Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been an issue of concern for American authorities for decades because STIs can impact any sexually active individual. Testing is the only way to prevent the spread of the infection, or else you may encounter severe health consequences. If common STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis is left untreated, they can cause infertility. The infection can even spread to your partner. Houston has proven a pioneer in STD testing. From mobile units to citywide free and low-cost testing facilities, there's an option for everyone. Learn more about the best STD testing in Houston.
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In 2019 Texas had the highest new STD diagnosis rates, with 129,000 new chlamydia cases and the highest number of congenital syphilis cases per capita in the country. Harris County became the hotspot for common STDs, reporting over 20,000 chlamydia, 2,800 syphilis, and 8,000 gonorrhea cases, revealed the Texas Department of State Health Services 2017 surveillance data. It is, therefore, essential that Houston residents remain fully aware of their sexual health status. Check out the best STD testing centers in Houston, Texas.
1431 Studemont St, Houston, Texas 77007
0.84 mile
Tel: 2817407989
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
427 W 20th St Ste 504, Houston, Texas 77008
1.58 mile
Tel: 7138697206
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1631 North Loop W, Ste 170, Houston, Texas 77008
3.05 mile
Tel: 2817405945
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
No eligibility requirements for HIV testing. Please call to verify testing schedule before you make a trip to any Harris Health testing site. Must be diagnosed with HIV to access HIV primary care services.
2015 Thomas St, Houston, Texas 77009
1.53 mile
Tel: (713) 873-4000
Appointment Required: Yes
Foundation provides assistance with housing, food, and applying for benefits like SNAP, TANF, & Medicaid. PrEP & PEP education also offered. AFH offers PrEP for uninsured at low to no cost. HIV treatment patient navigation. Community-based HIV/STD testing with our mobile van. Summer camp...
6260 Westpark Dr, Ste 100, Houston, Texas 77057
1.66 mile
Tel: (713) 623-6796
Tel: (713) 623-4029
Appointment Required: Yes
14095 S Main St, Houston, Texas 77035
1.66 mile
Tel: (832) 830-8345
Appointment Required: Yes
Sliding fee scale is based on income and household size.
3000 Aldine Mail Rte Rd, Bldg C Ste 200, Houston, Texas 77039
1.66 mile
Tel: (713) 773-0803
Appointment Required: Yes
8504 Schuller St, Houston, Texas 77093
1.66 mile
Tel: (832) 395-9100
Tel: (832) 395-9800
Tel: (832) 393-5427
Appointment Required: Yes
Please visit the website or call for eligibility requirements. STD testing, HIV PrEP and PEP for patients 18+. Trichomoniasis testing available as part of STD testing services.
9101 Hwy 6 N, Houston, Texas 77095
1.66 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
An eligibility appointment is very important in order to assess whether or not you qualify for various programs and/or financial aid from the government. To make an appointment online, visit https://www.legacycommunityhealth.org/contact-us/. Some services, such as HIV and pregnancy testing, are...
5598-A1 North Frwy, Northtown Plaza, Houston, Texas 77076
1.66 mile
Tel: (281) 628-2030
Tel: (832) 548-5221
Appointment Required: Yes
An eligibility appointment is very important in order to assess whether or not you qualify for various programs and/or financial aid from the government. To make an appointment online, visit https://www.legacycommunityhealth.org/contact-us/. Some services, such as HIV and pregnancy testing, are...
5616 Lawndale St, Ste A108, Houston, Texas 77023
1.66 mile
Tel: (713) 921-0075
Tel: (832) 548-5221
Appointment Required: Yes
Please visit the website or call for eligibility requirements. STD testing, HIV PrEP and PEP for patients 18+. Trichomoniasis testing available as part of STD testing services.
5402 Westheimer Rd Ste K, Houston, Texas 77056
1.66 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
Care provided to anyone, regardless of income, residency status, employment, health insurance coverage or ability to pay for services.
4849 Calhoun Rd, Health Bldg 2 Ste 1001A, Houston, Texas 77204
1.66 mile
Tel: (346) 348-1200
Tel: (713) 481-1730
Appointment Required: Yes
7035 W Tidwell Rd, Ste J109b, Houston, Texas 77092
1.66 mile
Tel: (832) 791-3295
Appointment Required: Yes
New clients, please bring a drivers license or other photo ID.
9919 N Freeway Service Rd, Ste 107, Houston, Texas 77037
1.66 mile
Tel: (713) 514-1106
Tel: (404) 494-7435
Appointment Required: Yes
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Houston, Texas. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
This is one of the most popular ways to get tested for STDs today. These tests combine the best of both worlds for convenience and accuracy. You will order the test online at home, but you can walk into a professional lab testing center to get tested.
Another option is to simply visit your regular clinic and talk to your doctor.
If you do not want to visit a testing center, then a great alternative is an at-home test kit. You don’t even need to leave your house to get tested for STDs this way, which makes it the most discreet option. Everything is done through email and snail mail.
One last option for STD testing is a trip to a free clinic. If you go to a public STD-testing clinic, then you may get a free or discounted test, depending on your financial situation.
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
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It would vary depending on the condition that is being tested. STDs behave differently due to the varying pathogenicity of each STD’s causative organism. In some instances, you can get accurately tested as early as two weeks following exposure, while some are intermittently inaccurate due to its recurrence (much like in the case of herpes infections). To avoid this, be sure to discuss the intricacies of the test with your physician to understand whether a particular test could provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or if it still needs another confirmatory test to establish its premise.
Similar to what was previously mentioned, herpes infections are known for their recurring tendencies – causing outbreaks now and then and thus causing an intermittent spike in the patient’s viral load for specific instances. In addition to that, other STDs also take time to proliferate and produce a sufficient viral load that could warrant a positive and, more importantly, accurate diagnosis and detection from the tests being administered. As such, detecting an STD a few days following exposure is often complex and unpredictable – leading physicians to follow a certain timeframe instead for testing STDs instead of blindly testing immediately following exposure. Physical exams, however, may supplement inaccurate laboratory diagnoses, especially in cases where the test is prone to false results.
Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!