Editorial guidelines
How we rank, research & review
EasySTD does two things: we list local STD-testing clinics and labs on every city page, and we review national at-home and lab testing services. Here's exactly how each is ranked, where our data comes from, and why our affiliate links never tip the scales.
City pages
Ranking clinics & sourcing data
Every city page lists the testing centers near you plus the local STI, demographic and community-health context. Here's how that's ordered and sourced.
We follow strict sourcing standards, government health agencies, peer-reviewed research and recognized medical associations, and every city page lists its exact citations in that page's Sources block.
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How we rank clinics
Vetted partner labs, always clearly marked Sponsored, are pinned at the top because they fund the site. Every other center is listed free of charge and ordered by proximity, then by verified review score. We never hide or down-rank a free public clinic or health department.
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Where our data comes from
Clinic details come from official provider directories (CDC NPIN, HRSA, CMS, NPPES). STI rates, demographics, walkability and community-health figures come from the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, County Health Rankings and HRSA, each one cited in the Sources block on every page. We store what these sources publish and don't re-estimate their numbers.
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Affiliate disclosure
EasySTD may earn a commission when you book through a partner lab, at no extra cost to you. That never changes which free or public options we show, or the order we show them in, free and community clinics are ranked purely on proximity and review score.
Service reviews
How we score testing services
We've reviewed 25 national at-home and lab testing services, each scored out of 5 across seven categories, then a weighted overall rating. Accuracy and privacy carry the most weight, they matter most when the result is this personal.
| Category | What we check | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Are samples run through CLIA-certified (and ideally CAP-accredited) labs using the same assays clinics use? A result you can't trust is worthless. | Highest |
| Privacy & security | Self-pay vs. insurance trail, discreet billing, HIPAA compliance, and data-sharing history. We surface known breaches and pixel-tracking incidents. | Highest |
| Speed | How fast you get results end to end: same-day lab collection vs. mailing a kit, and the lab's turnaround once it has your sample. | Standard |
| Coverage & access | How easy it is to actually get tested: lab footprint, at-home availability, states served, and whether you need an appointment. | Standard |
| Panel breadth | What's screened and what's missing. We flag gaps (e.g. no HIV, no trichomoniasis, herpes only one strain) so there are no surprises. | Standard |
| Value | Real out-of-pocket cost for the panel most people need, including hidden fees like positive-result consults, not just the headline price. | Standard |
| Support & care | What happens after a result: clinician access, whether treatment or a prescription is included, and the quality of support (we read real Trustpilot and BBB complaints). | Standard |
The overall rating is a weighted blend of these seven, not a simple average, so a service can't paper over weak accuracy or privacy with a low price.
Our promises
How we keep it honest
Four commitments that hold whether or not a link earns us anything.
We research from primary and independent sources
Reviews are built from each provider's official pricing and product pages plus independent sources, Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, regulatory filings and clinical guidance, never the company's marketing copy.
Affiliates never change a rating or ranking
EasySTD earns a commission from some services and partner labs if you buy or book through our links, at no extra cost to you. That relationship never changes a score, a con we list, the ranking, or which free/public options we surface. Every affiliate link is disclosed.
We show the cons, not just the wins
Every review lists the genuine downsides, fee transparency, slow turnaround, mixed reviews, data incidents, because the catches are what people actually need to know.
We verify prices and date everything
Prices change, so we confirm them against official sources and date each page. Where a price can't be verified, we say so and use ranges rather than guess.
Accountability
Who maintains this
These guidelines are owned by our editorial team and enforced on every page. Medical claims, detection windows, what each test detects, when to retest, are checked against current CDC screening guidance by our medical review board.
Maintained & enforced by
Reviewed by EasySTD Editorial Team
Compiled and checked by EasySTD's editorial team against CDC and public-health sources. This is educational information, not a substitute for advice from a licensed clinician.
This is educational information, not a substitute for advice from a licensed clinician.