Even though Houston and Harris County are historical STD hotspots, the increase in newly-reported cases during 2016/17 is beyond alarming, even for their previous rates. Compared to 2009, there was a 52% increase in chlamydia cases, 49% in syphilis infections, and 46% in new cases of gonorrhea.
The only way to deal with the current STI epidemic in Houston, Texas is through regular STD checks and timely therapy. If caught early on, most of them can be cured with simple antibiotics and stopped from reaching the more precarious stages.
This comprehensive guide will introduce you to different STD testing options in Houston, outline their benefits and shortcomings, and teach you how to protect your privacy during the screening process.
STD Testing Options In Houston
When it comes to different STD screening options in Houston, Texas, you can pick between at-home (or direct-to-customer) STD testing, online STD testing with partnered clinics, STD testing at clinics, and free STD testing.
At-home STD screening is the most private option since you do not have to leave your home in order to generate a viable report. After receiving your online order, your chosen company will dispatch a personal STD testing kit to the specified address. The kit is usually wrapped without any symbols or indications of the content. In other words, nobody will ever know you are testing for STIs. After collecting the relevant samples, you should simply mail the kit back to the lab for further processing. The results are usually available online 1-2 business days after receiving your biological material. At-home testing providers can also give you access to their in-house doctors and consultants in case you test positive. The bottom line is that you will be able to perform top-notch STD testing without ever leaving your home, waiting in crowded clinics, and talking about your sex life with strangers.
Online STD testing providers with partnered clinics follow a similar screening protocol with one important difference – the sample collection is performed in a brick & mortar draw center instead of your home. All major providers have thousands of partnered clinics all over the US, so you should not have any difficulties finding one in your area. These are usually walk-in clinics, so you do not even have to make an appointment. The whole procedure takes around 15 minutes and the results are also available online within 1-2 business days.
STD testing at clinics has numerous downsides compared to the previous options. First of all, you have to make an appointment well in advance, spend time in crowded waiting rooms, and discuss your personal life with doctors. The results usually take a lot longer due to overcrowded processing labs and are almost never available online. This option also costs more since you have to account for doctor’s fees and copays for potential medication. Lastly, if you test positive, your STD status will be reported and become a part of your permanent medical record.
Finally, Houston does feature some free STD testing options, but they also come with a couple of caveats. They usually operate on a sliding scale, which means you can only receive free screening if you have little to no income. Apart from this, they usually require visible symptoms associated with the most common STIs, which is especially dangerous since 80% of all infections remain asymptomatic. In other words, once you start exhibiting serious symptoms, it is usually too late for the aforementioned treatment with antibiotics.
| 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 Houston
- 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 STDCheck testing locations in Houston, Texas include:
Quest Diagnostics
1200 Binz St, Ste 115, Houston, TX 77004
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM);
5711 Almeda Rd, Ste 131B, Houston, TX 77004
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
6410 Fannin Street, Suite 220, Houston, TX 77030
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Clinical Pathology Labs
1200 Binz Ste. 1360, Houston, TX 77004
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
6655 Travis Suite 140, Houston, TX 77030
(Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Labcorp
1200 Binz Suite 140, Houston, TX 77004
(8:30 AM – 5:00 PM);
427 W 20th St Ste 504, Houston, TX 77008
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM);
7400 Fannin St Ste 145, Houston, TX 77054
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
You can find the rest of the testing locations simply by entering your ZIP code in the Find-a-Lab tool provided on the official STDCheck website.
STD Testing At Clinics
If you decide to go with state or private clinics, here are some of your potential choices:
Grace Family Clinic
2435 Texas Pkwy #K, Missouri City, TX 77489, United States
(Mon-Thu 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Fri and Sun 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM);
+1 281-208-2220
Southwest Urgent Care & Family Practice
5900 Chimney Rock Rd Ste X, Houston, TX 77081, United States
(Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Sun 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM);
+1 713-640-5754
Houston DNA & STD Testing Center
2703 Hwy 6 STE 138-B, Houston, TX 77082, United States
(open 24/7);
+1 832-543-4050
NextCare Urgent Care
10906 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77070, United States
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sat-Sun 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
+1 281-477-7490
AFC Urgent Care Washington Heights
107 Yale St #200, Houston, TX 77007, United States
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sat-Sun 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
+1 713-561-3546
Sharpstown Medical Clinic
7111 Harwin Dr, Houston, TX 77036, United States
(Mon-Fri 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
+1 713-339-1471
Private Sexual Health Testing Centers
1200 Binz St Ste 1290, Houston, TX 77004, United States
(Mon-Sat 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM);
+1 281-729-6374
Free STD Testing
Let us go over some of the free STD testing options in Houston, Texas:
AHF Wellness Center, Houston (free STD testing)
1213 Hermann Dr Suite 620, Houston, TX 77004, United States
(Tue and Thu 2:00 AM – 6:00 PM);
+1 713-520-2338
AIDS Foundation, Huston (free HIV and syphilis testing)
6260 Westpark Dr., Suite 100 Houston, TX 77057;
(713) 623-6796
Baylor Teen Health Clinic, Ben Taub
1504 Ben Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030, United States
(Mon 1:00 AM – 6:30 PM; Tue-Thu 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM);
+1 713-873-3601
Planned Parenthood has four offices in Houston, Texas:
4600 Gulf Freeway, Ste. 100, 1st Floor Ste. 100, Houston, TX 77023, United States;
+1 713-522-3976
1B, 5800 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77081, United States;
+1 713-541-5372
13169 Northwest Fwy Suite 115 Suite 115, Houston, TX 77040, United States;
+1 713-514-1107
9919 N Fwy Service Rd Suite 107 Suite 107, Houston, TX 77037, United States;
+1 713-514-1106