It is inaccurate to use the term sexually transmitted infection (STI) and sexually transmitted disease (STD) interchangeably. An STI refers to a pathogen that causes an infection in your body and may later turn into a disease, which is called an STD. An STD is a medical condition with noticeable symptoms/signs but STIs usually don’t have any clear signs, and most infections are asymptomatic. Due to this issue, health experts are urging all sexually active individuals to make STD testing a compulsory part of their annual health inspection. Learn more about STD testing in Chesapeake, Virginia.
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Overall, Virginia has a significantly high rate of HIV with a majority of cases being reported in people aged 15-19 and 25-29. As per the state health department, these age groups accounted for 49% of new HIV diagnoses in central Virginia in 2018. The second most affected population group was marginalized communities. This includes low-income families, homeless people, and drug users. Other common STIs like chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea are also dramatically increasing making regular screening compulsory for people in Chesapeake, Virginia. Here are the top free to low-cost testing facilities for you to choose from.
840 Greenbrier Circle Ste 100, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
8.67 mile
Tel: 7575474892
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2021 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
12.8 mile
Tel: 7574616068
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
810 W 21st St, Norfolk, Virginia 23517
13.39 mile
Tel: 7577991933
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Chesapeake Wellness Program: Comprehensive health services are provided for uninsured people with HIV/AIDS. Clients must meet specific eligibility guidelines. Call (757) 382-8605 for information. Please bring an ID with you for the STD Clinic.
748 N Battlefield Blvd, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
5.66 mile
Tel: (757) 382-8631
Tel: (757) 382-8617
Appointment Required: No
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.
1329 Kempsville Rd, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
8.01 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
The Regional Anonymous HIV testing program offers anonymous HIV testing at this location after hours. Please call 1-800-873-8378 for information. Fee for services beginning July 1, 2017.
1701 High St, Ste 102, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
10.85 mile
Tel: (757) 393-8585
Tel: (757) 393-8585 (ext 8740 )
Appointment Required: No
HIV testing open to the public.
1811 King St, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
10.9 mile
Tel: (757) 393-5357
Tel: (757) 393-8616
Appointment Required: Yes
Must register as a patient. Testing for clients only.
3640 High St, Ste 3B, Portsmouth, Virginia 23707
11.31 mile
Tel: (757) 397-6344
Appointment Required: Yes
Pediatric patients less than 21 years.
601 Children S Ln, Norfolk, Virginia 23508
11.72 mile
Tel: (757) 668-7238
Appointment Required: Yes
General Public and HIV+. Free condoms available.
121 College Pl, Ste 105, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
11.92 mile
Tel: (757) 627-0864
Tel: (757) 966-9613
Appointment Required: Yes
Free condoms available.
830 Southampton Ave, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
12.49 mile
Tel: (757) 683-2735
Appointment Required: No
Accept most insurance plans, please verify upon making your appointment. Services provided in partnership with LGBT Life Center.
1001 Monticello Ave, Ste 100, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
12.6 mile
Tel: (757) 346-5770
Appointment Required: Yes
Must register as a patient. Testing for clients only.
825 Fairfax Ave, Ste 118, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
12.63 mile
Tel: (757) 446-5955
Appointment Required: Yes
601 Childrens Lane, Norfolk, Virginia 23507
12.75 mile
Tel: (757) 668-7444
Appointment Required: Yes
Testing open to the general public.
248 W 24th St, Norfolk, Virginia 23517
13.37 mile
Tel: (757) 640-0929
Tel: (757) 622-8932
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 Chesapeake, Virginia. 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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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.
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 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.
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.
Yes. Certain companies offer at-home testing kits wherein you are the one that will collect the specimens necessary for the test at the comfort of your own home. Sure, it might sometimes be subject to errors due to the potential contamination of the sample from collection to transportation, but it does offer a great deal of privacy and convenience for patients who would prefer to have their identities hidden in fear that their community will judge them.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!