Guide
Urgent care STD testing: cost, results time and options
Medical review pendingWritten by the STD Test Prices editorial team using CDC sources
Many urgent care centers test for STDs, often without an appointment. What you pay and how long results take depend on the center. This guide covers what the large chains say on their own sites, the self-pay prices some centers publish, and how urgent care compares with ordering a test online.
Key points
- Many urgent care centers and retail clinics test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis, herpes and trichomoniasis, usually on a walk-in basis.
- A rapid test can give a result during the visit. Most STD results come from a lab and take a few days.
- Without insurance you usually pay a visit fee plus a fee for each test. Every center we found that publishes prices lists the two separately.
- Urgent care is worth the visit fee when you have symptoms or want treatment the same day. If you only need a test, ordering online usually costs less.
- Testing is confidential but not anonymous. Positive results for reportable infections are reported to public health wherever you test.
Does urgent care do STD testing?
Yes. Many urgent care centers test for STDs, but the tests and prices vary from center to center, so call ahead if you need a specific test.
The large chains say so on their own pages:
- CityMD offers walk-in testing for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B and C, herpes, syphilis and trichomonas.
- MinuteClinic, the clinics inside CVS stores, tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, herpes, HIV, HPV, syphilis and trichomoniasis. It sees only patients 18 and older for STI testing.
- WellNow lists an STI panel covering chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, HIV, HSV-1, HSV-2 and syphilis. Its providers can add trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis.
- NextCare and the AFC Urgent Care centers we checked also list STD testing as a walk-in service.
A visit starts with a provider asking about symptoms and your sexual history. MinuteClinic says testing may mean a blood test, a urine sample or a swab. Tell the provider which body sites were exposed. CDC advises people who have had oral or anal sex to ask about throat and rectal testing.
How long does STD testing take at urgent care?
A rapid test can give you an answer before you leave, usually within 15 to 30 minutes, but most STD results take a few days because the sample goes to a lab.
Rapid tests. CityMD offers a rapid HIV test with results in 15 minutes, and CDC says rapid HIV tests give results in 30 minutes or less. Some centers run other rapid tests too. AFC Urgent Care New Garden in Greensboro, North Carolina, lists rapid chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis tests and says rapid STD results come within 30 minutes.
Lab tests. MinuteClinic says results typically arrive in 2 to 7 days, and some lab results can take 10 days or more. WellNow says it calls with STI results within a few days. NextCare says some results are ready in minutes and others take a few days. For HIV, CDC says a lab test may take several days.
The visit. The wait depends on the center and the time of day. The chains above all take walk-ins, and WellNow lets you reserve an arrival window online.
Testing too soon after an exposure can miss an infection. Our window periods guide explains when each test can detect an infection.
How much is STD testing at urgent care without insurance?
Without insurance, you usually pay a visit fee plus a separate fee for each STD test or panel, and both vary a lot between centers.
These are the self-pay prices that the centers below publish for STD visits and tests:
Copied from each clinic's own page on the date shown. Other centers in the same chain may charge differently, and the final bill depends on the tests you get.
| Clinic | Service | What the price covers | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Urgent Care DunnDunn, NCAFC Urgent Care Dunn price list (opens in a new tab) | Office visit (self-pay) | Provider visit and in-house tests. Outside lab tests, including STI tests, cost extra. | $189 |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhea test | Outside lab fee, added to the office visit. | $62 | |
| HIV test | Outside lab fee, added to the office visit. | $50 | |
| Syphilis test (RPR) | Outside lab fee, added to the office visit. | $42 | |
| AFC Urgent Care New GardenGreensboro, NCAFC Urgent Care New Garden price list (opens in a new tab) | Office visit, new patient (self-pay) | Provider visit and in-house tests such as a urinalysis. Rapid STD tests cost extra. | $199 |
| Rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea test | Added to the office visit. The center says rapid STD results come within 30 minutes. | $150 | |
| Rapid HIV and syphilis test | Added to the office visit. | $100 | |
| AFC Urgent Care TorresdalePhiladelphia, PAAFC Urgent Care Torresdale price list (opens in a new tab) | STD physician consultation | The office visit. Tests are priced separately. | $140 |
| STD Panel II | Gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis (RPR), plus a urine test or culture as needed. Listed separately from the consultation. | $360 | |
| AFC Urgent Care SwampscottSwampscott, MAAFC Urgent Care Swampscott price list (opens in a new tab) | STD physician consultation | The consultation. Tests are priced separately. | $75 |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhea test (swab or urine) | Test fee only. | $150 | |
| HIV antigen/antibody test | Test fee only. | $60 | |
| Syphilis test (RPR) | Test fee only. | $50 | |
| WellNow Urgent CareAll centers (NY, IL, MI, IN, PA)WellNow Urgent Care price list (opens in a new tab) | Clinic visit (self-pay flat rate) | Exam and point-of-care tests. Covers an STI test done in the visit when no outside lab work is needed. | $175 |
| Send-out lab tests, such as STI panels | The most WellNow says it adds for send-out tests for self-pay patients, on top of the visit. | $200 |
AFC Urgent Care Dunn
Dunn, NC
Office visit (self-pay)
$189Provider visit and in-house tests. Outside lab tests, including STI tests, cost extra.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea test
$62Outside lab fee, added to the office visit.
HIV test
$50Outside lab fee, added to the office visit.
Syphilis test (RPR)
$42Outside lab fee, added to the office visit.
AFC Urgent Care New Garden
Greensboro, NC
Office visit, new patient (self-pay)
$199Provider visit and in-house tests such as a urinalysis. Rapid STD tests cost extra.
Rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea test
$150Added to the office visit. The center says rapid STD results come within 30 minutes.
Rapid HIV and syphilis test
$100Added to the office visit.
AFC Urgent Care Torresdale
Philadelphia, PA
STD physician consultation
$140The office visit. Tests are priced separately.
STD Panel II
$360Gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis (RPR), plus a urine test or culture as needed. Listed separately from the consultation.
AFC Urgent Care Swampscott
Swampscott, MA
STD physician consultation
$75The consultation. Tests are priced separately.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea test (swab or urine)
$150Test fee only.
HIV antigen/antibody test
$60Test fee only.
Syphilis test (RPR)
$50Test fee only.
WellNow Urgent Care
All centers (NY, IL, MI, IN, PA)
Clinic visit (self-pay flat rate)
$175Exam and point-of-care tests. Covers an STI test done in the visit when no outside lab work is needed.
Send-out lab tests, such as STI panels
$200The most WellNow says it adds for send-out tests for self-pay patients, on top of the visit.
What the lists show:
- Each AFC Urgent Care center publishes its own price list, and the lists differ, even between two centers in the same state.
- WellNow charges one flat self-pay rate for the visit, which covers point-of-care tests. Tests sent to an outside lab, such as STI panels, cost extra, up to a cap stated in its FAQ.
- CityMD says it offers uninsured rates but doesn't post them. MinuteClinic's out-of-pocket price list covers physicals and travel care, not STI testing, and its STI page offers a cost estimate instead. NextCare's STD page doesn't list prices.
Before the sample is taken, ask for the total cost of the visit and every test. If a test goes to an outside lab, ask whether the lab will bill you separately.
Urgent care, online test, home kit or free clinic?
Urgent care makes the most sense when you need a clinician. When you only need a test, ordering online usually costs less, because there's no visit fee.
Choose urgent care if you have symptoms such as a sore, discharge or pain, or you want treatment in the same visit. CDC's herpes guidance says a sore should be tested directly with a swab, which needs someone to examine you. NextCare says it can often treat on the day of the test.
Order online and visit a lab if you have no symptoms and want specific tests at a posted price. You pay the provider directly, so no insurance claim is filed.
Use a home kit if there's no lab nearby or you'd rather collect the sample yourself. Shipping adds time in both directions.
Try a free clinic if cost matters most. The section below explains how to find one, and our Planned Parenthood guide covers what its health centers charge and when testing there is free.
These are the lowest current prices we track for the same tests when you order online, by route:
The lowest current price on each route among the providers we track. Results times are what each provider states.
| Test | Cheapest offer | Price | Results time | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full panelSee all Full panel prices | Lab visitSTDcheck.comIncluded in 10 Test Panel10 tests as the provider counts themHIV test is 4th-generation antigen/antibody; also includes hepatitis A. A $6 physician fee is added per order at checkout; orders at New York labs add a 35% New York compliance fee. | $139 | 1 to 2 days | Order (opens in a new tab) |
| Home kitWispIncluded in 9-Panel STI Test9 tests as the provider counts themIncludes HSV-1 and HSV-2. HIV is an included oral rapid antibody self-test; a positive needs confirmation elsewhere. Telehealth consult included if positive; medication is paid at the pharmacy. Free shipping both ways. | $249 | 3 to 5 days | Order (opens in a new tab) | |
| Common 4See all Common 4 prices | Lab visitEverlywellIncluded in STD Screening Panel - Basic4 tests as the provider counts themSample collected at a Quest location; all fees included; results in about 1–2 days. | $119 | 1 to 2 days | Order (opens in a new tab) |
| ChlamydiaSee all Chlamydia prices | Lab visitSTDcheck.comSingle testUrine test. A $6 physician fee is added per order at checkout; orders at New York labs add a 35% New York compliance fee. | $59 | 1 to 2 days | Order (opens in a new tab) |
| Home kitEverlywellIncluded in Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test2 tests as the provider counts themUrine sample. Free shipping. | $69 | 5 to 7 days | Order (opens in a new tab) | |
| HIVSee all HIV prices | Lab visitSTDcheck.comSingle testHIV-1/2 4th-generation antigen/antibody blood test. A $6 physician fee is added per order at checkout; orders at New York labs add a 35% New York compliance fee. | $49 | 1 to 2 days | Order (opens in a new tab) |
| Home kitEverlywellSingle testOraQuick oral-swab rapid antibody test, read at home in about 20 minutes; a positive result needs a follow-up test. Free shipping. | $49 | 5 to 7 days | Order (opens in a new tab) |
Full panel
- $139
- Results time
- 1 to 2 days
- $249
- Results time
- 3 to 5 days
Common 4
- $119
- Results time
- 1 to 2 days
Chlamydia
- $59
- Results time
- 1 to 2 days
- $69
- Results time
- 5 to 7 days
HIV
- $49
- Results time
- 1 to 2 days
- $49
- Results time
- 5 to 7 days
Our route comparison goes into more detail, and our STD test cost guide shows the current price range for each test.
Finding urgent care STD testing near you
Use the chain's own location finder, then call the center to confirm it offers the test you need and to ask the self-pay price.
- MinuteClinic's clinic locator has a page for each clinic that offers STD testing.
- CityMD has locations across New York City, Long Island and upstate New York.
- WellNow has more than 150 centers in New York, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
If cost is the main concern, CDC's GetTested locator lists free and low-cost testing near you.
Free option: public clinics
Free and low-cost testing is available at health department clinics and Title X family planning clinics. CDC's GetTested site finds confidential, free or low-cost testing near you by ZIP code.
What to expect
- Clinics usually test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, and often hepatitis B and C, following CDC screening advice for your age, anatomy and the kind of sex you have.
- A clinician can examine you, swab sores and often treat you in the same visit.
- Some tests sold in private panels are usually not offered without symptoms, such as herpes blood tests and HPV tests for men, because CDC doesn't recommend them as screening tests.
- Hours can be limited, and you may wait for an appointment or a walk-in slot.
- Free testing usually isn't anonymous either (some publicly funded sites offer anonymous HIV testing). Positive results for reportable infections are reported to the health department, confidentially.
CityMD STD testing
CityMD offers walk-in STD and HIV testing at its New York locations, including a rapid HIV test with results in 15 minutes. You don't need an appointment, and it's open late and on weekends.
It tests for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B and C, herpes, syphilis and trichomonas. CityMD says many STD and HIV tests are sent to a lab and that it will help you start treatment right away if you need it. It says it offers uninsured rates but doesn't publish them, so call your center for the self-pay price of the visit and each test.
Insurance and what shows up on your record
If you use insurance at urgent care, the center bills your plan for the visit and the tests, and your insurer sends an explanation of benefits (EOB) listing the claim. The Texas Department of Insurance describes the EOB as the insurer's notice that it got a claim.
HealthCare.gov says many plans must cover certain STI screenings with no copay at an in-network provider. Whether a visit for symptoms is covered the same way depends on your plan. If you pay yourself and don't give your insurance, no claim goes to your plan.
Either way, the center keeps a medical record. Positive results for reportable infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are reported to the health department, and CDC says those reports are confidential.
Our guides on paying cash or using insurance and privacy and medical records cover the details.
Frequently asked questions
- Can urgent care treat an STD the same day?
- Often, yes. NextCare says it can start treatment on the day of the test in many cases, CityMD says it will help you start treatment right away if you need it, and WellNow says an antibiotic injection is included when needed. If your result comes from a lab a few days later, MinuteClinic says a provider reviews it with you and recommends next steps.
- Is STD testing at urgent care confidential?
- Yes. CityMD and MinuteClinic both describe their STD testing as confidential. It isn't anonymous, though. Positive results for reportable infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are reported to the health department, and CDC says those reports are confidential. If you use insurance, the visit also shows up on your explanation of benefits.
- Can I get PEP at urgent care after a possible HIV exposure?
- You can ask there. CDC names urgent care providers, along with your own provider and emergency room doctors, as people to talk to right away about PEP, which must start within 72 hours of the exposure. Not every center keeps it on hand. WellNow, for example, names one center that offers PEP, so call first or go to an emergency room.
- Do I need an appointment for STD testing at urgent care?
- Usually not. CityMD, MinuteClinic, NextCare and WellNow all take walk-ins, and some let you reserve a spot online. Call ahead if you need a specific test, because menus differ by center. MinuteClinic tests only patients 18 and older.
- Is urgent care cheaper than an online STD test?
- Usually not if you only need a test. Every urgent care price list we found charges a visit or consultation fee on top of the test fees, while online services post one price for the test with no visit. If you have symptoms or want treatment the same day, the visit is what you're paying for.