Home HIV tests not approved in Canada

Health Canada is letting the public know that home-use HIV test kits being sold by CuraHerbDistributor are unlicensed. The brand has not been evaluated by Health Canada for safety and effectiveness.

One of the concerns Health Canada has about the HIV home test kits is that they may give false results, for both those with the virus and those who do not have HIV. Health Canada states that even approved home test kits are not always reliable. The best means for health testing is by using a qualified health care professional. Buying health test kits and other health care products online may mean that the product you receive is not from a trustworthy company. Some of the products may have even been recalled because of safety concerns or be counterfeit devices. If you do use one of these products do not make drastic changes to your health treatments without consulting your doctor based on the results. Health Canada is also warning that the company is selling other types of home tests for syphilis, trichomonas vaginalis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis (B/C) or herpes simplex using the "Home Aware" brand. The HIV test kits retail for about $40 US. It is illegal to sell or advertise unlicensed HIV and STD test kits in Canada. Health Canada is working with the Canadian Border Service Agency to stop importation of the test kits.