STD Testing Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

STD testing is billed in several different ways. You can order a test directly from a laboratory, buy an at-home kit that you mail back, or have the testing done during a visit with a provider. This page focuses on the first two, because those have clear posted prices. The cost of a clinic visit is a separate matter, and an exam fee can be added on top of the lab work.

Testing is sold as individual tests and as bundled panels. A panel that screens for several infections usually costs more than one test but less than buying each test separately. The right selection is something to discuss with a licensed doctor or nurse.

For direct-to-consumer testing, GoodRx reports prices in the range of $100 – $400. Where you land in that range depends on the number of infections covered, the type of sample and the company.

Lab-direct pricing is straightforward because the price is posted. At Quest, a basic screening panel is listed at $149 and an expanded panel at $282. Individual tests cost less. A chlamydia and gonorrhea test is listed at $105, a herpes (HSV) 1 and 2 test at $105, and a syphilis test with confirmation at $52. These are the prices the lab lists itself, so they are not a quote from a clinic or from your insurer.

At-home kits let you collect a sample yourself, mail it to a lab and receive results online. Prices depend on the brand and the number of infections included.

The lowest-priced kit listed by GoodRx costs $89.99, while the most expensive in the group costs $169. Before you buy, check which infections it covers, the sample type it requires, how quickly results arrive and whether a provider contacts you if a result is positive. Some kits charge extra for a consultation or treatment.

Both options let you pay a posted price without a visit. The differences are practical:

• Lab-direct: You order online, pay, and go to a collection site for a blood draw or sample. The list prices are itemized by test, so you can pick only what you need.
• At-home kit: You collect the sample yourself and mail it back. The kit price is usually a fixed bundle.
• Provider visit: A clinic or doctor can order testing and examine you. Charges may include an exam fee in addition to the lab work.

Comparing the per-test price against the bundle price is the easiest way to avoid paying for more than you need. A licensed doctor, nurse or public health clinic can explain what testing makes sense for your situation.

Public health clinics are one of the main routes to free or low-cost testing. Many county and city health departments, community health centers and family planning clinics offer testing, often on a sliding-fee scale tied to income. Fees and availability differ by location, so call ahead or check your local health department's website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov that lists nearby providers. Call the location first and ask what it charges, whether an appointment is required and which tests it offers.

If you have health insurance, your plan may cover some testing, and your cost share depends on the plan, the provider and how the visit is billed. Ordering directly from a lab or buying a kit often means paying a cash price outside your insurance, though some kits can be submitted to a health savings account or flexible spending account. Confirm with your plan administrator.

Questions for your insurer:

1. Is the testing covered at an in-network provider?
2. Will I owe a copay or coinsurance, or the full allowed amount?
3. Is a separate visit fee charged along with the lab work?
4. Will the claim appear on a statement sent to the policyholder?

If privacy is a concern, ask your insurer how explanation-of-benefits statements are delivered. A cash-pay option or a public health clinic is another route.

• Number of infections tested: More tests in one order raise the total, although bundles are often priced below buying tests one by one.
• Test type: Blood, urine and swab samples are processed differently, and prices differ by test.
• Where you buy: Lab-direct sites, retail kits and brand-name kit companies all price differently.
• Visit fees: A provider visit can add an exam fee.
• Follow-up: A positive result may lead to additional tests or treatment, billed separately.
• Location: Public clinics and sliding-fee programs can reduce what you pay.

• Price the individual tests: Compare the price of the specific tests you want with the price of a bundle.
• Check public health clinics first: They may offer low-cost or no-cost testing.
• Compare kit brands: Review what each kit includes, not only the price.
• Look for HSA or FSA eligibility: Some labs and kit sellers accept these accounts.
• Watch for add-on fees: Read the fine print for consultation, shipping or treatment charges.