It has come to our attention that there is a start-up company selling "Me Too Kits," which are being marketed as “the first ever sexual assault evidence kit for at-home use.” The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault advises against using an at-home rape kit as an alternative to a forensic exam.
A forensic medical exam consists of forensic evidence collection, a full medical exam, STI and pregnancy prevention options, STI treatment, and treatment for medical injuries. An exam is necessary for survivors who choose to have their evidence collected and receive medical treatment. At-home kits cannot provide the necessary medical care and other services that are made available when exams are performed in a hospital or medical center. Among other issues, the kits also do not protect chain of custody and evidence integrity, do not include evidence testing, do not address victim privacy, and do not help prevent sexual assault.
As a part of their launch, the company sent marketing materials to colleges and universities across the country in order to sell their product. We strongly discourage any institution from distributing Me Too Kits.
You can find more information in the statement from Campus Advocacy and Prevention Professionals Association (CAPPA) and the statement from the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV).
