Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) enter your body via sexual intercourse of any form (anal, oral, and vaginal). Hence, every sexually active individual is at risk of contracting an STI, even those who practice safe sex and avoid unprotected sex. STIs are transmitted through intercourse, skin-to-skin contact, kissing and touching too. The most common STIs in America include HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus/HPV. If your partner has been diagnosed with an STI/STD previously, your chances of getting infected are higher. Avoid the risk by getting tested for STDs annually. Learn more about STD/HIV testing in Oakland, California.
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STD rates have reached record-high levels in California in the past two years, and Oakland mirrors the state trend. According to 2020 STD surveillance data, Oakland was 72 on the list of US cities with the highest STD cases. Alameda County has recorded the state's highest chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis rates since 2013, whereas, in the HIV infection rate, it has reported 200 to 300 cases per year since 2006. Testing is fundamental to ensuring the optimum sexual health of Californians living in Oakland. Find your nearest testing facility here.
2412a Central Ave, Alameda, California 94501
2.32 mile
Tel: 5108640543
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
7200 Bancroft Ave Ste 268, Oakland, California 94605
2.68 mile
Tel: 5105692050
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2111 Whitehall Place, Suite D, Alameda, California 94501
2.96 mile
Tel: 5103370506
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1531 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, California 94601
0.9 mile
Tel: (510) 535-4211
Tel: (510) 535-6413
Appointment Required: Yes
Youth up to age 23.
1515 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, California 94601
0.91 mile
Tel: (510) 535-6300
Appointment Required: Yes
3124 International Blvd, 4th Fl, Oakland, California 94601
1 mile
Tel: (510) 434-5421
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient in order to receive services. You may register by phone appointment.
1030 International Blvd, Oakland, California 94606
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 238-5400
Appointment Required: Yes
Veteran eligibility required.
2221 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, California 94612
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 267-7800
Appointment Required: Yes
Physical Health Services in partnership with Children’s Hospital Oakland. Provides both medical services and free condoms - do not need to get medical services to receive free condoms.
8711 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California 94605
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 777-9909
Appointment Required: Yes
7450 International Blvd, Oakland, California 94621
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 835-9610
Appointment Required: Yes
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Fees for services are based on your household income.
1682 7th St, Oakland, California 94607
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 300-3800
Tel: (510) 433-8793
Appointment Required: No
No appointment necessary for PrEP Consultation, simply call or text 415-314-9987.
10700 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California 94605
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 981-4100
Tel: (415) 314-9987
Appointment Required: Yes
616 16th St, Oakland, California 94612
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 981-4100
Tel: (415) 314-9987
Appointment Required: Yes
Young people 24 and under
8711 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California 94605
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 428-3556
Appointment Required: Yes
1411 E 31st St, K Bldg 7th Fl, Oakland, California 94602
1.08 mile
Tel: (510) 437-4373
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 Oakland, California. 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.
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.
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.
It does vary on a case-to-case basis. Insurance policies are often particular with the instances that they would be covering with their program. Some may cover severe accidents, some may even consider “orphan disease,” and yes, some may also cover the expenses for performing STD diagnostic tests. However, considering that your insurance provider will have to verify the person's identity availing of the program, STD testing laboratories that employ a minimal collection of patient information may not accept insurance policies to prioritize privacy over affordability.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!