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About MISTR
MISTR is for HIV-negative adults (18+) who are looking to protect themselves from HIV with PrEP, or those who are HIV positive looking to leverage MISTR to receive judgement free treatment from the convenience and privacy of their own home to live longer, healthier lives.
Using MISTR is fast, easy and secure. The initial health questionnaire takes 5-10 minutes to complete, and you can receive your first bottle of Truvada® or
Descovy® in 5 to 7 business days, depending on how quickly you get your required labs completed. The required lab testing can be done home. GET STARTED NOW
Yes. PrEP prescribed via MISTR is prescribed using the same rules and medical standards as any other physician. A MISTR medical professional will only prescribe a medication if it is safe to do so based your lab results and the information provided by you in the health questionnaire.
Yes. Your information is transmitted to us using industry standard encryption and stored in an encrypted form on our servers according to strict federal standards, including HIPAA. You can read our Privacy Policy for more details.
Yes. Before you can start PrEP, you will need to complete a health questionnaire and the required lab work, which will test for HIV, Hepatitis B and your Kidney function. Once complete, a doctor will review results and, if appropriate, write you a prescription for PrEP.
Once you completed your health questionnaire and your lab results have been received and reviewed by one of our licensed physicians, your prescription will be sent to one of our partner pharmacies. Your prescription will then ship within 24 business hours, and typically arrive anywhere between 1-2 business days later. You will be able to track the status of your order via your MISTR PROFILE. The tracking code is also sent via email.
We don’t accept outside prescriptions, but you can sign-up and get a new PrEP prescription for free through MISTR. It’s quick, easy and you don’t even have to leave your home to do it.
Yes. After you complete your health questionnaire you will be able to schedule a video consult with your assigned physician. Should you have additional question or concerns afterwards, you can always reach out to your assigned physician via your MISTR PROFILE utilizing secure online chat, phone call and/or video chat.
Yes, a video consult is required once a year with your assigned physician.
Once you complete the online health questionnaire, our at-home test kit will be automatically sent to you. Simply collect all of your samples, mail it back to us, and we’ll have your test results in just a few days! All kits come with self-addressed with pre-paid Priority Mail postage, so just throw it in the mailbox whenever you’re ready.
Lab results are normally received within 2-3 business days, after the lab has received your samples. We’ll send you an email notifying you when you can view these results securely through your MISTR PROFILE.
No, but it is highly recommended as it typically delivers the fastest results, and can be done from the comfort of your home. If you choose in-person testing, there are 2,200 locations across the U.S. you can choose from. Appointments can be made and modified online via your MISTR PROFILE, and your in-person visit will take 15-minutes or less. If HIV positive in-person testing is the only option available.
It should take 15 minutes or less for in-person lab appointments. You can choose from 2,200 locations across the U.S. and you make and modify appointments online via your MISTR PROFILE.
Your PrEP will be delivered via Priority Mail®, FedEx, UPS or local courier. The packaging is discreet and has no logos or mentions of MISTR, the pharmacy, or the contents inside.
Yes. MISTR will send you a tracking number via email each time you are sent an at-home testing kit or medication. You can also track your packages via your MISTR PROFILE.
MISTR’s at-home testing kit allows you to perform the required labs for PrEP and test yourself for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and some cases Syphilis and Hepatitis C. The kit requires a simple urine sample, swab samples and a finger-prick blood test, which should all take 10 minutes or less to complete. There are detailed instructions in your kit, but if you prefer you can watch Uncle Billy break it down for you in our INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO.
IMPORTANT:
- Write your date of birth (DOB) on each blood card.
- Run your finger under warm water for a minute, then use an alcohol pad to clean the finger before pricking it.
- Let your blood drip onto the blood card and be sure to fill each circle completely.
- Let the blood card dry for 10 minutes before closing it and putting it in the bag.
- Don’t throw out the liquid in each tube.
- Fill the urine tube anyplace in between the two lines.
- The oral swab should be used for 20-30 seconds, in the back of the throat.
- The anal swab should go in about 2 inches and be rotated for 20-30 seconds.
NOTE: If you have tested positive for syphilis previously, you will not be able to utilize our at-home test to detect a new syphilis infection.
If you test positive for a sexually transmitted infection your assigned doctor and patient care coordinator will reach out to you directly with treatment options, and referrals to specialized doctors and free treatment resources if necessary.
Yes of course, but if you utilize one of our partner pharmacies our service is completely free, and we will handle all the required paperwork to ensure you have little or no out-of-pocket costs. We also ship your prescription for free, and offer fast customer service online or by phone 6-days a week, should any issues ever arise.
We can send your prescription to another pharmacy of your choosing in the Surescripts Network, but then you will have to pick up your prescription in person, pay for your labs and doctor consult and handle any additional paperwork on your own.
MISTR does not share your information with anyone without your permission. MISTR is private and confidential just like all healthcare services. You can read our Privacy Policy for further details.
MISTR can be accessed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. You can call or message us at anytime, but all messages and phone calls will be responded to Monday – Saturday, 10am to 8pm Eastern Time.
Billing & Insurance
Our service is completely free, so we only utilize your insurance to cover the cost of your PrEP medication, and we are able to accept all insurance plans except Kaiser. If you are uninsured or under-insured we will work on your behalf to enroll you in one of various patient assistance programs, to ensure you have little to no out of pocket expenses for your medication.
We manage the entire process for you.
No problem. Our service is completely free. We only utilize insurance to cover the cost of your PrEP medication. If you are uninsured or under- insured we will work on your behalf to enroll you in one of various patient assistance programs, to ensure you have little to no out of pocket expenses for your medication. We manage the entire process for you.
Yes, we do. If for any reason your PrEP medication is not covered, we will get you in enrolled in one of the various patient assistance programs, which in many cases ensures that you will have little to no out of pocket expenses. We manage the entire process for you.
The online doctor consultation and required labs to get you on PrEP are completely free in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
PrEP is covered by most insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare. If you don’t have insurance or have been denied coverage for your PrEP medication, we will get you in enrolled in one of the various patient assistance programs to cover the cost of your medication. We manage the entire process for you.
No problem. We can get your PrEP medication covered if you are on your parent’s/guardian’s or spouse’s insurance plan.
MISTR won’t tell your parent(s) or anyone else that you are on Truvada® or
Descovy® for PrEP. However, as part of regular health insurance communications, your insurance company may send some of your confidential health information—like the services you received and when—to the policyholder of your health plan.
Telehealth and TelePrEP
MISTR provides a new way for you to communicate with a doctor, but we do not replace them. When you make a request through our platform, the request is sent to a doctor licensed in your state who will provide you the best possible care from the convenience of your home or office.
Our medical team is comprised of independent board certified doctors (MD), nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and registered nurses (RN) licensed in your state. Each of our physicians undergo an extensive background check and license verification process.
Yes. MISTR has built its’ telemedicine platform to enable physicians to practice medicine and take care of patients remotely. Every doctor you interact with is board certified and licensed to prescribe medicine, treat patients in your state, and complies with all U.S. medical laws. If you have feedback about the platform or a complaint regarding a physician on the MISTR platform, please email [email protected].
Yes. Telemedicine is safe and effective—as long as patients answer questions truthfully, accurately, and completely. Doctors are only effective when they have accurate, current information about your case—both in telemedicine and in-person visits.
MISTR is not intended to replace your primary care physician. It’s important to keep your primary care physician and any other physicians involved in your care up to date with the care you receive from MISTR. You can go to your MISTR PROFILE at any time and message the medical support team if you would like to share your medical information with your primary care physician or another doctor.
It is a good idea for your primary care physician to have a full picture of your health, and we encourage you to share the health information we have about you with your primary care physician. You’re in control though, so we will not send them anything without your express permission. You can go to your MISTR PROFILE at any time and message the medical support team if you would like to share your medical information with your primary care physician or another doctor.
What is PrEP?
PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) is a once-daily pill for people who are HIV-negative. PrEP helps to prevent individuals from contracting the HIV virus, should the individual be at risk of exposure or come into contact with the virus. Currently, for females the only FDA approved and available medication for PrEP is Truvada®, which was approved for HIV prevention in 2012 and contains two medications: tenofovir and emtricitabine. Studies have shown that PrEP is 99% effective at preventing HIV when taken daily as prescribed.
When taken daily as directed, PrEP is 99% effective in preventing HIV-negative people from contracting the HIV virus. Learn more about the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) review of the clinical trials and studies here.
PrEP takes about 7 days before it is fully effective in rectal tissue, and take up to 20 days for vaginal tissue. However, the CDC recommends taking PrEP every day for 21 days prior to any possible exposure to HIV. The drug must be potent enough in the bloodstream to block HIV infection. Taking a pill right before or immediately after possible exposure to the virus will not protect against a potential HIV infection.
PrEP does not prevent any other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV. It is important to be tested regularly for other sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
PrEP (a.k.a. Truvada® or Descovy®) is a once daily pill that works by blocking an enzyme called HIV reverse transcriptase. By blocking this enzyme, HIV is prevented from replicating itself inside the body.
Truvada® is the first drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) medication, and the only drug approved for use by women. It is a single pill that you take every day. Truvada® combines two active ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir.
Descovy® was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2019 as the second pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) medication, but only for cisgender men and transgender women. It is a single pill that you take every day. Each tablet in Descovy® combines two active ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.
There is a generic version of Truvada® for PrEP available in the United States.
PrEP is most effective when taken every single day. If you take PrEP daily, the level of protection is about 99%. If you take PrEP four times per week, the level of protection is about 96%. When taken less than 4 days per week, the potency of the drug in the bloodstream is greatly reduced, and the drug’s effectiveness drops dramatically. If you miss a dose, make sure to take the next one, but there is no need to double up.
For the most part, yes, but it is important that you list any drugs you are currently taking when completing the health questionnaire.
There are no known interactions with alcohol and/or recreational drugs and Truvada® or Descovy®, both FDA approved medications for PrEP.
No, you do not need to take this medication with food.
Those taking PrEP report little to no side effects, but symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, and weight loss can happen. These side effects typically do not last long and often go away entirely within the first month. If you’re experiencing prolonged side effects, please let your doctor know, who you can message directly from your MISTR PROFILE.
No. PrEP is preventative, and should NOT to be taken after you are exposed to HIV. If exposed to HIV in the last 72-hours, you can take PEP, also known as post-exposure prophylaxis.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is PrEP, a way to prevent HIV infection by taking the pill Truvada® or Descovy® every day. The word “prophylaxis” means “to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease” Pre (before), Exposure (coming into contact with HIV), Prophylaxis (treatment to prevent an infection from happening).
PrEP only needs to be taken while at risk of exposure to HIV. As sexual habits change, PrEP may not need to be continued. This is something you can discuss with a doctor via your MISTR PROFILE. When deciding to stop PrEP, you should continue to take it daily for at least four weeks after the last possible risk of exposure to HIV.
What is PEP?
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a month-long (28 day) course of anti-HIV medications that must be started within 72-hours of possible exposure to HIV to prevent permanent infection. PEP’s effectiveness varies depending on when it is initiated. According to the CDC it can be up to 80% effective. You can learn more about PEP here.
PEP consists of 2-3 antiretroviral medications, the same medicines that people with HIV take to stay healthy. If exposed to HIV, it takes a few days for an HIV infection to take hold in the body. After starting PEP, the medication stops the virus from multiplying. As you continue taking PEP for the full 28–days, cells that have been infected with HIV die. The virus will then not spread to the rest of the body.
PrEP is a preventative medication that you take proactively each day to prevent HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is the medication you take to prevent HIV after you have been exposed to the virus. PEP is a month-long (28 day) course of anti-HIV medications that must be started within 72-hours of exposure. PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis.
What states are your provider's licensed in?
MISTR offers its’ services across the United States, with licensed providers in every state we offer healthcare services. If you have a complaint about our service and/or a provider of ours in Maine or Texas, you can contact the applicable state medical board as outlined below.
MAINE
To file a complaint with the Maine Board of Licensure about a licensed medical provider in Maine, you must file a written complaint either by mail or online. For more information, visit the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine website at https://www.maine.gov/md/, write 137 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 – 0137, or call (207) 287 – 3601 or Complaints (888) 365-9964.
TEXAS
To file complaints about physicians, as well as other licensees and registrants of the Texas Medical Board, including physician assistants, acupuncturists, and surgical assistants may be reported for investigation at the following address: Texas Medical Board, Attention: Investigations, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 610, P.O. Box 2018, MC-263, Austin, Texas 78768-2018, Assistance in filing a complaint is available by calling the following telephone number: 1-800-201-9353, For more information, please visit our website at www.tmb.state.tx.us.
