Medical review

Pages about tests, window periods, results and treatment contain medical information. This page explains how we write and check them.

Medical review is pending

We are appointing a licensed clinician to review our medical content. Until that person is in place, medical pages show "Medical review pending" next to the date the page was last updated. We won't name a reviewer who hasn't reviewed the page, and we don't use stock credentials.

In the meantime, every medical statement on the site links to a primary source, so you can check it yourself.

How medical pages are written

The STD Test Prices editorial team writes each page from primary sources:

• CDC's Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, screening recommendations and consumer pages.
• HIV.gov and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
• The FDA, for authorizations of tests.

We don't use statistics we can't source, and we leave out claims we can't check. The sources for each page are listed at the bottom of the page.

What a reviewer checks

When a reviewer is appointed, they will check each medical page for:

• Accuracy against current CDC and other primary guidance.
• Window periods, retesting advice and test descriptions.
• Clear advice on when to see a clinician instead of ordering a test.
• Tone: calm and plain, with no fear-based wording.

Reviewers don't set prices or rankings, and they don't choose which providers we include.

What you'll see on a reviewed page

A reviewed page shows the reviewer's name, credentials and the date of the review. If guidance changes later, we update the page and it goes back for review.

Not medical advice

Our content explains public health guidance in plain language. It is not medical advice and doesn't replace a clinician who knows your history. If you have symptoms, see a clinician. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, go to an urgent care, emergency room or your doctor now and ask about PEP.

To report a medical error, see corrections.