Best Home STI Test Kits UK 2026: Accuracy, Price & Where to Order
Compare the best home STI test kits in the UK. LetsGetChecked, Superdrug, SH:24, Better2Know, and more reviewed for accuracy, price, turnaround, and what they test for.
Home STI test kits let you collect a sample at home — urine, finger-prick blood, or a swab — and post it to an accredited lab for analysis. Results come back in 1-5 working days. No clinic visit, no waiting room, no awkward conversations.
The UK market has matured significantly. Several providers now offer lab-quality testing at home, with clinical support if you test positive.
Quick comparison
| Provider | From | Tests covered | Results | |----------|------|--------------|---------| | SH:24 / Fettle | Free (NHS) | 4 | 2-5 days | | Superdrug | £30 | 2-10 | 2-3 days | | LetsGetChecked | £45 | 2-8 | 2-5 days | | Better2Know | £49 | 1-14 | 1-2 days | | Your Sexual Health | £59 | 2-12 | 1-3 days |
| Provider | Sample type | Clinical support | |----------|-------------|-----------------| | SH:24 / Fettle | Urine, blood, swab | Yes (NHS) | | Superdrug | Urine, blood, swab | Pharmacy consultation | | LetsGetChecked | Urine, blood, swab | Nurse callback | | Better2Know | Urine, blood, swab | Doctor consultation | | Your Sexual Health | Urine, blood | Doctor consultation |
All home STI test providers listed here use UKAS or CPA-accredited laboratories — the same accreditation standard as NHS labs. The test accuracy is clinically equivalent to a clinic visit, provided you collect the sample correctly.
SH:24 / Fettle — best free option
SH:24 and Fettle are NHS-funded services that post free STI test kits to your home. Coverage depends on your local authority. SH:24 operates across most of London, several counties in the South East, and parts of the Midlands. Fettle covers areas including Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire.
What it tests: Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV.
Sample type: Urine sample, finger-prick blood, vaginal swab (self-collected).
Results: 2-5 working days by text.
Pros: Completely free. Clinically supported. Treatment arranged if positive. Cons: Not available in all areas. Limited to the standard 4-test panel. No option to add herpes or hepatitis C.
Check availability by entering your postcode on the SH:24 or Fettle website.
Superdrug — best budget private option
Superdrug's online health service offers STI test kits starting at £30 for a single-infection test (chlamydia or gonorrhoea). Their comprehensive screen covers 10 infections for £90.
What it tests: Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes (HSV-2), mycoplasma genitalium, trichomoniasis, ureaplasma.
Sample type: Urine, finger-prick blood, swab.
Results: 2-3 working days via secure online portal.
Pros: Trusted high-street brand. Lowest private price. Pharmacy consultation included. Cons: No nurse callback service. Less comprehensive clinical support than specialist providers.
Best kit: Complete STI Screen (£90) — covers 10 infections in a single kit.
LetsGetChecked — best for clinical support
LetsGetChecked is an Irish company with a strong UK presence. Every positive result triggers a call from a qualified nurse who talks you through next steps and can arrange treatment.
What it tests: Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, gardnerella.
Sample type: Urine, finger-prick blood, vaginal swab.
Results: 2-5 working days via app.
Pros: Nurse callback on every positive result. Good app experience. Discreet packaging. Cons: Higher starting price (£45). Slightly slower than Better2Know.
Best kit: Complete 8 (£149) — tests for 8 infections with full clinical support.
Better2Know — best for speed and range
Better2Know is the UK's largest private sexual health provider. Their home kits use the same labs as their 100+ clinics. They offer the widest range of individual tests, including less common infections like HTLV and HPV.
What it tests: Up to 14 infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis A/B/C, herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2), mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomoniasis, gardnerella.
Sample type: Urine, finger-prick blood, swab.
Results: 1-2 working days.
Pros: Fastest results. Widest test range. Doctor consultation for positive results. Can upgrade to clinic visit. Cons: Higher starting price. Website can feel clinical rather than consumer-friendly.
Best kit: Platinum Home Test (£199) — 14 infections, the most comprehensive home kit available in the UK.
Your Sexual Health — best for individual tests
Your Sexual Health operates 40+ clinics and offers matching home kits. Useful if you want to start with a home kit and then visit a clinic for follow-up.
What it tests: Up to 12 infections.
Sample type: Urine, finger-prick blood.
Results: 1-3 working days.
Pros: Clinic network for follow-up. Good individual test pricing from £39. Doctor support. Cons: No swab option in home kits. Higher baseline price than Superdrug.
Best kit: Comprehensive Home Test (£179) — 12 infections with clinic follow-up option.
How accurate are home STI test kits?
Home STI kits use the same laboratory techniques as clinic tests — nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and antigen/antibody testing for HIV and syphilis.
The key accuracy factors are:
Window period — Every STI has a window period between infection and when a test can detect it. Testing too early produces false negatives.
| Infection | Window period | Test method | |-----------|--------------|-------------| | Chlamydia | 2 weeks | NAAT (urine/swab) | | Gonorrhoea | 2 weeks | NAAT (urine/swab) | | HIV | 4 weeks (4th gen) | Blood (antigen/antibody) | | Syphilis | 3-4 weeks | Blood (antibody) | | Hepatitis B | 6 weeks | Blood (antigen) | | Hepatitis C | 6-12 weeks | Blood (antibody) | | Herpes (HSV) | 3-4 weeks (blood) | Blood (IgG antibody) |
Sample quality — The most common cause of an invalid result is an insufficient sample. Follow the instructions exactly. For finger-prick blood, warm your hands first and do not squeeze the finger too hard.
Swab site — Throat and rectal infections will not be detected by a urine test alone. If you have had oral or anal sex, you need site-specific swabs. Not all home kits include these — check before ordering.
A negative result is only reliable if you test after the window period has passed. If you had a potential exposure in the last 2 weeks, a negative chlamydia/gonorrhoea result may not be accurate. For HIV, wait at least 4 weeks for a 4th-generation test.
What to do if you test positive
Every provider listed above offers some form of clinical support for positive results:
- Do not panic. Most STIs are treatable with a short course of antibiotics.
- Contact the provider's clinical team. LetsGetChecked calls you automatically. Better2Know and Your Sexual Health offer doctor consultations. SH:24 arranges treatment through the NHS.
- Get treatment. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are treated with antibiotics. Syphilis is treated with penicillin injections. HIV requires referral to a specialist clinic for antiretroviral therapy.
- Notify partners. Most providers offer anonymous partner notification services.
- Retest. Some infections require a follow-up test 2-4 weeks after treatment to confirm clearance.
Which kit should you order?
Free and standard screen — Use SH:24 or Fettle if available in your area. Covers the 4 most common STIs at no cost.
Budget private screen — Superdrug at £30-£90. Good if the NHS postal service is not available in your postcode.
Best clinical support — LetsGetChecked at £45-£149. Every positive gets a nurse call.
Fastest and most comprehensive — Better2Know at £49-£199. Widest range, fastest results.
Clinic follow-up option — Your Sexual Health at £59-£179. Start at home, follow up at a clinic if needed.
Compare STI test prices from home kit providers and private clinics across the UK.
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Sexual Health & STI Prices
Compare STI testing from clinics and home kits. NHS free options included. From £29.