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If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, especially in people aged 15–24 years. There are several low cost STI tests a person can perform in the comfort of their home. Additionally, certain local organizations may offer free or low cost testing. Share on Pinterest A quick look at free or low cost home STI testsBest for ongoing medical support NurxBest for the lowest price EverlywellBest for free prescriptions LetsGetCheckedBest for a selection of STI tests MyLabBoxBest for lab sample collection PrioritySTDBest for fast results STDcheckSTIs are common. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 1 in 5 people in the United States had an STI. This article discusses what home STI testing is, how often a person should test, and where a person can go to find free or low cost STI testing. A note about sex and gender Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more. What is home STI testing Home STI testing is similar to the testing a person receives in a doctor’s office or healthcare clinic. These tests screen for the presence of infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Learn more about the best at-home STI tests here. To perform a test, a person collects their sample, which is usually a blood or swab sample, and then sends it off to a lab. Testing at home may be more convenient and private than testing in a clinic, and some companies offer care and advice if a person receives a positive test result. While there may be some loss of accuracy when taking a home test, if a person follows the instructions on the test kit carefully, home test results are generally reliable. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that people call the company if they have any questions about collecting a sample. Why test Testing for STIs is important to prevent transmitting an infection to sexual partners. Additionally, STIs can cause complications. For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and lead to infertility. Pregnant people who have an STI can pass the infection to their infant during delivery. And certain infections can cause premature birth, low birth weight, or lung and kidney infections. Some STIs also increase the chance of miscarriage. Not all STIs have symptoms. It is important for people to test regularly to ensure that they and their sexual partners receive any treatment necessary to protect their health. When to test Everyone should receive testing if they believe they are at risk of having contracted an STI or if they show symptoms of an STI. Symptoms may include an unusual color, odorous discharge, or pain while urinating. However, people can have STIs without having symptoms and should receive testing if a sexual partner discloses that they have an infection. STI testing is more accurate after the infection is in the detection period. Some populations should receive regular testing to minimize the risk of complications. We outline these groups in greater detail below. Learn more about STI testing here. Detection period The following table describes how long after exposure STI tests generally start yielding reliable results:Chlamydia2 weeksGonorrhea2 weeksSyphilis3 monthsTrichomoniasis1 monthHerpes4 monthsHepatitis B3–6 weeksHepatitis C6 monthsHPV3 weeks to several monthsHIV (mouth swab)3 monthsHIV (blood test)6 weeks How often should you test The CDC recommends that the following people receive testing:What to test forHow often to testPeople aged 13–64 yearsHIVat least oncePeople who are pregnant• HIV• syphilis• hepatitis B• hepatitis C• gonorrhea• chlamydiaearly pregnancyMales who have sex with males• chlamydia• gonorrhea• syphilis• HIV• hepatitis C• annually• every 3–6 months, if they have several partners• annually for hepatitis C, if they have HIVSexually active females under 25 years• gonorrhea• chlamydiaannuallySexually active females over 25 years• gonorrhea• chlamydiaannually, if they have multiple partners or a partner with an STIPeople who inject drugsHIVannually What to expect from home testing While each company may have slightly different instructions, home STI tests generally require:collecting samples, which may involve a finger prick blood test, genital swab, or urine collectionplacing the samples in a prepaid envelope and sending them off to a labwaiting several days for the test results Companies will provide detailed instructions on how to collect a sample correctly. If a person finds it difficult to perform a finger prick test, they may wish to ask a friend or family member for help. Some companies will also offer follow-up care and advice if a person receives a positive test result. Types of results Usually, home tests will return one of the following results:Positive or detected: This means the lab has detected the presence of an STI in a person’s sample.Negative or not detected: This means the test has not detected the presence of an STI.Indeterminate: This may mean a person has not collected a sample correctly. People should contact the company for more advice if they receive this result. How long do results take The length of time it takes a company to return results depends on the type of test a person takes and the company that offers it. However, people can typically expect home STI test results around a week after the lab receives their samples. How we chose Medical News Today chooses at-home tests that meet the following criteria: Laboratories: Where possible, MNT will choose companies that process test samples in CLIA-certified labs. This means they follow state and federal regulations.Budget: MNT chooses at-home tests that suit a wide range of budgets. Privacy: MNT includes companies that offer robust and transparent privacy measures, such as data protection and discreet packaging.Test result speed: MNT selects companies that inform customers of when they will receive their test results and whether they will receive them via email, app, or phone.Further support: MNT will indicate whether a company offers further support, such as a follow-up phone consultation with a doctor to discuss test results. 6 low cost home STI tests Below are some lower-cost home STI tests available to purchase online. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. Best for ongoing medical support NurxPrice: $75 with insurance, $150–220 withoutPackaging: discrete, with free shippingResults time: 7 business daysPros: provides ongoing medical supportCons: expensive without insurance This home STI testing service offers three different testing kits. The Basics Covered Kit screens for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The Healthy V Kit is a test for people with vaginas. It screens for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. The Full Control Kit screens for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis C. The company charges a $15 fee, which includes 1 year’s worth of unlimited messaging with its medical team. Learn more about Nurx here.SHOP NOW Best for the lowest price EverlywellPrice: $49–149Packaging: discreteResults time: within daysPros: accepts FSA and HSA paymentsCons: does not accept insurance Everlywell sells tests for specific STIs and offers panel tests. It offers tests specifically for males and females. Both options screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. The company also offers a subscription service to make frequent testing more affordable. Learn more about Everlywell here.SHOP NOW Best for free prescriptions LetsGetCheckedPrice: $99–149Packaging: discreteResults time: 2–5 daysPros: offers free prescriptions with positive results in 40 statesCons: free prescriptions not available in 10 states LetsGetChecked offers three STI testing kits. The Simple 2 tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The Standard 5 tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, and syphilis. The Complete 8 tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, syphilis, Gardnerella, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma. In 40 states, if a person tests positive for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, Gardnerella, mycoplasma, or ureaplasma, the company will provide prescriptions at no extra charge. Learn more about LetsGetChecked here.SHOP NOW Best for a selection of STI tests MyLabBoxPrice: $59–399Packaging: discreteResults time: 2–5 daysPros: offers a broad range of STI test kitsCons: full panels are more expensive than other options This company offers 19 different kits for STI testing. MyLabBox offers tests for single infections, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. These are the most affordable options the company provides. Additionally, the company offers test kits specifically for sexual partners, older adults, and full panel tests. Learn more about MyLabBox here.SHOP NOW Best for lab sample collection PrioritySTDPrice: $59–198Packaging: noneResults time: 1–3 daysPros: uses testing sites, which ensures that people provide acceptable samplesCons: not as convenient as taking a sample at home PrioritySTD does not offer at-home sample collection. Instead, people must go to one of the over 4,000 labs that partner with the company. All the centers comply with FDA regulations. The company states that the entire process is discrete and anonymous. PrioritySTD offers individual tests, a twin-panel for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and 10-panel tests that screen for a variety of STIs.SHOP NOW Best for fast results STDcheckPrice: $45–259Packaging: noneResults time: most results are available in 1–2 daysPros: offers a doctor consultation with a positive test resultCons: requires visiting a testing center People can order tests and view results on STDcheck’s website but will need to go to one of over 4,500 partnered testing centers to take a sample collection. The company offers individual and panel tests for a range of STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis A, B, and C.SHOP NOW Comparison chart The following table compares the home STI tests in this article.PricePackagingResults timeProsConsNurx$75 with insurance$150–220 withoutdiscrete7 business daysoffers ongoing medical supportexpensive without insuranceEverlywell$49–149discretewithin daysaccepts FSA and HSA paymentsdoes not accept insuranceLetsGetChecked$99–149discrete2–5 daysoffers free prescriptionsfree prescriptions not available in all statesMyLabBox$59–399discrete2–5 daysoffers a range of STI testsfull panels more expensive than other optionsPrioritySTD$59–198none1–3 daysfeatures more accurate sample collectionnot as convenient as taking a sample at homeSTDcheck$45–259none1–2 daysprovides doctor consultation with a positive resultrequires visiting testing centers Other testing options There are several organizations and locations that may offer free or low cost STI testing:Planned Parenthood health centers: Planned Parenthood may offer lower-cost testing for people on lower incomes. Learn more here.Community health centers: Community health centers may offer lower-cost testing for people on lower incomes. Learn more here.Healthcare professionals: Most doctors offer STI testing. This may be an affordable option for people if their insurance covers the cost of the tests and any potential treatment.Student centers: Student centers at colleges may offer low cost STI testing. People should view their college’s website for more information.Local health departments: A person’s local health department may be able to offer information about where to find low cost STI testing near a person’s home. When to contact a doctor People should consider contacting a healthcare professional or using an at-home STI test if they have sex without a barrier method, such as a condom, with someone who may have an STI. Although many STIs do not cause symptoms, some people may notice:discharge from the penis or vaginapainful urinationsores around the genitals that can be painful, painless, or itchyrashflu-like symptoms Frequently asked questions about free and low cost STI tests Here we answer some common questions about STI testing. Are at-home STI tests as accurate as testing at the doctor s office The FDA states that home tests are reliable. However, there is room for error if a person collects a sample at home. If a person believes their test result is not correct, they may wish to contact a healthcare professional for another test. How do I know if I should get tested The CDC has general guidelines for when people should receive testing. People who are sexually active or have more than one sexual partner and males who have sex with males are at higher risk of contracting STIs and should receive testing more regularly. If a sexual partner discloses they have an STI, or if a person notices any symptoms of an STI, they should receive testing as soon as possible. Are STI tests accurate outside of the optimal detection period While it is possible to detect STIs before or after the optimal detection period, the test may not be as accurate. Healthcare professionals will advise people whether they need to wait to receive testing or whether they need testing at a later time. What are the signs of an STI Some STIs do not have any symptoms. However, if a person experiences any of the following symptoms, they should receive testing:unusual discharge from the penis or vaginabumps or sores around the genitals, buttocks, and thighsinflammation, swelling, pain, or itching around the genitals Summary At-home STI testing is a convenient and private way to screen for these infections. There are several companies that offer lower-cost STI testing online. People can also use local resources to find free or low cost testing. Planned Parenthood, local community centers, and student centers may offer subsidized testing for people on lower incomes. Last medically reviewed on September 27, 2022Uncategorized 10 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.CDC estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection. (2021). https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0125-sexualy-transmitted-infection.htmlCommunity health centers locator. (n.d.).https://www.chcfl.org/locations/Find a health center. (n.d.).https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-centerGet tested. (n.d.).https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/stds-hiv-safer-sex/get-testedHow soon do STI symptoms appear? (2019). https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/sexual-health/how-soon-do-sti-symptoms-appear/How you can get the best results with home use tests. (2017).https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/how-you-can-get-best-results-home-use-testsSTDs and infertility. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/std/infertility/default.htmSTDs during pregnancy - CDC detailed fact sheet. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy-detailed.htmSTI screening timetable. (n.d.). https://health.uoregon.edu/files/STI_screening_timetable.pdfWhich STD tests should I get? (2021). https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/screeningreccs.htmFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Michaela Murphy, PA-C — By Danielle Dresden on September 27, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhere to get tested for STDs: What are the options?Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN Where can people get an STD test? Read on to learn more about STD tests, such as their importance, where to get them, cost, and if insurance covers…READ MOREWhat is there to know about STI testing?Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN STI testing is a procedure that screens for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and more. 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