The rates of common, notifiable diseases, including chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, are rising in the US. In 2019, the national gonorrhea rates reached an all-time high with 188.4 cases/100k people. Syphilis rates followed a similar trend, with most cases reported in men aged 25-29. 40% of all syphilis cases were diagnosed in MSM. Nationally, chlamydia cases are still higher than other STDs, with 533 cases/100k people in 2019. Please get tested to protect your sexual health. Learn more about STD testing in Birmingham, Alabama.
Board Approved
Medically reviewed by one or more members of the editorial boardExplore Nearby Options
In 2019, Alabama witnessed its highest year-on-year rise in STDs, particularly in the Black Belt area, where each of the six counties reported at least fifteen cases per 1000 residents (including Wilcox, Greene, Hale, Montgomery, Macon, and Sumter). Conversely, HIV cases declined statewide, with 638 diagnoses in 2019 compared to 682 in 2010. Between 2010-2019, Alabama noted a 33% spike in STDs, with 47,000 overall cases in 2019. Although STD testing is widely accessible in Birmingham, Alabama, people are still unaware of the growing need for undergoing STD screening. Find your nearest STD/HIV testing clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
790 Montclair Rd,suite 120, Birmingham, Alabama 35213
2.97 mile
Tel: 2055813711
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1400 6th Ave S, Specialty Clinic - Lower Level, Birmingham, Alabama 35233
0.25 mile
Tel: (205) 588-5234
Tel: (205) 933-9110
Appointment Required: Yes
5511 US-280, Ste 233, Birmingham, Alabama 35242
0.25 mile
Tel: (205) 774-0309
Appointment Required: Yes
3220 5th Ave S, Birmingham, Alabama 35222
0.25 mile
Tel: (205) 934-1917
Appointment Required: Yes
712 25th St N, Birmingham, Alabama 35203
0.25 mile
Tel: (205) 407-6900
Tel: (205) 439-7248
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 Birmingham, Alabama. 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.
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.
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 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.
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!