STD (sexually transmitted diseases) testing offers immense peace of mind to you as you can easily confirm if you are infected. Untreated STDs, particularly HIV, can have life-threatening health outcomes. Testing is the only method to get confirmation about the infection. It is beneficial to undergo STD testing regularly as it protects your partner’s health and prevents the development and spread of the disease. Moreover, early and effective treatment is also possible with early intervention. Learn about free or low-cost STD testing in Tacoma, Washington.
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Washington’s overall chlamydia rate was 31,423 cases in 2020 at 390.8 cases per 100k residents, whereas its gonorrhea rate was 11,580 at 142.9 cases per 100k residents. The third most prevalent STD in 2020 was syphilis, as 1,488 cases were reported that year at a rate of 19.2 cases per 100k people. Congenital syphilis also rose considerably in post-pandemic Washington, as ten babies were diagnosed in 2020.
Given the consistent year-on-year rise in STD rates, you should make STD testing a priority. Find your nearest testing facility in Tacoma, Washington, here.
1608 South J St, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.3 mile
Tel: 2532722139
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1802 South Yakima Ave, Ste 101, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.33 mile
Tel: 2532722583
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1708 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.35 mile
Tel: 2532720481
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, proof of residence. Fees for services are based on your household income.
1515 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.34 mile
Tel: (800) 769-0045
Tel: (206) 788-8339
Appointment Required: No
1401 Martin Luther King Way, Ste A, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.41 mile
Tel: (800) 572-4223
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
1202 Martin Luther King Jr Way, 3rd Fl, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.53 mile
Tel: (253) 441-4742
Tel: (253) 722-1720
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
1112 S Cushman Ave, Tacoma, Washington 98405
0.58 mile
Tel: (253) 593-2144
Tel: (253) 280-9881
Appointment Required: Yes
3629 S D St, Tacoma, Washington 98418
1.51 mile
Tel: (253) 798-6500
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
1708 E 44th St, Tacoma, Washington 98404
2.87 mile
Tel: (253) 471-4553
Tel: (253) 474-5395
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
11225 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, Washington 98444
6.21 mile
Tel: (253) 536-2020
Tel: (253) 536-5327
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
10510 Gravelly Lake Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499
6.49 mile
Tel: (253) 589-7030
Tel: (253) 284-9314
Appointment Required: Yes
If you are uninsured, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Please bring the following documents: birth certificate, pay stub, photo ID, proof of residence. Fees for services are based on your household income. Hepatitis B vaccines available for patients under 18 years...
1105 S 348th St, Ste B-103, Federal Way, Washington 98003
7.01 mile
Tel: (800) 769-0045
Tel: (206) 788-8339
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to enroll as a patient.
33431 13th Pl S, Federal Way, Washington 98003
7.54 mile
Tel: (253) 874-7634
Tel: (253) 874-7635
Appointment Required: Yes
33431 13th Pl S, Federal Way, Washington 98003
7.54 mile
Tel: (206) 477-6800
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
31405 18th Ave S, Federal Way, Washington 98003
8.54 mile
Tel: (253) 681-6600
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 Tacoma, Washington. 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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!