Cookies

Consider whether you want a digital log of your visit to this site to be recorded in your browser.

If you don’t want a record to be kept, you can choose to delete your browser history afterwards or view our pages in incognito mode or private browsing, which won’t store your browser history, cookies, or search history after you’ve closed your browsers. However, you are not invisible.

Using incognito mode or private browsing does not hide your browser history from your internet service provider, SH:24 (or your employer if you’re using a company device).

You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies.

If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of this site may become inaccessible or not function properly.

What are cookies

Cookies are small text files that are downloaded to your computer, tablet or mobile phone when you visit a website or application. The website or application may retrieve these cookies from your web browser (eg Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome) each time you visit, so they can recognise you, remember your preferences and provide you with a more secure online experience.

Generally, cookies are very useful and are a common method used by almost every website you visit because they help to make your online experience as smooth as possible. For security reasons, many websites will not function at all without the use of cookies (or other similar technologies, such as "web beacons" or "tags").

If you prefer, you can restrict, block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings but that may mean that the website won't work properly.

For more information about cookies and their impact on you and your browsing visit aboutcookies.org.

How we use cookies

We use cookies on our site to manage load balancing as part of our technical infrastructure; to record whether you have accepted or rejected optional cookies; and optionally to help us understand how visitors use the site through Google Analytics.

Information our cookies collect

Cookie browser data - this gives us information such as:

  • the time and date you were on our site

  • the pages you looked at, for how long and how you engaged with the pages

  • which cookies you gave permission for us to use

Device data - this gives us information such as:

  • the type of device you are using to access the internet, for example a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer

  • the operating system you are using, for example Microsoft Windows

  • the browser version you use, for example Chrome, Safari, Firefox

Log data - this is information such as when you used the website, how long you were on it for and what you searched for.

Location data - this tells us the country and county you were in when you used the website.

Analytical data - data about how you use the website, for example how often you visit.

We have configured our analytical tools not to collect IP addresses where possible.

When we collect the information, we pseudonymise it by aggregating it and removing personal data. This means that you are not identified and we don’t know who you are.

Types of cookies we use

The cookies we use are:

  • strictly necessary cookies

  • analytical cookies

Strictly necessary cookies make our website work and keep it secure. They make sure that only humans complete forms, not bots.

These cookies are essential for you to browse the website and use its features. For example, page navigation, accessing secure areas of the site and complying with data protection and electronic privacy legislation.

We can set these cookies without needing your consent as they are essential. The following essential cookies are used on the Hepatitis C Home Test website.

Cookies: AWSALBCORS, AWSALB, AWSALBTGCORS , AWSALBTG

These are first party cookies for website management/load balancing. They have a lifespan of 7 days.

Cookie: cookie_consent

This is a first party cookie to remember your cookie consent choice. It has a lifespan of 1 year.

Analytical cookies collect information about your use of our website such as which pages you visit. We use them to measure which pages are most frequently visited and to make sure that the website works as it should.

The data collected by the cookies is all pseudonymised. This means this information cannot be used to identify you. We do not capture information like IP addresses, demographics or your interests.

We will get information about what county your device is in, what type of device you are using, how long you stay on website pages and how many website pages you visit.

These cookies are optional and are only set if you accept optional cookies. You can reset your choice using the link at the bottom of the site.

Cookies: beginning _ga

These are first party cookies for Google Analytics. They have a lifespan of 6 months.

Managing cookies

Most internet browsers allow you to erase cookies from your computer hard drive, block all cookies (or just third-party cookies) or warn you before a cookie is stored on your device.

If you choose to block all cookies, our site will not function as intended and you will not be able to use or access many of the services we provide. If you have blocked all cookies and wish to make full use of the features and services we offer, you will need to enable your cookies.

Rather than blocking all cookies, you can choose to only block third-party cookies which will still allow our website to function as intended. Another option is Do Not Track, a technology and policy proposal that enables users to opt-out of tracking by websites they do not visit, including analytics services, advertising networks, and social platforms.

You have the right to withdraw consent to optional cookies after you have given it. Use the manage cookie consent link at the bottom of this website to reset your consent preference.