puncture site until the bleeding stops
Place the tube onto the test strip and transfer all the blood to the sample pad
Apply one drop of Chase Buffer to the sample pad
Wait for 20 minutes and read the preliminary result
Results will be displayed on the device window (Result will be invalid without control line)
Rapid test is only a screening test. Any positive rapid test result should be followed by confirmatory test of venous blood conducted by a laboratory
AIDS Hotline 2780 2211 - The Department of Health provides free and anonymous HIV testing All information is kept confidential
In Hong Kong, the Department of Health and non-governmental organisations operate HIV testing service for different target populations
Last update: 2019 | All Rights Reserved
Please note: Rapid test is only a screening test. Any positive rapid test result should be followed by confirmatory test of venous blood conducted by a laboratory.
