STD Testing: How Much Does It Cost to Get Tested For STDs?

Every sexually active adult should get tested for STDs on a regular basis. How much does it cost to get tested for STDs? The answer to this question can vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of test, where you get tested, and your health insurance coverage. Here’s what you should know about the cost of STD testing:

What is the Average STD Test Price?

A wide range of tests and test combinations are available in clinics and online. In general, an STD test will cost you between $30 and $400 depending on various factors, mainly if you test at home, in a clinic, or at a lab. The actual dollar price of how much a STD test cost depends on which test you decide to take and where.

STD Testing Options: Where Can I Go to Get Tested?

You can get tested for STDs in a number of different ways, including:

• Doctor’s office
• STD/STI testing centers
• Planned Parenthood
• Rapid testing kits
• At-home testing kits

All STD tests are not created equal.

First and foremost, you want to make sure that the testing service you choose is reliable and accurate.

If a testing service or product does not advertise validated accuracy results, we recommend looking elsewhere. The best test for you may also depend on how frequently you need to get tested for a specific concern about STD exposure.

STD testing can be expensive or cheap, but it’s important to look at the pros and cons of the various STD testing options to make the decision that is right for you. Let’s take a look at the differences between the most common testing options.

STD Testing At A Doctor’s Office

Doctors’ offices, hospitals and freestanding urgent care medical clinics all offer STD testing. This is the most expensive STD screening option of the possibilities listed below because medical facilities will charge a doctor’s fee as well as lab fees and can total upwards of $400 for a complete STD test before prescription costs.

Pros of testing at a doctor’s office

• A healthcare professional can help answer questions about what tests are best for you.
• Insurance might cover part or all of the STD testing cost.
• The Affordable Care Act covers the cost of some STD screening at a facility.
• A healthcare professional is available to help you understand results and talk about next steps if you test positive for an STD.

Cons of testing at a doctor’s office

• You may need to schedule an appointment months in advance.
• Wait time for an appointment can be long.
• In addition to paying for lab tests, you also pay the doctor’s fees.
• If you use your health insurance, your records become available to them and any of their affiliate insurance providers which may impact future insurance costs.
• You have to go into a physical location to get tested.
• Results are rarely available online and may take 2+ weeks to process.
• Testing results show up on your permanent health record.
• If tested positive, an additional copay cost will be needed to get a prescription.
• You may not feel comfortable discussing your sexual history or asking your doctor for an STD test.

STD Testing At Testing Centers

Free or low cost STD testing clinics are readily available in most urban areas. A search for local STD testing centers will show various medical facilities, free clinics, and health departments providing STD testing. Unfortunately, these clinics are often overcrowded and underfunded.

Pros of testing at a low cost clinic

• If you qualify, clinics will often provide a single test for free.
• There are resources, which include counseling, for people who test positive for a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

Cons of testing at a lost cost clinic

• Free clinics and centers that base fees on a sliding scale (or offer free testing) will want written proof of your income.
• Some STI testing facilities will not test you for free unless you are experiencing symptoms and as many as 80% of infections are asymptomatic.
• You need to take time out of your day to go into a physical location to get tested.
• Results are rarely available online and may take 2+ weeks to process.
• Some clinics require you to sign up for Medicaid to cover your costs.
• If you test positive, an additional copay cost may be needed to get a prescription.
• Free tests are in high demand, so these facilities are often crowded, which means you may need to wait a long time to get an appointment and/or get tested.

STD Testing At Planned Parenthood

Most people know about the crusader for sexual health, Planned Parenthood, for its array of family health services, including STD testing. Costs will vary depending on your region. One clinic in Texas lists prices for tests between $30-$80 plus a $50+ doctor visit fee. Some test packages cost over $200.

Pros

• If paying out of pocket, no information will go on your permanent health record.
• You can use insurance at most centers.
• Teens, under age 18, get a 25% discount in many Planned Parenthood centers—check to confirm for your state.
• Planned Parenthood is a sex-friendly, positive organization.
• Some free treatment options are available if you test positive.

Cons

• Wait time for an appointment can be long.
• Planned Parenthood will not test you for free unless you are experiencing symptoms and as many as 80% of infections are asymptomatic.
• You need to take time out of your day to go into a physical location to get tested.
• Results are not available online and may take 2+ weeks to process.
• You may need to make another appointment if you test positive to discuss your treatment options.
• There may not be a Planned Parenthood located near you, so you may need to travel far to get tested.

At-Home STD Testing Kits

Getting tested at a doctor’s office, testing center, or Planned Parenthood are all options. But there is a more convenient and easier way to get tested for STDs. You can purchase an at-home testing kit to get tested for STDs from the comfort of your own home.

To take an OTC STD test, you can simply order a testing kit online and collect a sample using the easy to follow instructions. Then, you will need to use the pre-paid envelope to ship your sample off to the lab for testing. However, some at-home testing kits offer “rapid results,” which means you will receive results in a matter of minutes. There’s no need to send a sample in for testing if it’s a rapid results test.

Either way, it only takes a few minutes to collect your sample and complete the test, so it’s far more convenient than getting tested at a doctor’s office or testing center. No more waiting rooms, awkward conversations or uncomfortable inspections of your private areas.

Your results will be available within two to five days after sending your sample in. You will receive a link via email to a secure online portal, where you will be able to view your results. Because the results are available online, it is much easier to share your status with your partner. You can also get a free phone consultation with a physician the same day you get your results. During this confidential consultation, you can discuss your results, learn about treatment options, and get your questions answered.

There are a variety of options for over the counter STD testing. If you are aware of your symptoms and have a pretty good idea of what infection you may have, you can order a test for that specific infection.

If you aren’t sure what you might have contracted–or if you aren’t yet experiencing symptoms but you want to be a responsible sexual partner–you can test for a combination of the most common STIs with a multi panel test.

Pros

• Private and often anonymous.
• You can test in the safety of your own home and receive results without having to go into a facility.
• Testing only takes a few minutes, so it is much more convenient than getting tested in a doctor’s office, testing center, or Planned Parenthood.

Cons

• Consumers do not have many options to choose from.
  Of the limited selection, many do not use reliable FDA-approved test kits or reputable labs. This means accuracy is not validated or guaranteed.
• If you need emotional support or counseling you can’t be sure the testing kit company is equipped to handle it.
• Some online sites only give pricing information after you fill out their forms and share identifying information about yourself.
• Not available in most states.

What Are the Benefits of Using A myLAB Box At-Home STD Testing Kit?

If you are ready to protect your sexual health, purchase a myLAB Box at-home STD testing kit. Some of the many benefits of using a myLAB Box STD testing kit at home include:

• At myLAB Box, all of the results we provide are lab-certified and have the same level of accuracy as testing in a clinic or a doctor’s office.
• Our at home STD tests start at $79.
• myLAB Box is a fully integrated service from testing to treatment. We offer free consultations with certified STD counselors and physicians for anyone who tests positive using our service.
• You can choose from a variety of test kits tailored to your lifestyle and needs starting at just $79.
• myLAB Box accepts most Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) payment cards.
• myLAB Box is the first service to offer extragenital testing (screening for oral and rectal infections) which is particularly important for the LGBT population and anyone engaging in oral or anal sex.
• You can see your results online within 2-5 days of mailing in your sample.
• The service is priced to be affordable without the use of insurance so we can keep your private data private.
• Testing is convenient, so you can get tested for STDs anytime and anywhere.
• You’ll never have to wonder about when you tested last – we will remind you!

There are a number of different types of at-home STD testing kits available on the myLAB Box website. You can purchase a testing kit that is designed to detect a single STD, such as syphilis, or purchase a testing kit that is designed to detect more than one STD. How to screen for multiple sexually transmitted infections at once:

• Extragenital Testing is a great choice for people who participate in oral and/or anal sex. This three-site test kit screens for chlamydia and gonorrhea in the genitals, but also in the mouth and rectum. – $179
• Safe Box. This 5-panel kit screens for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis. – $189
• V-Box is a women’s health test that screens for common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge, including Bacterial Vaginosis, Yeast, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis. – $189
• Uber Box. This 8-panel kit screens for HIV (I & II), Hepatitis C, Herpes type-II (HSV-2), Herpes Simplex Type II, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis. – $269
• Total Box. A comprehensive 14-panel test that screens for HIV (I & II), Hepatitis C, Herpes type-II (HSV-2), Syphilis, Chlamydia (genital, throat, and rectal), Gonorrhea (genital, throat, and rectal), Trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium. – $369 ($399 with an HPV option for women who are 30 years of age and older)
• Love Box provides two Uber Box test kits so that couples can test together. This allows for an open and honest partnership. Besides, what’s better than beginning a relationship with full transparency? – $499
• Chlamydia & Gonorrhea. This at-home testing kit screens for both chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are two of the most common types of STDs. – $79

How Much Does It Cost to Get Tested for STDs At Home?

Luckily, with at-home testing you know the cost of your tests. At myLAB Box, prices are reliable and accurate. Testing only takes five minutes and can be done at any time and from any place. Regardless of insurance, these prices range from $79 for any single infection test (including HIV, syphilis, HSV-2, hepatitis C and more) to $499 for a Love Box, which contains two 8-panel tests so that you and your partner can test together.

These prices also don’t include any potential hidden fees. At a clinic, tests may drive up the price of your insurance premiums. At myLAB Box, the price doesn’t change and doesn’t rely on insurance. Best yet, these tests cost about half of the out-of-pocket price found at most medical facilities.

In fact, you’ll even receive free shipping when you order your test. It’s free when you mail your sample back to us, too! If you test positive, you are also entitled to a free phone consultation with a local physician.

Bottom line—you have plenty of choices depending on where you live, your finances, and need for anonymity.

What Should I Do If I Test Positive For An STD?

Regardless of which testing option you choose, it’s important to understand what steps you need to take if you test positive for an STD.

First, it’s in your best interest to discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider. Many STDs are easily treated with prescription antibiotics. However, some STDs are not treatable. If you have tested positive for one of these STDs, you should still talk to your healthcare provider about your options. Your healthcare provider can help you understand how to manage your symptoms.

If you are treated for an STD with prescription antibiotics, it’s wise to get retested after completing the course of medication. Taking another test will help you confirm that the treatment was successful. If you are still testing positive, contact your healthcare provider to discuss the next steps.

You will also need to contact your sexual partners after testing positive for an STD. Do this as soon as possible and encourage them to get tested right away. This is an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s necessary in order to stop the spread of STDs.

References

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2. Sheppard VB, Zambrana RE, O’Malley AS. Providing Health Care to Low-income Women: A Matter of Trust. Family Practice. 2004.
3. Williams T, Schutt-Aine J, Cuca Y. Measuring Family Planning Service Quality through Client Satisfaction Exit Interviews. International Family Planning Perspectives. 2000.