At I Want The Kit (IWTK), our mission is to help stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by offering easy and confidential chlamydia and gonorrhea testing* to residents of Maryland, Washington DC, and Alaska. STIs are spread from person to person during sex and may cause serious health problems if not diagnosed and treated early. The IWTK process is easy, convenient, and private! Use this site to order a kit, receive the kit in the mail, collect your own samples at home using the instructions we include, mail your samples back to our Johns Hopkins University laboratory, and check your results online when we let you know they are ready. Our lab is licensed by the State of Maryland and certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). * HIV home testing kits are also now available for residents of Baltimore City.
MORE INFORMATION:
**Please note that as of April 16th, we have temporarily suspended the option to order a swab for collecting a throat specimen. The suspension is due to swab shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will restart throat testing as soon as the supply situation improves. Please continue checking back for updates.**
Have you heard about PrEP?
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a way to help prevent HIV by taking one pill once a day. Go to www.PrEPMaryland.org for more information and to find a PrEP provider near you.
If you live outside of Baltimore City but are a male resident of Virginia or Maryland, you could be eligible for a free, at-home HIV test through the Virginia Department of Health. Please visit https://is.gd/homesurveypretest
IWTK Ordering Updates
If you are a Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) student or a PrEP Care Anywhere (PCA) participant, please be sure to enter your code when using the IWTK website.
Opportunities
1) How do certain behaviors affect oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection rates in men?
Learn more about your eligibility to participate in Men Offering Understanding of Throat HPV (MOUTH)
Principal Investigator: Gypsyamber D’Souza, PhD
JH SOM IRB#: IRB00119537
2) How is your sexual health?
Are you:
A male?
HIV negative?
Over 18 years old?
Having sex with men?
You may be eligible to participate in an opportunity at Johns Hopkins University.
For more information Call or Text 443-447-0263
Principal Investigator: Jason Farley, PhD, MPH, ANP-BC
JH SON IRB#: IRB001326
News for Kit Users
Do not order a kit to give to your sex partner. He/she must create an account and order his/her own kit.
Washington DC participants will pay $3.66 to mail swab(s) back for testing. Return postage is prepaid for all other participants.
What are Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) - also known as STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases - are passed from person to person during sex. You cannot get STIs through casual contact.
If you think you have an STI or that you have been exposed to an STI, STOP having sex immediately until you are tested and/or treated by a healthcare provider.
If you have an STI, you are at increased risk for getting HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) if you are exposed to that virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
You can order a collection kit on this website to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
You cannot get stis from:
Toilet Seats
Doorknobs
Shaking Hands
Bathtubs
Swimming Pools
Sharing Clothes
Sharing eating utensils
Non-intimate Kissing
Hugging
There are many more resources to learn about STIs and STI-related issues. There are also ways you can anonymously notify your partner of their need to get tested.
Have you heard about PrEP? PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a way to help prevent HIV by taking one pill once a day. Go to www.PrEPMaryland.org for more information and to find a PrEP provider near you.
