How to Get an STD Test (Fast and Private)

Getting an STD test is usually less of a production than it sounds. There are four routes in the US, and the right one depends on how fast you need an answer, what you want tested, what you can pay and who you’re comfortable talking to.

How do I get an STD test?

Pick the route that matches what matters most to you:

• A healthcare provider or clinic. Best if you have symptoms, want throat or rectal swabs, or want to talk it through.
• A free or low-cost clinic. Often the lowest-cost route.
• A self-test or mail-in kit. You collect the sample yourself.
• Order online, then visit a lab. Pay online, then give a urine or blood sample in person.

Can I get tested by my regular doctor or a clinic?

Yes. The CDC says a provider can test you in their office even if you have no symptoms, and MedlinePlus notes that STIs don’t always cause symptoms. Tell them what has happened in plain terms, including whether you had oral or anal sex, since the CDC says you may need throat or rectal swabs on top of blood or urine.

HIV.gov lists many places that offer HIV testing: health care providers’ offices, health clinics and community health centers, sexual health clinics, local health departments, family planning clinics, pharmacies and some community organizations. Call first and ask what each location tests for.

Where can I get a free or low-cost test?

Start with the CDC’s GetTested site, which helps you find fast, free or low-cost and confidential testing near you. For HIV, HIV.gov’s services locator searches by ZIP code. We can’t list clinics near you, so use those two tools, then confirm hours and what’s covered by phone.

On insurance, HealthCare.gov says HIV screening for everyone 15 to 65 is generally covered at no cost when you use an in-network provider, but it adds that $0 cost isn’t guaranteed in all cases. Check with your plan.

How do I get an STD test online?

Online services take your order, then send you to a lab. STDCheck is the one we link to, so here is what its site says, not what we’ve tried:

1. Order online or by phone.
2. Go to a testing center. STDCheck says it has over 4,500 and that no appointment is needed.
3. Give a urine or blood sample.
4. Get your results in your online account. STDCheck says that takes 1 to 2 days.

STDCheck also says results go to you and aren’t reported to your insurance company, that it doesn’t accept health insurance, and that a member of its medical team is available to talk if a result is positive. Its test pages describe blood and urine samples, and the pages we read don’t mention throat or rectal swabs. If you need those, a clinic is the safer route.

The test link on this page is a partner link, so we may earn a commission if you order through it. Quest, a major lab company, also sells tests online. Its consumer site says no doctor visit is required for purchase, and you then book a visit to a Quest location.

Can I use a home or mail-in kit?

The CDC describes two types. Self-tests give results within minutes, and mail-in kits are collected at home, sent to a lab and take a few days. It lists mail-in kits for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The FDA has authorized at least one chlamydia and gonorrhea test with at-home sample collection.

HIV.gov says you can buy an HIV self-test at a pharmacy or online, or order a free one through CDC’s Together Take Me Home initiative, subject to availability. For stock and prices at a particular store, check with that store.

What should I say when I get tested?

Be specific and unembarrassed. The CDC encourages an open and honest conversation about your sexual history. Mention:

• When the possible exposure happened, so the clinician can judge timing.
• Which body sites were involved (genital, oral, anal).
• Whether you have symptoms.
• Whether you are pregnant, or could be.

How private is it?

The CDC says many clinics provide confidential testing. “Confidential” is not the same as “anonymous,” and policies vary, so ask any clinic what is recorded and who sees results. STDCheck describes its own privacy practices on its site, including that results are delivered to you and that it follows the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

What if I may have been exposed to HIV recently?

If it happened in the last 72 hours, don’t start with a test. The CDC says PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure and is for emergencies. Go to urgent care or an emergency room now. A test comes later.