Hepatitis B test
Blood test
Take a small blood sample from a finger prick - we send you everything you'll need
Get your results by text within 72 hours of your sample arriving at the lab.
Test 12 weeks (84 days) after unprotected sex for most accurate results
You can choose to add test kits for other infections at checkout.
What happens next
Order online
We’ll ask you a few questions about your health. We’ll text you when we dispatch your order.
Free discreet delivery
We’ll deliver your order by 1st Class post. And we'll include a Freepost box to return your samples to our lab.
Results and support by text
We’ll send your results within 72 hours of your samples arriving at our lab. Get support by text whenever you need it. Our clinicians are here to help.
A dedicated clinician
If you have a reactive result, one of our clinicians will call you to talk through the next steps.
What our users say
Extremely efficient service. Felt discreet and well packaged for sending samples.
Great service. Removed an awkward barrier. I'm sure the service has helped many people test.
Fantastic service!! I felt very much at ease throught the process. Instructions were very clear on the tests and results were incredibly quick! Will definitely reccomend!
You have an amazing, thoughtful user experience! I would have been too busy to take this test 'in real life' so it was great to have something I could do quickly and on my own schedule.
What's in the hepatitis B self-test kit?
For these home tests, we use a blood sample from a finger prick. You’ll find an instruction card in your kit.
Sterile wipes and plasters
Use the wipes to clean your fingertip before you start. You might need a small plaster for your fingertip.
Small lancets
Use the lancet to make a tiny cut in your fingertip. We send some spares in case you need to try more than once.
Blood sample tube
Drop a small amount of blood into the tube. Make sure you fill the tube up to the line. You can use more than one finger if you need to.
Protective bag and return box
It’s easy to send your sample safely to our lab. Use our protective bag and Freepost box to return in any Royal Mail postbox.
How to collect a blood sample
Many people find it easier and quicker to collect their blood sample after watching this short video.
Top tips
make sure your hands are warm by having a bath or shower, or exercise to warm up
drink lots of water before you test
push the lancet firmly into the side of your finger. Avoid the more sensitive middle part of your fingertip
keep your arm as straight as you can
massage from your palm to your fingertip to help the blood flow
If you need more lancets, do not order a new kit. Text us and we'll send you some more.
Multiple tests from 1 blood sample
Add more tests to your order and use just 1 blood sample for them all
Hepatitis B: the basics
Is this test right for you?
If you’ve had the hepatitis B vaccine or had hepatitis B in the past, this is not the right type of test for you. These tests are also not suitable for anyone who has recently been treated for hepatitis B.
There are different types of hepatitis B tests and they look for different things. When we get your sample, we will first test for the hepatitis B core antibody. Any samples that get a positive result in this test are then tested again, this time for the hepatitis B surface antigen. This tells us if the infection is an active infection or an old infection.
If you get a negative result in the first test, this means there are no signs of the infection. We do not test these samples for the surface antigen.
Our tests are not suitable for:
checking that recent treatment for hepatitis B has worked
finding out your level of immunity after being vaccinated
anyone who’s had hepatitis B in the past and been treated
anyone who has been vaccinated against hepatitis B
When to test for hepatitis B
If you think you’ve been exposed to hepatitis B, wait 12 weeks (84 days) before you do a test. In some cases, it can take up to 6 months (160 days) after sexual contact for the infection to show up in tests. If you're not sure when you might have been exposed, do a test now, and another test in a few weeks.
Our clinicians can help you work out when to test again once you’ve placed your order. If you’ve had the hepatitis B vaccine, you don’t need to take a test. The vaccine is very effective.
How hepatitis B is passed on
Hepatitis B is usually passed through blood to blood contact. This might be through sharing needles when injecting drugs, a cut that comes into contact with infected blood, unsterilised equipment used for tattooing or body piercing, or sharing razors or toothbrushes contaminated with infected blood or bodily fluids. It can also be passed from mother to child at birth.
It can be transmitted through unprotected sex. This is rare and the risk can be reduced if you use a condom.
Symptoms of hepatitis B
Some people with hepatitis B will be ill for only a few weeks. This is known as an “acute” infection. For others, the disease progresses to a lifelong illness, known as chronic hepatitis B.
Some people with acute hepatitis B have no symptoms at all or only mild illness. For others, it causes a more severe illness and they'll need to go to hospital.
Often people are able to clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. This is especially the case if they get the infection as an adult. But in some cases, acute hepatitis B leads to chronic hepatitis B. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Getting treatment for hepatitis B
If you're in the early stages of the hepatitis B infection, you should be assessed by a doctor. You might need medication to help with the symptoms.
People with chronic hepatitis B (long term infection), will need to see a specialist in liver disease. They may need medication to prevent liver damage and have regular tests. There are now very effective medications that can suppress the virus over many years.
Where do I go to get a hepatitis vaccine?
Your GP, a sexual health clinic or occupational health department (if your occupation puts you at risk of infection).
Are there any side effects from the hepatitis B vaccine?
Side effects are rare. Contact the person who gave you the vaccine at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
irritability
fast or pounding heartbeats
easy bruising or bleeding
Can my partner tell if I have hepatitis?
They will be able to tell if you have symptoms of infection but not if you don’t. However, it is important that you tell your partner since you have passed the infection to them.
Your partner(s) will need to be tested and may need treatment. Your partner could develop serious symptoms if untreated, or could pass the infection onto someone else.
Will the hepatitis B vaccine protect me for the rest of my life?
No, you will need to check your levels of immunity some years after vaccination. The health care professional who gives you the vaccine will advise you when your immunity levels need to be checked.
What is antiviral medication?
Antiviral medication usually acts to prevent a virus from multiplying.
How accurate are the STI tests?
Our simple home STI test kits are highly accurate when you:
wait the recommended window period before you test
follow the kit instructions carefully
complete additional tests in a clinic setting, if recommended by our clinicians.
Your samples are sent to our partner laboratory to be processed by specialist technicians. We use similar tests that are used by many NHS clinics.
If you are experiencing any STI symptoms, you should visit your local sexual health clinic for further testing and examination.
Do you need help with something else?
Find your local sexual health clinic.
Find out where you can access medication to reduce your chance of becoming infected with HIV. It must be started within 3 days of exposure.
Find out about your emergency contraceptive options.
