HIV (Human Immune Defective Virus) Health Test in store

The HIV Health Test is a private 4th-generation blood test detecting HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies plus the p24 antigen, processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited ISO 15189 laboratory, and sold confidentially by Ways Pharmacy (UK).

Key facts

Who it is for

• People who want a confidential HIV check after a possible exposure or unprotected sex
• People starting a new relationship who want to know their status
• People who test at regular intervals as part of looking after their sexual health
• People who need documented HIV status for travel, relocation or fertility treatment

Not suitable for: emergency post-exposure situations — if you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, seek PEP urgently from a sexual health clinic or A&E; testing too soon after exposure can give a false negative (see window period below).

What is measured

• HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies — proteins your immune system makes in response to the virus
• p24 antigen — a viral protein that can appear before antibodies develop, allowing earlier detection

This combined (4th-generation) approach can detect most infections from a few weeks after exposure. For a confident negative result, testing is generally repeated at around 3 months (12 weeks) after the last possible exposure.

How it works

1. Order online and choose your option: an in-store appointment or an at-home self-collection kit.
2. In store: attend Ways Pharmacy, 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET, where a trained phlebotomist takes a venous blood sample. At home: a finger-prick self-collection kit is posted to you; collect your sample and return it in the prepaid packaging.
3. Your sample is sent to London Medical Laboratory (LML) for analysis.
4. You receive a confidential written report, typically within 3–5 working days of the lab receiving your sample. A reactive result requires confirmatory testing through an NHS sexual health service, and the pharmacist will explain the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

How long do results take?

Results are typically available within 3–5 working days from when the laboratory receives your sample, delivered confidentially to you.

How soon after exposure can I test?

A 4th-generation antibody/antigen test can detect many infections from a few weeks after exposure, but no test is reliable immediately. For a confident negative result, testing is generally repeated at around 3 months (12 weeks) after the last possible exposure. If you may have been exposed within the last 72 hours, seek emergency PEP from a sexual health clinic or A&E rather than waiting to test.

Where is the blood test done?

You can have the sample taken at our Holborn pharmacy (77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET) by appointment, or order an at-home self-collection kit that is posted to you and returned to the lab in prepaid packaging.

Is the laboratory accredited?

Yes. Your sample is processed by London Medical Laboratory (LML), a UKAS-accredited laboratory working to the ISO 15189 standard for medical laboratories.

Is the test confidential?

Yes. Booking, sample collection and result delivery are handled confidentially. Results are not shared with your GP without your explicit consent.

What happens if my result is reactive?

A reactive screening result is not a diagnosis on its own — it must be confirmed by a further test. The pharmacist will explain this and refer you to an NHS sexual health clinic for confirmatory testing and care.

When to seek further advice

• Possible exposure in the last 72 hours — seek emergency PEP from a sexual health clinic or A&E now.
• A reactive result must be confirmed and managed through an NHS sexual health service.

This is a private confidential screening service. A reactive result requires confirmatory testing and is not a diagnosis. Test timing relative to exposure affects accuracy; if recently exposed, seek advice from an NHS sexual health service.