It is hard to say exactly how accurate STD home tests are, but they are thought to be less accurate than STD tests taken in doctor’s offices. This is, in part, due to the potential for human error in taking the test and collecting and storing the required samples. It may also have to do with the increased tendency of labs to return false negatives on STD tests that are taken at home. The quality of the lab itself plays a role in the accuracy of STD home tests, and some experts assert that many of them are lacking.
The consensus among many health experts is that it is better to visit a medical professional to obtain the most accurate test results when it comes to STDs. It is possible for STD home tests to provide accurate results, however. As such, some experts assert that STD home tests are better than no testing at all. If a person takes a home STD test, he may do well to follow up with his doctor within a reasonable amount of time to double-check the results.
While an individual cannot control what happens to an STD test sample after he has sent it off to a lab, he can boost his chances of obtaining accurate results by carefully reading the instructions that accompany the STD home test kit and following them 100 percent. Improvising with an STD test may lead to contamination of the sample, improper storage of the sample, and the collection of too little of the sample for accurate testing. When a person doesn’t follow the directions on an STD home test, his chances of getting accurate results are dramatically lower.
An individual may also boost his chances of getting accurate results on STD home tests by carefully researching the companies that manufacture them to see whether or not they are reputable and reliable. An individual may find reviews of home STD test companies as well as complaints people have written against them. Such information may help an individual decide which companies to patronize versus those that may be best avoided. Researching the lab that will be used for the testing may also help a person make a good choice.
The simpler the testing process, the easier it may be to obtain accurate results on STD home tests. If the user only has to swab a sore and keep the swab from getting contaminated, this may be simpler than taking blood samples and keeping them from getting contaminated. For this reason, simpler test requirements may translate into a higher likelihood of accurate results.
