Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) could be life-threatening if you ignore the symptoms or have not made STD testing a mandatory part of your routine health checkup. Once diagnosed, common STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics. However, the first step towards a healthy, STD-free life is testing. It could be a lifesaver for you and your partner. The CDC recommends all sexually active individuals, women aged 25 or below, people having multiple sex partners, and gays/bisexuals must undergo STD screening twice a year.
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Like the rest of California, Santa Barbara has some of the nation’s highest STD prevalence rates. Between 2011 and 2020, chlamydia remained the most prevalent STD in Santa Barbara County, followed by early syphilis and gonorrhea. From 2011 to 2018, gonorrhea rates increased five times, from 96 to 484 cases, whereas early syphilis cases increased four times, from 22 to 91 cases between 2013 and 2019. since 2016, Santa Barbara County’s gonorrhea rate has increased by 60% and syphilis by 84%. This makes STD testing essential for all residents of Santa Barbara, California.
3905 State St, Ste 9, Santa Barbara, California 93105
1.96 mile
Tel: 8055634328
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
5360B Hollister Ave Ste B, Goleta, California 93111
5.22 mile
Tel: 8059676424
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1320 Maricopa Highway Suite H, Ojai, California 93023
25.96 mile
Tel: 8056465695
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
Free HIV testing open to the general public. HIV & Hep C testing free to high risk individuals; a donation is recommended for non high risks. STI's need a Dr. appt. and there is a fee for it, call for more info. Llámanos para más información...
628 W Micheltorena St, Santa Barbara, California 93101
0.69 mile
Tel: (844) 594-0343
Tel: (805) 962-4771
Tel: (805) 963-1546
Appointment Required: Yes
Free HIV testing open to the general public. HIV & Hep C testing free to high risk individuals; a donation is recommended for non high risks. STI's need a Dr. appt. and there is a fee for it, call for more info. Llámanos para más información...
915 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, California 93103
1.67 mile
Tel: (844) 594-0343
Tel: (805) 962-6616
Tel: (805) 963-1641
Appointment Required: Yes
518 Garden St, Santa Barbara, California 93101
1.69 mile
Tel: (888) 898-3806
Tel: (805) 963-6722
Appointment Required: Yes
Everyone is eligible and welcome for services at AIH&S. Eligibility for services funded by the Indian Health program is determined by the federal Indian Health Services.
4141 State St, Ste B2, Santa Barbara, California 93110
2.47 mile
Tel: (805) 681-7144
Appointment Required: Yes
1136 E Montecito St, Santa Barbara, California 93103
2.87 mile
Tel: (805) 568-2099
Appointment Required: Yes
608 Anacapa St, Ste A, Santa Barbara, California 93101
2.87 mile
Tel: (805) 963-3636
Appointment Required: Yes
345 Camino del Remedio, Santa Barbara, California 93110
2.87 mile
Tel: (805) 681-5488
Appointment Required: Yes
Free HIV testing open to the general public. HIV & Hep C testing free to high risk individuals; a donation is recommended for non high risks. STI's need a Dr. appt. and there is a fee for it, call for more info. Llámanos para más información...
5580 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, California 93111
2.87 mile
Tel: (844) 594-0343
Tel: (805) 617-7780
Tel: (805) 963-1641
Appointment Required: Yes
HIV and Hepatitis C testing available for free for persons 13 years of age and older. Free HIV testing open to the general public. HIV & Hep C testing free to high risk individuals; a donation is recommended for non high risks. STI's need a Dr. appt. and there is a fee for it, call for...
970 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista, California 93117
7.85 mile
Tel: (844) 594-0343
Tel: (805) 968-7041
Tel: (805) 968-1511
Appointment Required: Yes
931 Walnut Ave, Carpinteria, California 93013
12.22 mile
Tel: (805) 560-1050
Appointment Required: Yes
655 N Ventura Ave, Oak View, California 93022
24.06 mile
Tel: (805) 652-6353
Appointment Required: Yes
90 Via Juana Ln, Santa Ynez, California 93460
24.96 mile
Tel: (805) 688-7070
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 Santa Barbara, 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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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 is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
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.
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.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!