Planned Parenthood tests for STDs using a combination of urine samples, blood draws, and swabs, depending on which infections are being screened. A full screening panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Most visits take under 30 minutes for the sample collection itself, though some results require a few days to come back from a lab.
What the Standard Panel Covers
A routine STD screening at Planned Parenthood includes testing for the four most common sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. These are the infections that often show no symptoms but can cause serious health problems if left untreated, which is why they’re bundled together as a baseline panel.
Additional tests, such as those for trichomoniasis, herpes, or hepatitis, may be available depending on your risk factors, symptoms, and what the clinician recommends. Not every infection is automatically included in a “full screening,” so it’s worth asking specifically about any infections you’re concerned about when you check in or schedule your appointment.
How Samples Are Collected
The type of sample depends on the infection being tested. There’s no single test that checks for everything at once.
- Urine sample: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are commonly tested through a urine (pee) sample. You’ll be handed a cup and directed to a restroom. No swabbing or physical exam is needed for this part.
- Blood draw or finger prick: Syphilis and HIV require a blood sample. For rapid HIV testing, this is often just a quick finger prick rather than a full blood draw from your arm.
- Swabs: If you have visible sores, unusual discharge, or are being tested for infections in the throat or rectum, a clinician may use a swab to collect a sample from those areas. This is quick and generally not painful, though it can feel briefly uncomfortable.
Some infections, like herpes or genital warts, can be identified through a visual examination if there are active sores or lesions present. Your clinician may be able to tell you right away whether what you’re seeing looks like a specific infection.
Rapid HIV Testing
Many Planned Parenthood health centers offer rapid HIV testing that delivers results in about 20 minutes. The test uses a small finger prick blood sample. Fourth-generation rapid tests can detect HIV as early as three weeks after exposure and are about 98% accurate.
If a rapid test comes back positive, it isn’t treated as a final diagnosis. A follow-up confirmatory test is required, which involves sending a blood sample to a lab. This second step exists because no rapid test is 100% accurate, and a confirmed result is necessary before beginning treatment.
How Long Results Take
Result timelines vary by test type. Rapid HIV results come back during your visit, usually within 20 minutes. Lab-processed tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis typically take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the health center and the lab they use. You’ll usually receive results by phone, through a patient portal, or at a follow-up visit. If you don’t hear back within the timeframe your clinician mentions, call the health center directly.
What Happens If You Test Positive
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are both curable with antibiotics. If either test comes back positive, your provider can prescribe medication during the same visit or a follow-up. Syphilis is also treated with antibiotics. The key with all three is completing the full course of treatment exactly as prescribed, even if symptoms disappear before you finish.
HIV is not curable, but it is highly manageable with ongoing treatment. If a confirmatory test comes back positive, Planned Parenthood can connect you with treatment resources or begin care directly, depending on the health center. Many locations also provide counseling and partner notification support, so you can inform recent partners that they should get tested.
For any positive result, you’ll be advised to avoid sexual contact until treatment is complete or, in the case of HIV, until a provider clears you. Retesting after treatment is often recommended for chlamydia and gonorrhea to confirm the infection has cleared.
At-Home Testing Kits
Some Planned Parenthood locations offer mail-order STI testing kits through telehealth. After a virtual appointment with a provider, a kit is shipped to your home. These kits test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Collection is typically a urine sample, and the kit includes packaging and return labels for mailing the sample back to a lab.
At-home kits don’t cover syphilis or HIV, since those require blood samples. If you need a full panel, an in-person visit is necessary.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of STD testing at Planned Parenthood depends on your insurance, income, location, and the specific tests being done. Most health centers accept private insurance and Medicaid. If you don’t have insurance, many locations offer sliding-scale fees based on your income, meaning you pay what you can afford.
Some Planned Parenthood health centers provide free or low-cost STD testing through government-funded programs like Title X, which supports reproductive health services for people with limited income. Rapid HIV testing is free at many locations regardless of insurance status. When scheduling, ask the health center what your visit will cost so there are no surprises.
Privacy and Testing as a Minor
Planned Parenthood treats all visits as confidential. In most states, minors can consent to STD testing and treatment without a parent’s permission. State laws vary, but reproductive health services, including STI screening, are broadly protected under minor consent laws across the country.
If you’re a teen, your parents won’t be notified about your visit, and they generally cannot access your medical records without your permission. If you’re on a parent’s insurance plan and worried about an explanation of benefits being mailed home, mention this at check-in. Staff can help you explore options like sliding-scale self-pay to keep the visit off insurance records entirely.