How to use your STI test kit
Notes
The STI test includes a urine sample and a blood sample.
Try not to urinate for an hour prior to collection. This makes sure you have enough volume for collection.
Get your blood flowing by drinking plenty of water beforehand. You can also do a set of jumping jacks, swing your arms by your side, or run your hands under warm water to make blood collection easier.
When you receive your kit
Open and inspect your kit contents including:
Collapsible urine collection cup
Pipette
Urine collection tube (preservative liquid included)
Blood collection card
Two alcohol pads
Sterile gauze pad
Single use lancets
Two adhesive bandages
Small specimen bag with desiccant pack
When you’re ready to collect your blood sample
Write your name, date of birth, and collection date in MM/DD/YYYY format on the blood collection card in the designated area.
Open the flap of the blood card to expose the blood collection paper, being careful not to touch the collection paper itself.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. This helps prevent contamination of the sample.
Chose a fingertip for the finger prick. Try using the middle or ring finger of your non-dominant hand.
Clean your fingertip with the alcohol pad.
Find a lancet. Twist the cap off. Press the small tip into the side of your finger near the tip, until the needle ejects with a click. Keep your hand below your heart to help the blood flow.
Apply 3–6 drops of blood to each circle on the collection paper, so the blood soaks all the way through the paper. Start with one, and once that circle is full, move on to the next circle. Make sure all of the circles are filled completely, but don’t let the blood spots run into each other. Don’t add additional blood to circles once it has dried — this may invalidate the test. Check the back side of the blood collection paper to make sure that the blood has saturated all the way through, and filled each circle.
Let the paper air dry on a flat surface for one hour, or until completely dry.
Use the gauze and/or bandages to cover your fingertip.
Once it’s dry, close the blood collection card, and place it into the small biohazard bag along with the desiccant pack.
Keep the sample out of extreme temperatures (above 100ºF or below 32ºF) before you ship. Do not refrigerate the sample.
When you’re ready to collect your urine sample
Write your name, date of birth, and collection date in MM/DD/YYYY format on the collection tube in the designated area.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. This helps prevent contamination of the sample.
Open the collapsible urine collection cup: Hold the flattened urine collection cup by its two edges. Push them inward so that it forms a diamond. One side should have a plastic film covering it — this is the bottom. The other side should be open — this is the top. Stand the cup upright, with the bottom side facing down.
Collect the urine sample: Hold the urine collection cup by its sides, making sure the bottom is facing down. Urinate directly into the collection cup. Fill it up about 3/4 of the way.
Place the collection cup on a flat surface. Find the collection tube. Don’t pour out the liquid preservative in the tube — this keeps your sample stable during shipping.
Use the pipette to transfer your urine sample from the collection cup to the collection tube. Fill the collection tube to a point between the marked fill lines. Once you’re done, you can dispose of the urine collection cup and any remaining urine.
Seal and package the sample: Place the lid onto the tube and ensure that it’s closed evenly and tightly. Put the tube in the large biohazard bag, and make sure the seal is closed completely.
Keep the sample out of extreme temperatures (above 100ºF or below 32ºF) before you ship. Do not refrigerate the sample.
When you return you kit
Double check your work. Have you:
Written your name, date of birth, and collection date on the blood collection card and the urine collection tube?
Used all of the equipment for the urine test? (You may have leftover equipment for the blood test.)
Placed the blood collection card in the small biohazard bag with the desiccant pack?
Placed the urine collection tube in the large biohazard bag?
Put the bagged samples back into the kit box.
Peel the protective cover off the double-sided tape at the top of the kit. Press firmly to reseal the box.
Questions along the way?
Contact us via email at clientservices@givelegacy.com, or via phone at 617-514-0901. We’re here to help.