STD testing costs anywhere from $0 to about $500, depending on how many infections you’re screening for and where you go. A single test for one infection might cost under $50, while a comprehensive panel covering seven or more STDs can run close to $500 at retail price. The good news: most people have options that bring the cost well below that range, and many can get tested for free.
Cost by Testing Location
Where you get tested is the single biggest factor in what you’ll pay. Here’s how the main options break down:
- Public health or county clinics: Often the cheapest option. San Diego County’s sexual health clinics, for example, charge a flat $40 per visit that covers the exam, comprehensive lab tests, treatment, and any follow-up visits within 30 days. Many county clinics will waive the fee entirely if you can’t afford it. HIV testing alone is frequently free at these locations.
- Planned Parenthood and community health centers: These use income-based sliding scales to set your price. At Planned Parenthood locations in Southern California, an STI office visit ranges from $0 for the lowest income group to $229 for those with higher earnings. Lab fees are typically included in those prices.
- Retail lab orders (no doctor visit): Labcorp’s direct-to-consumer comprehensive STI panel, which covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, costs $489. You order online, walk into a lab, and get results without a separate office visit. This is convenient but expensive if you’re paying out of pocket.
- At-home test kits: Basic kits from pharmacies or online companies typically start around $99 for a limited panel. More comprehensive kits that test for additional infections can run over $200. You collect your own sample and mail it to a lab.
- Your regular doctor’s office: Costs vary widely. You may face a copay for the office visit plus separate lab processing fees, or testing may be fully covered as preventive care (more on that below).
What Insurance Covers at No Cost
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover certain STD screenings with zero copay or cost-sharing when they’re classified as preventive care. The specifics depend on your age, sex, and risk factors.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is fully covered for sexually active women 24 and younger, and for older women at increased risk. Syphilis screening is covered for anyone at increased risk and for all pregnant women. HPV screening through Pap tests is covered for women aged 21 to 65. STI prevention counseling is also covered for sexually active adolescents and adults at increased risk.
These mandates apply to most private insurance plans and marketplace plans. If your screening falls within these categories, your insurer should pay 100% of the cost. The catch: if you’re a man over 21 with no specific risk factors, or if you’re requesting tests outside the recommended screening guidelines, your plan may not cover testing as preventive care. In that case, you could be billed for the lab work, and the cost depends on your plan’s deductible and coinsurance structure.
Free and Low-Cost Testing Options
The CDC maintains a searchable database at gettested.cdc.gov where you can enter your zip code and find nearby clinics offering free or reduced-cost STD testing. These include public health departments, community health centers, and Planned Parenthood locations. Many of these clinics provide confidential testing regardless of your insurance status.
Sliding-scale pricing at community clinics is based on your household size and monthly income. At Planned Parenthood, for instance, the lowest income tier pays nothing. Mid-range earners might pay $91 to $137 for a visit. You’ll typically need to provide proof of income, such as a recent pay stub, and the clinic will place you in a pricing group. Lab fees are generally bundled into the visit cost at these locations, so you won’t get a surprise bill from a separate lab.
Some cities also run periodic free testing events, particularly around National STD Awareness Month in April, and many college health centers offer free or heavily subsidized testing for enrolled students.
What a Full Panel Typically Includes
When clinics refer to “comprehensive” STD testing, they usually mean a combination of blood draws and urine samples that screen for the most common infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and sometimes trichomoniasis or herpes. A standard panel covers five to seven infections.
Not every visit requires a full panel. If you have a specific exposure concern, your provider might order just one or two tests, which lowers the cost. A single chlamydia and gonorrhea urine test, for example, is far less expensive than a seven-infection blood and urine panel. Your provider can help you decide which tests make sense based on your sexual history and symptoms.
Herpes testing is worth a special mention because it’s not included in most standard panels. Blood tests for herpes can produce false positives, so the CDC doesn’t recommend routine herpes screening for people without symptoms. If you specifically want a herpes test, you’ll usually need to request it separately, and it may add to your cost.
Treatment Costs if You Test Positive
A positive result doesn’t necessarily mean expensive treatment. The most common bacterial STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, are cured with antibiotics. With pharmacy discount coupons, common STD medications can be surprisingly affordable: generic azithromycin (used for chlamydia) runs around $10, and ceftriaxone (used for gonorrhea) can cost under $5 per dose.
At sliding-scale clinics, treatment with medication ranges from $0 for the lowest income group to roughly $144 at the higher end. Some public health clinics include treatment in the visit fee. San Diego County’s clinics, for example, bundle treatment into the same $40 flat fee that covers testing.
Costs rise for conditions requiring longer-term management, like HIV or chronic hepatitis, but even these have assistance programs. Most people who test positive for common STDs pay relatively little for a cure, especially when treated at a community clinic.
How to Keep Costs as Low as Possible
If you have insurance, start by asking your provider to code the tests as preventive screening rather than diagnostic. Preventive screening triggered by routine care is more likely to be covered at no cost under ACA rules. If you’re uninsured, a public health clinic or Planned Parenthood with sliding-scale pricing will almost always be cheaper than a retail lab order or urgent care visit.
At-home kits are convenient but rarely the most affordable option. They make the most sense if privacy or scheduling is your main concern and you’re willing to pay around $99 to $200 for that convenience. For pure cost savings, a county health clinic or community health center is hard to beat, with many offering full panels for $40 or less.