This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

If you had a possible exposure, the hardest part is often the waiting. Tests do not work the same way on day one as they do weeks later. This guide explains the STD window period, how soon you can test for STDs, and when to test again. It also covers where to get tested in Austin.

The steps below follow the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and CDC HIV testing pages. They are written for everyone, whatever your gender, orientation or relationship status.

What a window period is

A window period is the time between an exposure and the point when a test can reliably pick up an infection. Test too early and the result may come back negative even though the infection is there but not yet detectable.

The length depends on the infection and on the type of test. That is why the question "when to get tested for STD" has no single answer.

What you need before you start

A rough date of the exposure. Write down the day, even if you are not sure. Count forward from the most recent possible exposure.
A calendar or phone reminder for the test date and for a repeat test.
A list of symptoms, if any. Note what you noticed and when.
A list of your questions for the clinician, including any about PrEP or PEP.
Insurance or ID details, if you have them. Some Austin clinics ask about coverage. Not having insurance does not stop you from getting care at the places listed below.
About 30 minutes for the visit itself.

Step 1: Check whether the last 72 hours matter

Start by counting the hours since the exposure. The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV must start within 72 hours of a possible exposure. A clinician prescribes it, and sooner is better.

If you are inside that window, contact a clinic or an emergency department today. You do not need to wait for a test result to ask about PEP. CommUnityCare, Kind Clinic and ASHwell each list PEP or PEP-related services. Call first to confirm availability and what to bring.

The CDC's 2024 doxy-PEP guidance also uses a 72-hour timeframe. It describes a clinician-prescribed option for certain people who have had a recent bacterial STI. Whether it fits you is a conversation for a clinician. Kind Clinic says it does not offer doxy-PEP as a standalone appointment, so you must be receiving ongoing care there. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program lists DoxyPEP among its services.

Step 2: Look up the window period for your situation

The CDC publishes clear HIV window periods by test type. For other infections, the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say testing depends on the infection, the body site and the test, so a clinician sets the timing.

Infection and test type	When the test can detect it, per the CDC
HIV: nucleic acid test (NAT), lab blood draw	About 10 to 33 days after exposure
HIV: antigen/antibody test, lab blood draw	About 18 to 45 days after exposure
HIV: antigen/antibody test, fingerstick	About 18 to 90 days after exposure
HIV: antibody test	About 23 to 90 days after exposure
HIV: home self-test	Generally 23 to 90 days after exposure, depending on the test
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes, HPV	The CDC does not give one fixed number for these. Timing depends on the test and body site, so ask a clinician

For the HIV window period, the CDC notes that a test taken at the early end of a range may not be final. Many people repeat a test at the end of the range for this reason. A clinician can tell you which test they use and what its window is.

Step 3: Decide whether to test now, later, or both

Testing now and testing later do different jobs.

Testing now can find an infection from an earlier exposure. It also gives you a starting point. If you have symptoms, do not wait for a window to pass. A clinician can examine you and choose the right test.
Testing again later covers the window period for the most recent exposure. For HIV, ask the clinician which date to come back based on the test they use.
Testing after treatment is a separate step. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend retesting about three months after treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. This is because getting the infection again is common. Ask your clinician how it applies to you.

The USPSTF also recommends HIV screening for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65, and for older and younger people at increased risk. Routine screening is a good habit even without a specific exposure.

Step 4: Pick a place to test in Austin

You have several choices. Here is what each organization says on its own pages. Austin Public Health notes that its website content updates may be delayed, so confirm hours and fees by phone. For the full local list, see the Austin clinic list. For costs and what to expect, see STD testing in Austin: where to get tested and what it costs.

Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

The clinic is at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, Austin, TX 78702. Austin Public Health lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Its page says, "The fee for testing and treatment is only $30."

The standard tests are HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The clinic says it can only test for genital herpes if you have active symptoms. To book, schedule online or call 512-972-5430. The health department's Sexual Health Clinic page has details: Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic.

Kind Clinic, Koenig Lane

Kind Clinic is at 101 W Koenig Lane, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78751. It offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C. Walk-in testing is not offered at its South Austin site. The clinic is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of every month, and walk-in testing hours differ from general hours, so call 833-937-5463 before you go.

Kind Clinic says patients with health insurance must use their insurance for lab work. If you are uninsured or cannot afford lab costs, it says its Kind Patient Assistance Program can help cover them. See Kind Clinic locations.

Other free and low-cost options

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness, 3100 Red River St, Suite 3. Its services page says testing and counseling "are always free although there are potential costs relating to medication." It does not accept walk-ins, so call (512) 900-3116. See ASHwell services.
Vivent Health Austin, 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100. Its page says, "We offer free and confidential HIV testing at all of our locations." Call 512-458-2437 for walk-in testing hours or to book. See Vivent Health Austin.
CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700. It lists STI and HIV testing and prevention. It says its sliding fee scale is set in a meeting with a Financial Eligibility Specialist. Call 512-978-9015. See IDEALhealth.
University Health Services at UT Austin offers drop-in testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis for UT students without symptoms. Call 512-471-4955. People with symptoms need a provider appointment.

You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov to find more sites. Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, which lists free mail-order self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia at dshs.texas.gov. Self-tests are still subject to the same window periods.

Step 5: Go to the visit and ask about the window

At the visit, tell the clinician when the most recent exposure was. They can explain which tests make sense now and when to return. Ask these questions:

Which test are you using, and what is its window period?
Should I come back for a repeat test, and on what date?
Is PEP or PrEP something to discuss?
How will I get my results?

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are notifiable conditions in Texas, according to the Texas DSHS Texas Notifiable Conditions list for 2026. That means labs and clinicians report cases to public health, as required by the state. Ask the clinic how that works if you have concerns.

If you are under 18, Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets a minor consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease. Parent or guardian consent is not necessary. The statute also says a physician may tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, so ask about confidentiality before you are seen.

Step 6: Handle partners and follow-up

If a test finds an infection, a clinician will explain treatment. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable.

Partners may need testing too. The CDC lists Texas as allowing expedited partner therapy under state rules, so a clinician may be able to prescribe for partners of an established patient. Ask the clinic what applies to your situation.

Tips that make the wait easier

Do not wait if you have symptoms. Symptoms are worth a visit at any point. Our guide to STD symptoms, signs, when to test and where in Austin covers what people commonly notice.
Test for more than one infection. Many exposures carry more than one possible risk, and a panel covers more ground.
Call ahead. Hours, walk-in rules and fees can change. Austin Public Health's own site says updates may be delayed.
Write down your results and dates. This helps the next clinician you see.
Keep the repeat visit on your calendar. The second test is the one that closes the window.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating one early negative as the final word. A negative before the window closes may not be final. Ask about a repeat test.
Counting from the wrong date. Count from the most recent exposure, not the first.
Waiting past 72 hours to ask about PEP. If you are close to that mark, call right away.
Skipping the retest after treatment. The CDC recommends it for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis because reinfection is common.
Assuming a home test replaces a clinic visit. Self-tests are useful, but they have window periods too, and they do not cover everything.
Letting worry or shame delay care. Testing is routine health care, and clinicians see it every day.

What results can look like

A negative result after the full window period for that test is generally reassuring. It may not rule out an infection from a very recent exposure, so a clinician may suggest repeating the test.

A positive result usually leads to a confirmatory test or a treatment plan. That plan comes from a clinician, who can also explain follow-up and partner notification.

Results timing varies. Some HIV tests give results in about 20 minutes. Lab tests for other infections can take days. Ask the clinic when and how you will hear back.

Why this matters in Travis County

The Texas DSHS Texas STD Surveillance Report (2022) lists Travis County at 712.6 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people, compared with 519.9 for Texas that year. For gonorrhea, it lists 351.4 for Travis County and 207.0 for Texas.

Travis County's HIV rate was 17.3 new diagnoses per 100,000 in the Texas DSHS HIV Surveillance Report (2021), compared with 14.8 statewide. These numbers describe the community, not any one person. They are one reason local clinics encourage regular testing.

Quick summary

Count the hours. PEP must start within 72 hours.
Look up the HIV window period for your test type, and ask a clinician about the others.
Plan a test now and a repeat test later.
Choose an Austin clinic and call ahead.
Ask what the window is and when to come back.
Follow up on treatment, retesting and partners.

When to Get Tested After Exposure: STD Window Periods Explained