Do weekends count in STD test turnaround times?

Often not. Several providers state turnaround in business days, and the clock usually starts when the lab receives your sample. A sample given on a Friday afternoon may not be processed until the next week.

Why is my result taking longer than the provider said?

Common reasons are shipping delays for home kits, tests that take longer to run, and results that need a confirmation test. STDcheck, for example, says tests such as HIV RNA, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium may need an extra week.

Will someone call me if my result is positive?

It depends on the provider. Some arrange a call with a doctor for positive results, and some charge for it. Your state or local health department may also contact you for infections that must be reported, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.

Are rapid tests as accurate as lab tests?

They answer a little differently. CDC says a rapid finger-stick HIV test can take up to 90 days after exposure to turn positive, compared with 45 days for a lab test on blood from a vein. A positive rapid or antibody HIV test needs a follow-up test to confirm it.

Guide

How long do STD test results take?

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

Most of the wait for an STD result happens before the lab touches your sample. Once a sample arrives, many common tests are done within a few business days. What you choose decides how long the sample takes to get there: a lab visit, a mailed kit or a clinic.

Key points

A lab draw is usually the fastest paid route, because your sample is already at the lab.
Home kits add shipping time in both directions.
Turnaround claims usually start when the lab receives your sample and are often counted in business days.
Some tests take longer to run, and some positive results need a second test to confirm them.
A few tests give results in minutes, including HIV self-tests and one FDA-authorized home test for women.

Where the time goes

Every route goes through the same stages:

You order and pay online.
You give a sample, at a lab, at home or at a clinic.
The sample travels to the lab.
The lab runs the tests.
A clinician reviews the results before release, at some providers.
Results post to your account and you get an email.

Lab draw

You give the sample at a patient service center, and the lab picks it up from there. Stage 3 is short. Quest's consumer site says results are "typically available within 2-3 business days of providing your sample," and that this includes processing, testing and a clinical review.

Home kit

The kit has to reach you, and then your sample has to reach the lab. Providers count turnaround from the second delivery. LetsGetChecked says results are typically ready in about 2 to 5 days "once your sample arrives in the lab." Everlywell says results come "five to seven business days after the lab receives them." Add both shipping legs to those numbers.

Clinic

A clinic may run some rapid tests during your visit and send the rest to a lab. Ask at the front desk which tests are rapid and which are sent out.

What "results in 1 to 2 days" means

Read the fine print on any turnaround claim. A few examples from provider pages:

STDcheck: "Most test results are available within 1-2 business days after a sample is collected at the laboratory."
Rapid STD Testing: results in "your private account in 1–2 business days."
Priority STD Testing: results "typically process just 24-72 hours after visiting the collection facility."
Labcorp OnDemand: "1-4 days from when your samples arrive at our lab."

Three details change the real wait:

The clock starts at the lab. Ordering on Sunday night and giving a sample on Tuesday morning means the count starts Tuesday.
Business days. A Friday sample may not be processed until Monday.
"Most" results. The headline time covers common tests. Others can take longer.

The Results time column in our tables shows each provider's own stated range. Use it as a typical case, not a promise.

Why some tests take longer

Tests that take longer to run

STDcheck says HIV RNA, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium tests "may require an additional week to process." Priority STD Testing says early detection tests can take up to 5 business days. If speed matters, check the turnaround for each test you add to your order.

Results that need a second test

Some positive results are confirmed with another test before anyone can say what they mean. CDC guidance builds this in:

HIV. A positive antibody test needs a follow-up test to confirm it.
Syphilis. Diagnosis takes two different kinds of blood test.
Herpes. Low positive results on the most common HSV-2 blood test, between 1.1 and 3.0, need a second test.
Hepatitis C. A positive antibody test is followed by an RNA test to check for current infection.

If your result needs a confirmation test, the final answer takes longer than the headline turnaround.

Results in minutes

A few tests skip the lab entirely:

HIV self-tests. CDC says you can get results within 20 minutes. Most are antibody tests, so they can take up to 90 days after exposure to turn positive, and a positive result needs a follow-up test.
A home test for women. In 2025 the FDA authorized the first test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis that is done entirely at home. The FDA says it gives results in about 30 minutes.
Clinic rapid tests. CDC says rapid HIV tests give results in 30 minutes or less.

How to get results sooner

Choose a lab draw if a patient service center is near you.
Give your sample early in the week.
Check the turnaround for each test you add, not just the panel's headline time.
Test after the window period, so you don't need a repeat test. See our window periods guide.

When your results arrive

Results post to your online account, and you usually get an email when they're ready. If a result is positive, some providers arrange a call with a doctor, and some charge for it. See what to do after a positive result.

Positive results for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are also reported to public health. Our privacy guide explains what that means.

Frequently asked questions

Do weekends count in STD test turnaround times?: Often not. Several providers state turnaround in business days, and the clock usually starts when the lab receives your sample. A sample given on a Friday afternoon may not be processed until the next week.
Why is my result taking longer than the provider said?: Common reasons are shipping delays for home kits, tests that take longer to run, and results that need a confirmation test. STDcheck, for example, says tests such as HIV RNA, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium may need an extra week.
Will someone call me if my result is positive?: It depends on the provider. Some arrange a call with a doctor for positive results, and some charge for it. Your state or local health department may also contact you for infections that must be reported, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
Are rapid tests as accurate as lab tests?: They answer a little differently. CDC says a rapid finger-stick HIV test can take up to 90 days after exposure to turn positive, compared with 45 days for a lab test on blood from a vein. A positive rapid or antibody HIV test needs a follow-up test to confirm it.