Is free STD testing confidential?

Yes. CDC describes the clinics in its GetTested locator as offering confidential testing, and federal Title X rules say services are confidential. Like private tests, positive results for reportable infections are still reported to the health department, and those reports are confidential too.

Can I get tested without my parents knowing?

At a Title X family planning clinic, federal rules say the clinic may not require a parent's consent for services to minors and may not notify a parent. Fees for minors who want confidential services are based on their own income. Rules at other clinics depend on state law, so ask when you call.

Do free clinics test for herpes?

Often not without symptoms. CDC says herpes blood tests are not recommended to screen the general population, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening. If you have a sore, a clinic can swab it, which is the better test.

Is free STD testing anonymous?

Usually not. At most clinics you give your name, and positive results for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are reported to public health the same way they are for private tests. Those reports are confidential. HIV can be the exception: CDC has reported that in many states, publicly funded testing sites offer anonymous HIV testing, where you don't give your name. It depends on your state and the clinic, so ask when you call.

Guide

Free and low-cost STD testing: where to find it

Medical review pendingWritten by the STD Test Prices editorial team using CDC sourcesLast updated Oct 30, 2026

This site compares paid tests, but paying isn't the only option. Free and low-cost clinics test for the most common infections, and Title X clinics offer treatment as well as testing. They aren't right for everyone. Here is how to find them and what to expect.

Key points

CDC's GetTested locator finds free, low-cost and confidential testing by ZIP code.
Title X family planning clinics offer STI testing on a sliding fee scale. Clients with low incomes may pay nothing.
Clinics usually choose tests using CDC's screening recommendations, so some tests sold in private panels aren't offered without symptoms.
The trade-offs are time and choice: appointments or walk-in waits, set hours, and a test menu chosen with a clinician.
Free testing usually isn't anonymous, and the same public health reporting rules apply. Some publicly funded sites offer anonymous HIV testing; ask when you call.

Where to look

CDC GetTested

GetTested is CDC's locator for HIV, STI and viral hepatitis testing. You enter a ZIP code and it lists places nearby. CDC says "there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing," and that the site can also point you to self-collection options.

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.

Find free testing near you More about free testing

Title X family planning clinics

Title X is a federal program for family planning and related preventive care. HHS lists "sexually transmitted infection (STI) services" among the services, and describes STI and HIV "counseling, testing, and treatment" as a feature of these clinics.

What makes Title X useful for testing:

Cost. HHS says services are "provided regardless of one's ability to pay." Federal rules say there is no charge for clients from low-income families, defined as income at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Clients with higher incomes pay on a sliding scale, up to the full fee.
Confidentiality. HHS says Title X services are confidential.
Minors. Federal rules say Title X projects may not require a parent's consent for services to minors and may not notify a parent or guardian. Fees for minors who want confidential services are based on the minor's own income.

HHS runs a Title X clinic locator (opens in a new tab) that searches by location.

Your health plan

If you have insurance, some screenings may cost nothing at an in-network clinic. HealthCare.gov lists HIV, hepatitis C and some syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea screening among preventive services covered without a copay. Our cash vs insurance guide explains the details.

What free clinics usually test for

Clinics usually follow CDC's screening recommendations, so the tests offered depend on your age, anatomy and the kind of sex you have. Expect a few questions about your sexual history. The answers decide which tests make sense and which body sites to swab.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are at the center of those recommendations. Hepatitis B and C may be offered too, since CDC recommends testing all adults for both at least once.

Some tests that private panels sell may not be offered without symptoms. CDC's guidance explains why:

Herpes blood tests. CDC says HSV-2 blood screening of the general population is not recommended, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening. If you have a sore, a clinic can swab it.
HPV tests for men. CDC says HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, and there is no test for a person's general HPV status.
Mycoplasma genitalium. CDC says screening people without symptoms is not recommended.

If you want a test the clinic won't do, a private test is a reasonable add-on. Our full panel guide explains when those tests help.

The honest trade-offs

What free clinics do well. They cost little or nothing. A clinician can examine you, test the right site and often treat you in the same visit. Ask about partner treatment too. CDC supports expedited partner therapy, where a clinician gives you medicine or a prescription for a partner with chlamydia or gonorrhea.

What they do less well. Hours are limited, and you may need an appointment or wait for a walk-in slot. You don't choose the exact test menu.

What doesn't change. Positive results for reportable infections are reported to public health whether the test was free or paid. CDC says those reports are confidential.

When a private test may suit you better

You want results within a few days and a lab is closer than a clinic with open slots.
You want specific tests, such as an HIV test with a short window period, on a schedule you choose.
Clinic hours don't fit your work or family schedule.
You'd rather not discuss your history in person.

Our comparison table shows current prices and turnaround times for every provider we track.

Tips for a clinic visit

Check the clinic's website or call ahead for walk-in hours.
Tell the clinician which body sites were exposed, including throat and rectum.
Ask how and when you'll get results.
If a result is positive, ask about partner treatment and when to retest. CDC recommends a new test about 3 months after treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Frequently asked questions

Is free STD testing confidential?: Yes. CDC describes the clinics in its GetTested locator as offering confidential testing, and federal Title X rules say services are confidential. Like private tests, positive results for reportable infections are still reported to the health department, and those reports are confidential too.
Can I get tested without my parents knowing?: At a Title X family planning clinic, federal rules say the clinic may not require a parent's consent for services to minors and may not notify a parent. Fees for minors who want confidential services are based on their own income. Rules at other clinics depend on state law, so ask when you call.
Do free clinics test for herpes?: Often not without symptoms. CDC says herpes blood tests are not recommended to screen the general population, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening. If you have a sore, a clinic can swab it, which is the better test.
Is free STD testing anonymous?: Usually not. At most clinics you give your name, and positive results for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are reported to public health the same way they are for private tests. Those reports are confidential. HIV can be the exception: CDC has reported that in many states, publicly funded testing sites offer anonymous HIV testing, where you don't give your name. It depends on your state and the clinic, so ask when you call.