San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the US and one of the main epicenters of recent STD outbreaks. The number of reported cases has been growing in the last couple of years and reached the highest level in the last two decades in 2017.
Compared to 2016, 2017 saw an increase in syphilis by 15.2%, chlamydia by 10%, and gonorrhea by 19.1%. The number of reported cases per 100,000 people is still not as alarming as in New York, for example, but this steady increase on a yearly basis is definitely a cause for concern.
Education and prevention lose their effectiveness against the existing cases of the most common STIs, so early detection and therapy are the keys to solving San Diego’s STD problem.
STD Testing Options In San Diego
You can check your STD status in San Diego either by opting for at-home STD testing, online STD testing with clinic, STD testing at clinics, and free/low-cost STD testing.
At-home STD tests allow you to screen for any type of sexually transmitted infection from the privacy of your home. The chosen provider will send a personal testing kit to the specified address and test your biological specimen once you mail the kit back to the lab. This is an ideal option if you want to skip appointments, crowded waiting rooms, and awkward discussions with strangers.
Online providers with partnered testing centers are similar to at-home options, but the sample collection process is performed in a brick & mortal draw center instead of your home. After you place your online order, the support staff will find the closest partnered clinic and you will receive your result online in a couple of days.
Bottom line, the only difference between these two types of STD testing in San Diego lies in the sample collection process. Once the provider obtains the relevant specimen, the procedures is pretty much the same. You do not have to make any appointments or wait in lines and you receive your test results online in just a couple of business days.
When it comes to private and state clinics, you have to make an appointment (usually well in advance) and the turnaround times are much slower due to overcrowded labs. The price of the test is increased with doctor’s fees, additional copays for prescriptions, and other potential fees. Your report will rarely be available online, so you have to visit the clinic again to get your results. Finally, STD testing becomes a part of your permanent medical record, which is not the case with at-home providers and online services with physical draw centers.
Finally, some clinics in San Diego provide free STD testing. However, there is usually a complicated qualification process based on your income, visible symptoms, and other relevant factors. In other words, you may not be able to get free STD testing unless you are making next to nothing or exhibiting serious symptoms associated with the most common STDs. Knowing that around 80% of all STIs remain asymptomatic creates a situation where you cannot actually get free testing before it is too late.
| 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 |
Let us now take a look at some of the best STD testing providers in San Diego:
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 San Diego
- 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 downtown San Diego include:
Quest Diagnostics
1855 First Avenue Ste 200-B, San Diego, CA 92101
(working hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM);
3260 3rd Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(working hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; lunch between 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM);
4060 4th Ave Ste 125, San Diego, CA 92103
(working hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Labcorp
1037 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950
(working hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM; lunch between 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM);
4033 3rd Ave Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92103
(Working hours: MON-Fri 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM; Lunch between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM)
You can use the Find-a-Lab tool on the official STDCheck website to obtain a comprehensive list of all the available clinics in your area.
STD Testing At Clinics
Here are some of the available STD testing clinics in San Diego:
Progressive Health Services
4732 Point Lama Ave #D, San Diego, CA 92107
(working hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
AFC Urgent Care Mission Valley
8590 Rio San Diego Dr #111, San Diego, CA 92108
(working hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
AFC Urgent Care
5671 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 9211
(working hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
LCA
550 Washington St #331, San Diego, CA 92103 (+1 619-295-9327)
Planned Parenthood — Mira Mesa Health Center
10717 Camino Ruiz Suite #258, San Diego, CA 92126
(working hours: Mon-Wed 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Tue-Thu 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM; Fri-Sat 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM)
North Park Pediatric Clinic & Women’s Health Center
3514 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102
(working hours: Mon-Thu 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)
Planned Parenthood First Avenue Specialty Services Michelle Wagner
2017 1st Ave Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92101
working hours: Mon-Sat 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM)
San Diego LGBT Community Center
3410, 3909 Centre St, San Diego, CA 92103
(working hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Planned Parenthood – City Heights Health Center
4305 University Ave #350, San Diego, CA 92105
(working hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM)
Free STD Testing
If you do not have insurance or cannot afford STD testing in San Diego, you can test for free in county government clinics. Even if you are able to pay the $40 testing fee, HIV screening is always free. The available locations include:
- Rosecrans STD Clinic – 3851 Rosecrans St Suite S, San Diego, CA 91110 (619/692-8300)
- North Coastal Public Health Center – 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd #104, Oceanside 92056 (760/967-4401)
- Central Region Public Health Center – 5202 University Avenue, an Diego, CA 92105 (619/229-5400)
- South Region Public Health Center – 690 Oxford Street, Chula Vista 91911; working hours: 12: PM – 6:00 PM on Thursdays only (619/409-3110)
Alternatively, you can also visit one of the Family Health Centers of San Diego and the San Diego LGBT Community Center.