Free STD Testing in California

STD Testing in California

California is home to nearly 39 million people and faces a health crisis that’s often overlooked in the United States—sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Tracking rates of congenital syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, the state is grappling with an issue that affects many of its residents, especially young adults. The most recent CDC STD Surveillance report highlights that adults, ages 20-24 have the highest rates of STDs in the country.

College campuses across California are centers of activity, but they’re also hotspots for the spread of these infections. University of California-Los Angeles, with over 69,000 students, and University of Southern California, with nearly 63,000 students, are two of the largest universities in the state. These institutions alone account for a significant portion of the young adult population in California, making the focus on STD prevention, testing and education even more critical.

Per the CDC STI Surveillance Report in 2022, the state ranks 11th in the nation for congenital syphilis, with 616 cases. California also reported 80,257 cases of gonorrhea, and 192,647 cases of chlamydia, ranking 18th and 22nd in the United States respectively.

Fortunately, California has some helpful resources and testing options for its citizens. Low-cost or affordable std tests are available statewide, and information regarding these diseases and treatment options is available via the California Department of Health.

If you’re sexually active, regular testing is the only way to know if you have an STD, allowing you to get the necessary treatment to prevent serious health complications and help stop the spread to your partners. Fortunately, many STDs are curable – syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis are great examples. For those that can’t be cured, treatments are typically available to help manage your symptoms.

STD Testing Options in California

In California , there are several ways to get tested for STDs, each with varying levels of convenience, cost, and confidentiality. Here’s an overview of options near you:

Private STD Clinic:

Visiting a private clinic is a discreet and dependable method for STD testing in California. These clinics often require no appointment, offer a broad range of test panels, and provide fast results, usually within 1 to 2 days. With over 6,000 locations nationwide, they are highly accessible. Most importantly, your privacy is strictly protected—personal health information is kept confidential, and communication is handled securely.

Local Clinics:

There are also public and community clinics in California that provide low-cost or free STD testing services. These clinics are great for affordability, though they might require appointments and have longer result turnaround times. While these clinics are committed to patient confidentiality, it’s a good idea to ask about their specific privacy policies and data handling practices to ensure you’re comfortable with how your information will be managed.

At-Home STD Testing:

At-home STD testing kits offer a high level of privacy and convenience. You can purchase them online or at local pharmacies in California, collect your sample privately at home, and send it to a certified lab for analysis. Depending on the company, results are typically available within a few days to 10 days. These services are designed with discreet packaging and secure online portals for results, ensuring that your personal health information remains confidential throughout the process.offers a convenient and private way to conduct your std tests.

At-Home STD Testing Kits

You can opt for an at-home STD test kit as they provide a convenient and private method to screen for sexually transmitted infections without the need to visit a clinic. These kits are perfect for individuals who prefer managing their health from the comfort of their home.

How It Works:

Select Your Kit: Pick a kit either online or at a California store depending on the infections you wish to screen for. Some kits target infections such as syphilis while others offer a wider panel, for testing multiple STIs.
Collect Your Sample: Follow the instructions to collect a sample – this could involve providing urine, a finger-prick blood sample, or using a swab on the genitals, throat, or rectum.
Send It In: Use the prepaid envelope to send your sample to the lab.
Receive Results: Get your results within a few days through a secure online portal, phone, or app.
Next Steps: After receiving a test result various services are available to provide assistance, such as consultations with healthcare experts, treatment choices or recommendations for care. It is advisable to schedule a follow up appointment with your primary healthcare provider for further consultation and guidance.

Why Choose At-Home Testing Kits:

Privacy: Test at home without visiting a clinic.
Convenience: No need for appointments or travel.

Things to Consider:

Panel Size: Ensure the kit covers all the STIs you want to test for.
Speed: Taking the test(s) and mail time may delay results vs. clinic options.

What STDs Can You Get Tested For?

Knowing which STD tests are necessary is important for your well-being. Viral infections are chronic and can be managed with available medications and therapies. Bacterial infections may require retesting to ensure that treatments have been effective as expected.

STD	Type of Infection	How It’s Tested	When to Restest
Oral Herpes	Viral	Swab of a sore, culture, or blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
Genital Herpes	Viral	Swab of a sore, culture, or blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
HIV	Viral	Blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
Gonorrhea	Bacterial	Blood, swab, or urine tests	3 Months post treatment
Chlamydia	Bacterial	Blood, swab, or urine tests	2 Weeks post treatment
Syphilis	Bacterial	Blood tests	3 Months post treatment
Hepatitis A	Viral	Blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
Hepatitis B	Viral	Blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
Hepatitis C	Viral	Blood test	N/A (lifelong infection)
Trichomoniasis	Parasitic	Urine test	2 Weeks post treatment

STD Statistics and Trends in California

How California STD Rates Compare to Other States

STD	State Rank	New Cases	Rate per 100,000	US Avg Rate per 100,000
Chlamydia	22nd	192,647	494	495
Gonorrhea	18th	80,257	206	194.4
Syphilis	19th	7,849	20	17.7
Congenital syphilis	11th	616	147	102.5
HIV	12th	4,861	13	11.30

STD Testing FAQs for California

How do I know if I have an STD?

When should you test for STDs?

What do STD test panels test for?

How much do STD tests cost in California?

Can you get same-day STD tests in California?

How fast do you get STD test results in California?

Are appointments needed for STD testing in California?

How do I know if I have an STD?

If you’ve been sexually active, it’s important for your sexual health to know if you have an STD. You may experience some of the more common symptoms if you have an infection:

Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina.
Pain or a burning sensation during urination or sex.
Sores, bumps, or rashes in the genital area, mouth, or anus.
Persistent itching in the genital area.
Swelling or redness in the genital area.

It’s critical to know that many STDs can be asymptomatic, with some diseases up to 80% being undetected per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). To avoid worsening symptoms or infecting partners, get tested for confirmation. Positive test results are really the only true way of determining an infection. Regular testing is crucial, especially if you have multiple partners or are engaging in unprotected sex.

When should you test for STDs?

STD	Incubation Period After Exposure
Oral Herpes	2–12 days
Genital Herpes	2–12 days
HIV	2–4 weeks
Gonorrhea	2-7 days
Chlamydia	7–21 days
Syphilis	10 – 90 days
Hepatitis A	15–50 days
Hepatitis B	4–25 weeks
Hepatitis C	2 weeks – 6 months
Trichomoniasis (Trich)	5–28 days

What do STD test panels test for?

The most comprehensive 10-test panel will provide a confirmation of infection status across different bacterial or viral diseases, including HIV type 1 & type 2 antibody/antigen (4th gen), herpes type 1 & type 2, hepatitis A, hepatitis B & hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

How much do STD tests cost in California?

STD testing costs can vary widely in California based on the type of test(s) you purchase, speed of results and appointment times, and location.

Private STD testing offers walk-in appointments, comprehensive test panels and fast results. You can expect to pay no more than $250 to get a 10-test panel in California. Results are delivered quickly, within 1-2 days.

At-home testing is also an option, with popular online manufacturers offering test panels for up to $350. The primary benefit of this option is testing in the convenience of your own home. Simple blood tests, urine samples or swaps are taken and mailed back to the lab. Results are typically available in 7-10+ days.

Local low-cost or potentially free clinics also are available. However, these locations may require appointments, may not test for all STDs and are not as immediate as private testing.

Can you get same-day STD tests in California?

Yes! Private testing offers same-day, no appointment necessary STI testing in California. Once you purchase your selected tests (no doctor script required), you can just walk into the private lab with your order.

How fast do you get STD test results in California?

STD test result times will vary based on the type of test. Private STD testing in California will deliver results within 1-2 days. At-home test results could be 7+ days, and local clinics will vary based on a number of factors.

Are appointments needed for STD testing in California?

If you choose private STD testing as your preferred option, you don’t need an appointment to get your testing done. Just purchase the order and walk into one of the 5,000+ CLIA-Certified labs across the United States.

Local STD clinics may require appointments and should be checked on a case-by-case basis. At-home tests are also an option. Both will likely take longer to test and receive your results.

Your privacy is our priority

Your health information is protected by strict federal and state privacy laws, and we use industry standard practices to ensure the security of that information. Get Tested Now

Website Security

STDtest.com works to make your testing experience as discreet as possible. Our site employs the HL7 interface in transferring information from our domains to the labs we work with. HL7 is the healthcare industry safety security standard for ensuring the privacy of all documents transferred on the web.

Email Privacy

You’ll never receive an email with a loud headline announcing “Your STD Test”. You won’t even see our website name in the “From” column. Our email communications are timely and informative, but intentionally discreet.

Discreet Billing

As another safe-guard to your privacy, our website name will not appear on your billing statement. Neither will the names of any tests you receive.

Private Results

Your results involve a two-step process that is another safe-guard to your privacy. You’ll be notified that your results are available by an email from our partner website, which will not include your results. After you log in, you will then be directed to your secure test results.