Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are constantly rising in the post-pandemic USA. The CDC reported 2.5 million newly acquired infections in 2021, up from 2.4 million in 2020. People at the highest risk of catching an STI are young adults aged 15-24, gays, bisexuals, MSM, and every sexually active individual. If you ignore an STD, it can develop into a life-threatening ailment, e.g., cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease, or may cause infertility and organ failure. Texas is among those US states with an already high incidence of STDs. Therefore, El Paso, Texas, residents must prioritize STD testing.
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According to the El Paso Public Health Department, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are rapidly rising in the area. Between Jan and Aug 2021, the department reported 2,854 chlamydia cases in El Paso, around 146 cases more than the same time in 2020. Regarding gonorrhea, El Paso noted 878 cases and 263 syphilis cases. Their incidence rate was 261 and 133, respectively, in 2020. Between 2010 and 2018, STD numbers jumped 30%, prompting a dire need to get screened for STIs. Find your nearest low-cost to free testing centers in El Paso, Texas.
9428 Dyer St, El Paso, Texas 79924
2.12 mile
Tel: 9157574950
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
901 Ascencion St, El Paso, Texas 79928
3.97 mile
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to enroll as a patient.
4875 Maxwell Ave, El Paso, Texas 79904
3.97 mile
Tel: (915) 757-0038
Appointment Required: Yes
Payments are based on family income; no one is refused service for inability to pay. Need to enroll as a patient.
3612 Pera Ave, El Paso, Texas 79905
3.97 mile
Tel: (915) 533-7158
Appointment Required: Yes
Please register as a patient to receive services. Appointment needed.
4824 Alberta Ave, Ste 403, El Paso, Texas 79905
3.97 mile
Tel: (915) 532-5454
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 El Paso, Texas. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
Testing Method | Waiting Times | Speed of Results | Positive Consultation |
---|---|---|---|
Private Testing (Walk-In Clinic) | 10-20 Minutes with No Wait | 24-72 Hours | Free With Positive Result |
At-Home STD Testing | No Wait | 5-11 Days | Free With Positive Result |
Doctor Visit with Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Co-Pay Required |
Doctor Visit without Insurance | Call for Appointment | 7-10 Days | Out-of-Pocket Cost Required |
Public Clinic | Limited Hours and Long Lines | 7-14 Days | No |
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test Advisor
Get informed about the different STD testing options and the prices for each test.
How Does it Work?
Most people experience feelings of hesitation when going to get tested for STD, despite knowing they might have contracted one. EasySTD was created to change that.
Visit your nearest lab or clinic, order your home testing kit online, and follow the given instructions from an STD testing provider.
After ordering your STD test, visit the testing center to get tested or take a self sample including urine, cotton swab, or finger prick with the home testing kit and mail it back.
Receive the lab-certified results of your STD test from your test provider via mail or phone within 2 to 3 days. If the test comes positive, consult your doctor immediately.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!