Oral Rapid HIV Self-Test Now Approved in Canada

OraQuick™: Canada's First Oral HIV Self-Test, Now Approved

The OraQuick™ HIV self-test has received its distribution licence from Health Canada. It is the first oral HIV self-test approved in the country. OraQuick has been available in the United States since 2012, recommended by the WHO in 2016, and is used in over 60 countries.

How It Works

No blood draw required. The test involves swabbing a stick along the upper and lower gums, an area with a high concentration of HIV antibodies. The swab is then inserted into a cartridge for 20 minutes: one line means a negative result, two lines means a positive result. Each kit includes complete documentation on next steps based on the result.

Where to Get It

OraQuick is now available at Proxim du Village, pharmacie Amine Ben Abdennabi et Emmanuel Thibaudeau (800 Ontario Est, Montréal). The test can be purchased directly at the pharmacy counter. A free follow-up consultation with a member of our team is also available for anyone who has questions or wants guidance on next steps.

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Relevance for Priority Populations

An estimated 7,000 Canadians are living with HIV without knowing it. A format that requires no blood draw, usable at home or in a community setting, removes several real barriers: no family doctor, anxiety around clinical procedures, limited access to services. The populations most likely to benefit include men who have sex with men, racialized communities, and people who use drugs by injection.

Access Considerations

The approval of this test is a meaningful step forward. Its full potential will depend on coverage and distribution. We believe that RAMQ reimbursement, targeted to individuals belonging to at-risk populations, would have a measurable impact: fewer new infections, earlier diagnosis, better care trajectories, and predictable savings for the public health system. The cost-benefit case speaks for itself.

Photo credit : Marcello Casal JR/ABr