Frequently asked questions
Where's my test kit?
Popular questions
What should I do if my kit has not arrived?
All STI test kits are sent by An Post, either on the day you ordered or on the next working day. Most kits arrive in 3 to 5 days. If your kit has not arrived after 7 working days, get in touch. This allows for any delays with the post.
If it’s been more than 7 working days since your kit was dispatched and it has not arrived, we can send you a new kit. Contact our team and include your mobile number, date of birth and full delivery address. This helps us find your order in our system and send you a replacement.
I've posted my kit but have not got my results
The Freepost packs for sending samples back to the lab usually arrive safely in 3-4 days, but sometimes delays with the post affect this. At the lab, it can take up to 72 hours to do the tests and send your results.
If it has been more than 7 working days since you posted your samples, contact us and our customer care team will be able to help you.
In your message, please include the date you posted your samples and:
Your name
Your postcode
Your phone number
Your date of birth
This helps us to quickly track your order in our systems.
When should I take my samples?
STIs don't show in a test straight away. There's a period of time between getting the infection and when it will show up in a test.
So you need to wait a few weeks after sexual contact before a test will be accurate. This time is called the window period. And window periods are different for different infections.
These are the window periods for the at-home tests we use. We recommend you wait until the end of the window period before taking your samples and sending them to us.
Chlamydia: 2 weeks
Gonorrhoea: 2 weeks
HIV: 7 weeks
Hepatitis B: 12 weeks
Hepatitis C: 12 weeks
Syphilis: 12 weeks
Hepatitis C can sometimes take up to 9 months to show in a test, so if you're not sure when you might have been exposed, do a test now, and another test in 9 months.
If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (3 days), you should find out if you can take PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) to reduce your risk.
What is the relationship between SH:24 and the HSE?
SH:24 works in close partnership with HSE's free public STI clinics across the country to offer the highest quality of sexual health advice, support and treatment.
