Every sexually active individual, whether young or old, irrespective of their religion, race, and ethnicity, should think about getting tested for STDs annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting rid of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) like chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhea, and syphilis may become impossible unless you get tested. The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of contracting an STD. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis are the most common STDs in Philadelphia. Annual HIV/STD screening is recommended, including pregnant women.
Board Approved
Medically reviewed by one or more members of the editorial boardDiscover Nearby Options
In Pennsylvania, chlamydia is the most common STD, with 59,340 infections reported in 2018. Syphilis and gonorrhea are also on the rise statewide. According to the CDC, Pennsylvania reported 2,414 syphilis and 15,887 gonorrhea cases in 2018. Health experts claim that in Pennsylvania, particularly Philadelphia, STD cases are increasing because of the city's high poverty rate and a general spike in unprotected sex. Philadelphians must keep track of their sexual health by making STD/HIV testing a mandatory part of their annual health checkup. Here are the most affordable STD testing centers in Philadelphia.
400 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19133
0.6 mile
Tel: 2154262626
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
4201 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
1.03 mile
Tel: 2154755111
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
3400 Aramingo Ave, Ste 4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19134
2.02 mile
Tel: 2672730237
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Need to register as a patient.
401 W Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19133
0.57 mile
Tel: (215) 291-2500
Tel: (215) 291-2587
Appointment Required: Yes
3401 N Broad St, 8 Fl Zone B, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
0.9 mile
Tel: (215) 707-3232
Appointment Required: Yes
Congreso’s Esfuerzo Program provides HIV/AIDS prevention, education and medical case management. The Prevention and Education Unit provides HIV testing onsite and throughout Philadelphia via a mobile van. Free condoms and safer sex kits available. For those Persons Living with HIV/AIDS that are...
216 W Somerset St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19133
1.03 mile
Tel: (215) 763-8870
Appointment Required: Yes
2913-15 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19134
1.29 mile
Tel: (215) 634-5272
Tel: (215) 634-5271
Appointment Required: Yes
Must be 18 years of age or older. Need to enroll as patient.
861 E Allegheny Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19134
1.32 mile
Tel: (215) 302-3600
Appointment Required: Yes
1999 W Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
1.49 mile
Tel: (215) 228-9300
Tel: (888) 296-4742
Appointment Required: Yes
2532 N Broad St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132
1.57 mile
Tel: (215) 226-7860
Appointment Required: No
149 Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
1.66 mile
Tel: (267) 457-3912
Appointment Required: Yes
Teens ages 14 and older can get HIV testing without their parent's consent. Medical care available for HIV + women, infants, children and youth up to 24. Assistance provided for people newly diagnosed with HIV (Link to Care Project). We can help clients choose an HIV Care site best for them...
160 E Erie Ave, Nelson Pavilion 1st Fl S Immunology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19134
1.82 mile
Tel: (215) 427-5284
Tel: (215) 427-5000
Appointment Required: No
Rapid HIV Testing; Prevention and PrEP; Ryan White Clinic; Primary and Specialty HIV clinic; Community Outreach. Free condom distribution....
5501 Old York Rd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141
2.06 mile
Tel: (215) 456-3465
Tel: (215) 208-0137
Tel: (267) 785-0892
Appointment Required: Yes
4700 Wissahickon Ave, Bldg D, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144
2.15 mile
Tel: (215) 843-9720
Appointment Required: Yes
General Public. Free services for uninsured.
3801 Filbert St, Ste 103B, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
2.17 mile
Tel: (215) 662-9908
Tel: (800) 789-7366
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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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.
Test Advisor
Know all about STD testing options, and the costs of different STD tests.
Select a city below to see more local STD testing options
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.
Depending on the test being performed and the testing physician's targeted diseases, various types of samples can be requested from you. In some instances, a minuscule blood sample of a few milliliters will be collected, some might ask for a urine sample, and others may opt for a genital swab. Again, the sample being collected will depend on the test being conducted and the outcome that is being targeted for this particular procedure.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
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.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!