According to the CDC report for 2018, Dallas had 18,088 new cases of chlamydia, 7,326 gonorrhea infections, and 368 cases of primary and secondary syphilis. Among comparable regions, Dallas had the 7th highest gonorrhea rate and the 8th highest number of newly reported cases of chlamydia. Around 100 babies died from congenital syphilis in 2018, which is a 22% increase since 2017.
CDC executives pointed out a variety of factors causing these alarming numbers, including reduced access to STD education and care, decreased use of condoms, and cuts to programs trying to deal with this issue. The most alarming fact, however, is that around half of gonorrhea strains in 2018 were resistant to at least one antibiotic.
Regular STD screening and early therapy are essential for preventing STD numbers from rising in the future. This comprehensive guide will familiarize you with different STD testing options in Dallas and point out their main advantages and shortcomings along the way.
STD Testing Options In Dallas
When it comes to STD testing options in Dallas, you can choose from at-home testing, online testing with a visit to a clinic, private and state clinics, and free testing providers.
At-home or direct-to-customer STD testing in Dallas is the most anonymous option for monitoring your sexual health and receiving early therapy if you test positive. Instead of spending hours in overcrowded waiting rooms and discussing your sex life with complete strangers, you can simply order your personal test kit online and collect the relevant samples in the privacy of your home. The test kits provide you with a secure sample container and a pre-paid mailer used to send your specimen back to the processing lab. The relevant samples include saliva, urine, and blood, depending on your chosen test or panel. Unlike private and state clinics, at-home providers feature a multitude of cutting-edge laboratories, which means your results will be generated in 1-2 business days. Your report will be available online so you do not have to make an extra trip just to inspect your results. If you test positive, your chosen company will provide you with in-house doctors who can explain your situation and prescribe the necessary medications.
Online testing providers with clinics offer similar services, but their sample collection is done in a physical draw center. However, they usually partner with thousands of reputable walk-in clinics across the country so you should have no problems finding one near you. The entire procedure takes less than 15 minutes and not even your phlebotomist will know why you are there. Apart from this major difference, the rest of the protocol pretty much mirrors at-home testing companies.
Private and state clinics are a viable option as well, but they come with some serious downsides. Unless we are talking about a walk-in clinic, making an appointment is mandatory. Once you get there, everyone will know that you are testing for STDs and you will have to discuss your personal life with the clinic staff. Due to their overcrowded labs, private and state clinics take longer to generate final reports, which they almost never send online. Lastly, this type of STD testing costs more in general since you have to account for doctor’s fees and copays for medications.
If your budget cannot cover STD testing, there are some free options in Dallas. However, these providers usually operate on a sliding scale, which means your income has to be pretty minimal in order to qualify for free testing. Some of the clinics also require visible symptoms even though 80% of all sexually transmitted infections remain asymptomatic until they reach the stages where antibiotics can no longer deal with them.
| Austin, TX | At-Home STD Testing | Online STD Testing With Clinic | STD Testing At Clinics | Free STD Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $80+ individual tests, $100+ STD panels | $24+ individual tests, $100+ STD panels | Single tests: $10-$30 w/ insurance; $50-$200 w/o insurance, STD panels: $300-$400 | Free, but you have to qualify |
| Insurance Accepted | N/A | |||
| Sample Collection | Your home | Partnered draw centers | Clinic | Facilities of the testing provider |
| STD Panels Available | ||||
| Appointments | ||||
| Same-Day Testing | Free clinics operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so maybe | |||
| Anonymous Testing | ||||
| Testing Accuracy | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Turnaround Time | 1-5 days | 1-3 days | Up to 2 weeks | Depends on the number of samples in the lab |
| Online results | Rarely | |||
| Free Private Consultations | ||||
| Free Presciptions |
At-Home STD Testing
MyLab Box is a premium online service that allows its users to test potential exposure to STDs without ever leaving their homes. The company features a wide array of reliable FDA-approved single kits and convenient panels and delivers results with 99.99% accuracy in just 1-5 business days. The testing process is 100% discreet and helps you avoid awkward sessions with your doctor, sitting in crowded waiting rooms, and talking about your sex life with strangers.
- True at-home STD testing in Dallas
- Testing kits made in the US
- CLIA-certified labs in all 50 states
- Free shipping
- Free doctor consultations and prescriptions
- Partnership with more than 1,000 pharmacies nationwide
Online STD Testing With Clinic
STDCheck is one of the best STD testing providers on the market with more than 4,500 testing centers nationwide. Unlike regular clinics, it allows you to place your order online, pick the closest draw center, and provide the relevant sample in just 5 minutes without ever waiting in lines, talking about your symptoms or explaining why you suspect potential exposure to STDs.
- 100% confidential testing
- FDA-approved testing solutions/CLIA-certified labs
- Same-day STD testing/results in 1-2 business days
- Individual tests + panels
- Numerous payment options
- STD Test Recommender
- Free doctor consultations + sessions with care advisors
Some of the available STDCheck locations in Dallas include:
Quest Diagnostics
8230 Walnut Hill Ln Bldg Iii, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 7:30 Am – 5:00 PM; Sat 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM);
8210 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
8160 Walnut Hill Lane Suite 315, Dallas, TX 75231
(8:00 AM – 4:30 PM);
7700 W Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225
(Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM)
Clinical Pathology Labs
8230 Walnut Hill Ln Ste 518, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
8160 Walnut Hill Ln Ste 111, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
LabCorp
8220 Walnut Hill Ln Ste 503, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM);
8305 Walnut Hill #220, Dallas, TX 75231
(8:30 AM – 12:30 PM);
8160 Walnut Hill Ln #216, Dallas, TX 75231
(Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM);
7777 Forest Ln Bldg A Ste 105, Dallas, TX 75230
(Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM)
You can find many more STDCheck testing locations in Dallas, Texas by using the convenient Find-A-Lab tool on the official site. All you have to do is insert your zip code and the tool will generate a list of all the clinics available in your area.
STD Testing At Clinics
Some of the STD testing clinics in Dallas, Texas include:
AHF Wellness Center – Dallas
7777 Forest Ln Suite B-122, Dallas, TX 75230, United States;
+1 972-383-1066
AHF Wellness Center, Dallas OTC
3920 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas, TX 75219, United States;
+1 972-383-1066
UT Southwestern Community Prevention & Intervention Unit
8150 Brookriver Dr ste s400, Brookriver Dr 4th floor, Dallas, TX 75247, United States;
+1 469-291-2800
Amelia Court Clinic
1936 Amelia Ct, Dallas, TX 75235, United States;
+1 214-590-5632
Complete Med Care
Primary & Urgent Care – 8989 Forest Ln #146, Dallas, TX 75243, United States;
+1 972-792-7777
Resource Center Nelson-Tebedo
4012 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas, TX 75219, United States;
+1 214-528-2336
Uptown Physicians Group
4144 N Central Expy #750, Dallas, TX 75204, United States;
+1 214-303-1033
ARCpoint Labs of White Rock Lake
10611 Garland Rd #112, Dallas, TX 75218, United States;
+1 469-778-5222
PrimaCare Medical Center
6350 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75214, United States;
+1 214-828-0448
AHF Healthcare Center, Dallas
7777 Forest Ln Ste B-122, Dallas, TX 75230, United States;
+1 972-383-1060
Free STD Testing
Some of the STD testing providers that offer free screening or operate on a sliding scale include:
First Baptist Dallas Downtown Pregnancy Center
525 N Ervay Dallas, Texas 75201;
(214) 969-2433
Foremost Family Health Centers, Martin Luther King Jr Family Clinic
2922-B MLK Jr Blvd Dallas, Texas 75215;
(214) 426-3645
Steven M Pounders MD PLLC
3500 Oak Lawn Ave Ste 600 Dallas, Texas 75219;
(214) 520-8833
Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, Women’s Services, and Family Clinic
809 Singleton Blvd Dallas, Texas 75212 US;
(214) 540-0300
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
3920 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas, Texas 75219;
(214) 599-2173
Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services
2377 N Stemmons Fwy Ste 100 and 336 Dallas, Texas 75207;
(214) 819-2155
Dallas also has 3 Planned Parenthood offices:
Planned Parenthood, North Dallas Shelburne Health Center
9100 N. Central Expwy, #169 #169, Dallas, TX 75231, United States;
+1 214-368-1485
Planned Parenthood, South Dallas Surgical Health Services Center
7989 W Virginia Dr, Dallas, TX 75237, United States;
+1 214-373-1868
Planned Parenthood, Addison Health Center
5290 Beltline Road #134 #134, Addison, TX 75254, United States;
+1 972-991-1424