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How to complete at-home lab testing

  • Updated

This article will outline the steps and instructions to complete at home lab testing.

Please note this testing option is currently only available for select patients in Alberta. 

 

Table of contents: 

Getting started

Before you begin: Wash your hands with soap and water, and lay everything out on a clean, flat surface. Only open each test when you're ready.

⚠ Important: Prevent invalid lab results

Write the date and time of collection on every tube and card, and on all requisition forms.

Ensure your full legal name and date of birth is on every tube and blood spot card.

What's in your kit

1. Dried blood spot 2 lancets, blood spot card, alcohol swab, cottonball, bandage, desiccant pack
2. Throat swab Swab, collection tube
3. Rectal swab Swab, collection tube
4. Urine sample Urine collection cup, transport tube, pipette

Also included: patient labels, 2 requisition forms, and a prepaid return envelope. The urine cup doesn't have a lid and is meant to be discarded after collection.

 

STEP 1: Dried blood spot

  1. Warm your hands — rub together about 15 seconds to promote blood flow.
  2. Clean your fingertip — alcohol swab on the ring or middle finger of your non-dominant hand. Let it dry.
  3. Twist off the lancet's flat purple cap.
  4. Push lancet into your finger — sit down, hand on the table palm up. Press the lancet firmly to your fingertip and push the button until it clicks.
  5. Fill all 5 circles — hold your finger above the card and let one large drop, or 2–3 small drops, fall into each. Don't touch the card.
  6. Keep blood flowing — gently "milk" your finger from base to tip. Don't squeeze hard.
  7. Stop the bleeding — cottonball on the finger for 30–60 seconds, then a bandage. Put the used lancet in a sharps container.
  8. Air-dry the card flat, out of sunlight, for at least 4 hours.
  9. Seal it up — fold the flap over the spots, seal in the envelope, then in the plastic bag with the desiccant pack. Write the date and time on the card.

The lab can't run a partial card so ensure all 5 circles are filled. There's a second lancet in the kit if you need to try again.

Your pharmacy can usually supply a sharps container.

Warm your hands, lance your fingertip, and let blood drop onto the card.

Watch the DBS video

Scan with your phone camera, or open: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlRpiUKa0Ec

For the blood card: how full should each spot be?

Aim for a spot that fills the dashed circle. Spots that are too small won't process at the lab.

 

STEP 2: Throat swab

  1. Remove the swab — hold it with the score line above your hand.
  2. Swab the very back of your throat — both sides, tonsils, and uvula (the dangling bit).
  3. Withdraw carefully — don't let the swab touch any surface before it goes in the tube.
  4. Lower the swab into its tube — break off top portion and discard.
  5. Recap tightly — apply the patient label (marked 'Throat') on the tube, write the date and time on the tube and the requisition, then put it in the ziplock bag.

Swab the back of the throat, tonsils, and uvula.

 

STEP 3: Rectal swab

Important note: Use a new swab and tube. Do not lubricate.

  1. Insert about 3–5cm into the anal canal.
  2. Turn gently for 5–10 seconds — against the rectal walls.
  3. Withdraw carefully — don't let the swab touch any surface before it goes in the tube.
  4. Lower the swab into its tube — break off top portion and discard.
  5. Recap tightly — apply the patient label (marked 'Rectal') on the tube, write the date and time on the tube and the requisition, then put it in the same ziplock bag as the throat swab.

Insert about 3–5cm and gently rotate for 5–10 seconds.

 

STEP 4: Urine sample

Important note: Don't pee for at least 1 hour before completing this test. Collect the first part of your stream, not midstream. If you have a vulva, don't wipe or clean the area first.

  1. Don't empty any liquid already in the transport tube.
  2. Pee the first stream into the urine collection cup. Finish peeing in the toilet.
  3. Unscrew the transport tube cap — don't touch the foil underneath.
  4. Fill to between the two black lines — using the pipette. Don't overfill.
  5. Recap tightly — add the patient label, write the date and time, then put the tube in a new plastic bag. Discard the cup.

Fill between the two black lines.

Watch the urine video

Scan with your phone camera, or open: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29htdN0aMiY

 

FINAL STEP: Label & return everything

  1. Check that every tube and the blood card has the date and time of collection on it. Ensure your full legal name and date of birth is on every tube and blood spot card. 
  2. Fill in the date and time on all 2 requisition forms
  3. Bag by sample type: 
    1. DBS card with desiccant pack (silica gel)
    2. Throat and Rectal Swabs
    3. Urine transport tube (not the collection cup)
    4. Put all 3 bags into 1 bag with 2 requisition forms
  4. Mail everything back as soon as possible in the return envelope, dropped at a Canada Post postal office or mailbox.

Why testing is necessary

  1. Confirm safety: lab tests verify that your body can safely handle the medication.
  2. Verify status: screening for HIV ensures that preventive medications like PrEP are prescribed appropriately.
  3. Catch any infections: routine checks screen for underlying sexually transmitted infections so you can get prompt treatment if needed.

QUESTIONS?

Contact us at support@gofreddie.com or 437-747-7584.

Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST