STI Testing in 2024: Free, Low Cost, At-Home, and More

Price and access to a doctor’s office shouldn’t prevent you from getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here are resources to help you stay on top of your health.

illustration of three rows of chairs sporadically populated with folks waiting to be called back for STI testing or treatment, with one person wearing a yellow blouse and red trousers walking back to meet the doctor — Illustrations by Maya Chastain

Cost and access to testing facilities shouldn’t be obstacles to managing your health.

There are plenty of free or lower cost and convenient ways to get tested for STIs — some of which you don’t even have to leave home for. This makes getting tested regularly easier.

Below, we break down your options for at-home and in-person testing, including some of the best free and lower cost testing locations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., so you have access to testing no matter where you are.

The short of it

Why do I need to get tested?

Some STIs are completely asymptomatic. STIs that aren’t treated can lead to health issues, including pain, increased susceptibility to other STIs, pelvic inflammatory disease, and kidney damage.

There’s also this: Some STIs can be cured or treated with medication, but you can’t get those medications if you don’t know you need them.

If you’re concerned about confidentiality

Fear that someone — be it a parent, a partner, or someone else — might find out about the test or its results keeps many folks from accessing sexual healthcare.

But all information, including test results, shared with a doctor or other healthcare professional is confidential.

Any personal information that your healthcare professionals asks for is used to give you the best possible care and to contact you about your results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates that labs and healthcare professionals notify it of a positive STI result for any of the following STIs in every state:

gonorrhea
chlamydia
syphilis
chancroid
HIV

A note on STI testing

All information shared with a doctor or other healthcare professional is confidential.

Minors can consent to STI testing in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, 18 states do allow doctors and other healthcare professionals to inform guardians that a minor sought STI services.

No state requires that healthcare professionals notify guardians about STI testing — as long as the minor is over the age of 12, in specific states.

How much does STI testing cost?

It depends. STI testing can be free or hundreds of dollars. How much you pay depends on:

where you live
where you undergo STI testing, such as a doctor’s office, health clinic, health department, or at home using a test kit
your income (some facilities use a sliding scale)
what tests you need
what insurance you have, if any

Some insurance plans, including Medicare, and certain government programs may cover part or all of the cost of STI testing. In some areas, it’s possible to get free STI tests.

If you need a lower cost testing option, you may be able to find testing for about $40. As a general rule, local Planned Parenthoods, health clinics, local health departments, and mobile testing clinics are going to be cheaper than a visit to an OB-GYN or urgent care.

While at-home STI tests can be convenient, private, and more accessible for people without reliable transportation, they’re generally more costly.

You can usually find a test kit that screens for one or two STIs for under $80; however, full panel tests can cost hundreds of dollars. For example, this 14-panel test costs more than $300.

When to test for STIs

The CDC has extensive recommendations for when to get tested based on disease and population. Health expert and author Sherry A. Ross, MD, states that “folks of all genders and sexual orientations should be tested once a year, after unprotected sex, or in between new partners — whichever comes first.”

It’s a good idea to get tested anytime you have sex without barrier methods with someone who has an STI or whose STI status you don’t know. The same goes if the condom or dental dam split or slipped off during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.

If you have had sex without a barrier method, experts recommend getting tested at least 2 weeks after the event, and again at about 3 months after potential exposure.

You and your partner(s) should each get tested before you go without a barrier or intentionally swap bodily fluids (aka fluid bond).

“You should also get tested if you suspect that your partner has been cheating on you,” added Kecia Gaither, MD, double board certified in OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine, and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.

What to expect from testing

A healthcare professional will administer certain types of STI testing depending on a few factors, such as:

how you engage sexually
if you or your partner have any symptoms
whether you have a partner who has tested positive for an STI
if you use barrier methods
if you or your partner(s) have ever used injectable substances

Based on this information, a healthcare professional may give one or more of the following tests:

Blood test: A blood sample is taken by finger prick or blood draw from your arm. If using an at-home test, a small lancet is provided to use on your finger to collect a small sample of blood that is then sent to an accredited lab for testing.
Urine test: In a doctor’s office or health clinic, this requires peeing in a collection container. At-home tests requiring a urine sample will provide a container that you then send to a lab for testing.
Genital swab: A cotton swab is used to collect discharge or a cell sampling, on the penis, vulva, urethra, cervix, and vagina.
Oral swab: A swab is used to collect samples from the throat, mouth, lips, and tongue. HIV can also be tested by using a cheek swab.
Anal swab: A swab is inserted into your anus to collect a sample of cells.
Site-specific swab: If you have a sore, blister, bump, or lesion anywhere on your body, a swab is used to collect a discharge or cell sample of the affected area.

STI test types

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Infographic by Bailey Mariner

How long it can take to get results

Generally, a healthcare professional will wait until they have the results from all the STI tests performed to call you. If you still haven’t heard back after a week, don’t assume the test(s) was negative. Call to learn your results.

If you opt for an at-home test, results may be available for you to view online in a couple of business days or up to 1 week, depending on the company you choose.

How to read your results

Generally, you’ll get your results from in-person STI testing back in about 5 to 10 days, depending on the clinic and which STI(s) you’re testing for. Some rapid HIV tests can provide results in under 30 minutes. If you choose an at-home test, results will typically be uploaded to an online portal in about a week.

You’ll get a separate result for every STI that you get tested for. That means you might get negative results across the board. Or you might test positive for one (or more) STIs, or what’s known as co-infection.

“Some STIs can make you more susceptible to other STIs,” Ross said.

Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia, for example, can increase the risk of contracting HIV if you have sex with someone who is HIV positive without a condom or other barrier method.

If you tested negative for all STIs, you don’t need treatment, but continue to use barrier methods during any sexual activity.

If you tested positive for one (or more) STIs
Some STIs are curable with medications, and some can be managed. In general, your plan of action may involve any of the following: – starting treatment – pausing sexual activity until treatment is complete – informing any recent and current sexual partners so they can get tested and treated – using barrier methods when you get the green light for sexual activity from a healthcare professional – getting retested if a doctor or other healthcare professional recommends it – with some STIs, experts recommend getting tested every 3 to 6 months

If you tested positive for one (or more) STIs

Some STIs are curable with medications, and some can be managed.

In general, your plan of action may involve any of the following:

– starting treatment

– pausing sexual activity until treatment is complete

– informing any recent and current sexual partners so they can get tested and treated

– using barrier methods when you get the green light for sexual activity from a healthcare professional

– getting retested if a doctor or other healthcare professional recommends it

– with some STIs, experts recommend getting tested every 3 to 6 months

Considering an at-home STI test? Here’s what to know

There are a number of direct-to-consumer health test companies that offer STI tests you can take in the privacy of your own home.

These kits require you to collect your own sample (blood, urine, or swab, depending on the test). Once you’re finished handling your collection, you’ll package and ship it to the lab for testing using the provided labels. After the lab analyzes your sample, you’ll get results back in about a week.

These kits are a great option if you don’t have access to an in-person facility.

One thing to note is that these kits can be less accurate than in-clinic testing and results may be inconclusive. This is because they rely on you to collect your own sample, which can be difficult to do. If you collect the sample incorrectly, it can negatively affect the results.

To increase the chances of accuracy, look for kits that are CLIA certified and CAP accredited. This means they meet quality standards for laboratory testing and are considered reliable. If you’re unsure about your results or you suspect they’re inaccurate, it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional to get additional testing.

Learn more about the different types of kits available, including how much they cost, how the sample is collected, and how the treatment is administered.

These are some of our recommendations for at-home test kits.

Where to find in-person testing

In-person testing is available in every state and can lead to quick treatment. Here are some starting points for finding a test location near you.

Local health departments

Thanks to federal and state funding, most city and county health departments are able to offer free or lower cost STI testing. They also test for most STIs, including HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and more.

You can find information about your local health department on the CDC. Enter your ZIP code. Answer the few prompts, including if you need free or low cost testing, and find a center near you.

Planned Parenthood locations

Planned Parenthood clinics receive some government funds and base their fees on a sliding scale, meaning what you pay depends on your personal income, demographic factors, and assistance eligibility.

If you have a lower income household, it’s very possible that you won’t have to pay anything.

Find the Planned Parenthood closest to you by entering your ZIP code, city, or state.

Nonprofit organizations

Some local nonprofit organizations run health clinics that provide STI testing.

What STI tests are available will vary from city to city and clinic to clinic, but most will test (at the very least) for:

gonorrhea
chlamydia
HIV

Because these clinics usually receive money from federal grants, donations, and fundraisers, testing is completely free or available at a much lower cost.

To find one near you, try Googling “sexual health clinic near me” or “[insert your city here] STI testing clinic.”

Mobile clinics

Mobile clinics travel through rural and urban areas to offer high quality healthcare at a lower cost. STI testing and treatment is one of the many services they typically offer.

Research from 2020 estimates there are approximately 2,000 mobile clinics traveling throughout the United States at any given time. To find one near you, search Mobile Health Map.

College and university health centers

Since nearly half of new STI diagnoses occur in people ages 15 to 24 years, most colleges and universities provide free or lower cost STI testing to their students. The most common STI on college campuses is chlamydia.

Call your school’s health center to learn what STIs they’re able to test for.

LGBTQIA+ centers

Most medium and large cities have local LGBTQIA+ centers that either:

offer STI testing for folks in the LGBTQIA+ community
have a directory of local LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare professionals offering STI testing

To find your local LGBTQIA+ center, check out this CenterLink LGBT Community Center Member Directory. Enter your location, find the community center nearest you, and call them for information about STI testing.

You can find an LGBTQIA+-friendly testing center through one of the following means:

Google “STI clinic near me + LGBTQIA” (or a similar search term).
Search the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association directory.
Go to the nearest Planned Parenthood, which offers more affordable care and LGBTQIA+ services in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Urgent care clinic

This is a great option if you want to get tested right away. Most local walk-in clinics offer STI testing.

Avoid crisis pregnancy centers

Avoid crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) when seeking out STI testing. These nonprofit organizations ignore prevailing medical standards of sexual and reproductive healthcare and aim to prevent individuals who are able to become pregnant from accessing abortion.

While some CPCs do test for STIs, very few actually offer treatment for a positive diagnosis.

Make sure the clinic you’re considering isn’t a CPC by entering the location into the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map.

Find testing locations in your state

Online STI clinic finders can help you find a lower cost or free testing location near you. Here are some of the most common:

At the end of this article, we have included an extensive list of locations offering access to free or low cost testing in each state. The list is organized by United States region: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West.

Frequently asked questions about STI testing

The cost of a full STI panel varies depending on a few variables, like where you get tested and whether or not you have health insurance. Your cost may be zero, or you may get a lowered cost based on your income.

A full STI panel using an at-home test kit can cost upward of $300.

Plenty of health clinics, such as Planned Parenthood Centers, offer free or low cost testing based on income.

You can also contact your local health department to find out about free or affordable options near you.

Depending on the county, you may find free or low cost STI testing in Florida.

If you choose to use a direct-to-consumer company to test for STIs at home, you’ll use tools provided to you in a kit that’s delivered to your door. Some tests require blood, so you’ll use a lancet to prick your finger.

Other tests require urine or a swab method for collecting your sample. Read the instructions carefully and ship your sample back in the time frame the company suggests, and you’ll receive your test results online relatively quickly.

It depends on your plan and which clinic you visit, but many insurance policies will cover STI testing, which falls under sexual and reproductive healthcare.

If you’re not sure if you’re covered, call your insurance company before going in for an appointment. Alternatively, you can visit a free or low cost clinic.

Takeaway

Regular testing for STIs shouldn’t be limited to having money or being in a certain location.

Search for Planned Parenthood centers near you, or check out your nearest health department for testing options.

If you have questions like, “What should I do next if I test positive for an STI?” or “How long does treatment take?” the healthcare professional doing the testing is your best bet.

For more general information about STIs, check out information from the CDC or Safer STD Testing.

For helpful resources about testing positive, check out:

“Something Positive for Positive People” podcast
@SexELDucation on Instagram
STDcheck.com blog

Last but not least, remember that you can ask your doctor or other healthcare professional for additional support. For example, if you need help sharing your positive test results with your sexual partner(s), your healthcare professional can notify them anonymously.

Where to find free or low cost STI testing by state

Below, we share where to find free or low cost STI testing in the top, middle, or bottom regions of each state. In some cases, we have noted whether each clinic or health center offers flexible payment options or free services.