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Free STD Testing Near Me: Where to Find It

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated

Quick answer

The quickest way to find free or low-cost STD testing is the CDC's Get Tested site, which lists fast, free or low-cost, confidential testing near you, including self-collection options. Title X family planning clinics also offer free or low-cost STI testing, and priority goes to people from low-income families. Many other clinics and community health centers offer confidential testing too. Free is not always free of every fee, so ask what is covered before you go.

Which free route is likely to fit you?

These point you to a type of place, not to a test result or a diagnosis. Ask the clinic what they test for and what they charge before you book.

If money is tight, you can still get tested. There are real free and low-cost options in the US, but they are spread across different programs, so the hard part is finding them. This page shows where to look.

Where can I get free STD testing?

Three kinds of place come up most often.

  • Clinics that offer free or low-cost testing. The CDC says there are many clinics that provide confidential testing that is free or low-cost.
  • Title X family planning clinics. The HHS Office of Population Affairs says Title X clinics offer free or low-cost STI testing and contraceptive services, and that by law priority goes to people from low-income families.
  • Community health centers, hospitals and similar programs. For HIV testing, the CDC says many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centers and hospitals offer it.

Not every site tests for everything, so check the list of infections before you go.

How do I find free testing near me?

Use two locators.

  1. The CDC’s Get Tested site (gettested.cdc.gov). The CDC describes it as a way to find fast, free or low-cost, confidential testing near you, including self-collection options.
  2. The Title X clinic search from the HHS Office of Population Affairs, where you enter a city, state or zip code.

Then call the clinic. A two-minute call saves a wasted trip and lets you ask about walk-in hours, wait times and which tests are offered. We can’t list clinics for every town, and a locator is more current than any list we could write.

Is free STD testing really free?

The test itself may cost nothing, but other costs can appear. Ask these before you book:

  • Is the test free for me, or only for some people, such as certain ages or income levels?
  • Is there a visit or exam fee, even if the lab test is free?
  • Which infections are included? Is it urine, blood, or swabs?
  • Are results shared by phone, in person, or online, and how long do they take?

Free clinics can be busy. If you need an answer quickly, ask how soon the next opening is.

Can I use insurance for a free or low-cost test?

Possibly. Healthcare.gov lists HIV screening for people aged 15 to 65 (and other ages at increased risk), syphilis screening for adults at higher risk, hepatitis B screening for people at high risk, hepatitis C screening for adults 18 to 79, and STI prevention counseling for adults at higher risk. It says these are generally covered at no cost when provided by an in-network medical provider, and that $0 is not guaranteed in all cases.

So ask the clinic whether it is in your plan’s network. If you do not want the visit to appear on an insurance statement, say so, and ask what the alternatives are.

Who should get tested, and how often?

The CDC’s screening recommendations depend on age, anatomy and sexual behavior. Some examples from the CDC’s table:

  • Everyone aged 13 to 64: HIV testing at least once.
  • Sexually active women under 25: chlamydia and gonorrhea screening.
  • Sexually active men who have sex with men: at least annual testing for syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea at the sites of contact.
  • Pregnant people: syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B testing at the first prenatal visit.

If you are unsure which of these applies to you, a free clinic can go through your history with you. The CDC advises clinicians to ask about oral, anal and genital sex, because different tests are used for different body sites.

What if I can’t find free testing, or need a faster answer?

You can pay for a test yourself. Online services let you buy a test and give a sample at a local lab. STDCheck, for example, says its results arrive in 1 to 2 business days for most tests, that its testing centers do not need an appointment, and that it does not accept insurance. It says it does not perform swab or saliva testing, and that a few tests, such as HIV RNA and trichomoniasis, can take about an extra week. Prices change, so check the current list.

A paid test and a free test can both be good choices. Pick the one that fits your timing, your budget and the body sites you need checked.

What if I may have been exposed to HIV?

Do not wait for a free appointment. HIV.gov says PEP must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure, and that you should contact a health care provider immediately or go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic right away. A test can follow once you have been seen.

Get care now if

  • You may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours: go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic right away and ask about PEP
  • You have severe pain in your belly, pelvis or testicles, or a fever with genital symptoms
  • You are pregnant and may have been exposed: tell your prenatal clinician now, rather than waiting for a free clinic slot

Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, an urgent care clinic, sexual health clinic or your doctor can see you.

When to test

  1. If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hoursDo not wait for a free appointment. Go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic right away and ask about PEP, which must be started within 72 hours.
  2. For routine screeningA free clinic is a good fit for a regular check. The CDC recommends everyone aged 13 to 64 is tested for HIV at least once, and recommends chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25.
  3. After a recent exposureA very early test can miss an infection. Use the window-period calculator, then book the visit for a date when the result will be reliable.

Common questions

Is STD testing really free?

Sometimes. The CDC says clinics offer testing that is free or low-cost, and Title X clinics offer free or low-cost STI testing. The price depends on the clinic, so ask before you book.

Can I get a free test without insurance?

Often, yes. The CDC says clinics offer confidential testing that is free or low-cost, and Title X gives priority to people from low-income families. Ask each clinic about its price and who qualifies.

Will my insurance pay for a test?

Healthcare.gov lists HIV screening for people aged 15 to 65, syphilis screening for adults at higher risk, hepatitis B and C screening and STI counseling among preventive services. It says these are generally covered at no cost from an in-network provider, and that $0 is not guaranteed in every case.

Are free tests private?

The CDC describes the testing it points to as confidential. Clinicians are advised to tell patients their information is kept in strict confidence, with exceptions where someone is being hurt or is in danger. Ask the clinic how results are shared.

What if I can't find a free option soon enough?

You can pay for a test yourself. Services such as STDCheck sell tests online that you take to a local lab, and say they do not accept insurance. See our page on STD testing near you for how those work.

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Sources

This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you whether you have an infection. Read how we write and check our guides.