Table of Content
We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. HIVinfo.NIH.gov. HIV and Opportunistic Infections, Coinfections, and Conditions.

The organization can only offer free or low cost STI testing if it receives funding from the location state. Due to this, a person must call or otherwise contact their local center to check whether it offers affordable testing. However, not all online testing companies have received CLIA certification. Therefore, a person may wish to look for this certification when looking for tests to buy to verify their accuracy and quality. After receiving their test kit from an online provider, people can take the STI test with all the tools provided by the company. This may include needles, tubes, alcohol swabs, and a prepaid envelope, among others.
myLAB Box - Most Comprehensive Home STD Testing
Usually, an infection is the first step on the road to potentially developing a disease, when it hasn’t yet turned into a disease and often doesn’t cause any symptoms. The Everlywell at-home STD Test for Men uses two sample types . Our mission is to provide users with honest, useful, and objective information when looking for the best DNA test kit for their needs. And you get a free follow-up phone call to discuss your results if needed. With your results, you have access to a free phone call with a qualified physician.

The kit arrives on your doorstep discreetly, every three months. MyLAB Box offers a huge variety of bundle tests at very reasonable prices. It also has kits made specifically for males and females, so you only pay for what you really need. It’s my top choice for its value for money, accuracy, and extra perks.
What is the best option, home std testing, walk in labs or over the counter options?
So, we recommend you to take a test for all the most common STIs. Plus, there’s a chance you could go through hefty co-pay due to multiple visits for various tests at these counters. Walgreens and CVS provide individual test options and you cannot ascertain which particular test is right for you.
On the other hand, this also means that your STD testing is extremely private because it is “off the books”. Reputable and reliable STD testing services are fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT . This act ensures that your private information is protected from any unsolicited access and gives you the right to decide who can access your private health data. So, with this in mind, it’s important to understand what an STD is and isn’t, and how you should act if you suspect you have an STD or are even just sexually active.
How Accurate Are the Cheap At-Home STD Test Results?
Testing outside of the window period may also cause a false negative result. This means the person was infected but that it was too soon for it to be detected on the test. This is why certain bacterial diseases are more accurately diagnosed with a lab culture rather than a rapid test. If the test is positive (meaning you've been infected), you can get immediate treatment.

Individual tests start as low as $24, such as STDcheck.com, while more comprehensive kits like an STD panel with HIV early detection test from HealthLabs can be $300+. Your results show a list of all the STDs screened for with either a “positive” or “negative” next to them. It’s usually color coded, too, so you can quickly identify any concerns.
Multiple STI tests
Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Nurx’s test is one of the few at-home STD test kit providers that accepts health insurance. A list of the in-network insurance providers for STI testing at Nurx’s partner lab, Molecular Testing Labs, can be found here. If you test positive, the Nurx medical team will help you determine the appropriate next steps, be it medication or meeting with an in-person health care provider. For $15, you can get unlimited access to Nurx’s medical team to discuss the test or your results.

At-home STD tests at CVS prices are around $45 for an HIV test and can go up to more than $140 for other specific tests like Herpes/ Gonorrhea/ Trichomoniasis/ Syphilis test. So we highly recommend every sexually active person get tested for STD screening at least once a year. Some people may feel nervous talking about their STI results, and may not know which questions to ask. Below are some examples that may help people have a conversation with their healthcare professionals about their results. Additionally, the CDC offers a database where people can find centers that offer free or low cost STI testing and vaccinations.
Traditional STD testing (attending the doctors or a walk-in lab, and today using home STD tests) may require blood, urine or swab samples and samples are sent to a laboratory. With lab-based tests, individuals receive a lab sample order and present it to a testing facility, where a healthcare professional performs the test. If the result comes back positive for any STIs, the company provides a follow-up test at no additional cost. If you know or suspect you have been exposed to an STI, it's important to seek testing and treatment from a healthcare provider. These at-home kits are recommended for people who do not suspect they have been exposed, but want to test as a precaution.

LetsGetChecked has more than 30 testing options covering a range of issues, like diabetes, thyroid levels, and sexual health. If you test positive for an STI with an at-home test, the next step is to contact your healthcare provider. You will probably need another test to confirm your results. If the second test also comes back positive, you will need to begin treatment right away. Find out more about the best sexual health testing option for you here.
The only difference is that instead of getting a doctor to order them for you, you order them online. Then you go to a commercial laboratory and they take a urine sample and/or blood. There are also at-home testing kits that allow you to collect your own sample of urine or saliva and send it to a company for testing. These tests are likely to be less accurate than lab-based testing. The STD test checks whether or not you test positive for a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. Once you return your test sample to our lab and your sample is processed, you’ll be notified via email that your results are ready.

It depends on the rapid STD test provider, but in simple terms, not always. There are a number of things that can go wrong when it comes to rapid STD tests. It's important to ensure that if you are testing yourself, you pick a reliable STD test provider who is accredited and clearly displays their certifications on their website.