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.

Austin has several places that offer STD and HIV testing, and they are not all set up the same way. Some are walk-in, some require an appointment. Some test for everything in one visit, some only test for certain infections under certain conditions. Knowing what to ask before you go can save you a wasted trip and help you get the care you actually need.

This guide walks through how to pick a clinic in Austin, Texas that fits your situation, what to bring, and what questions to ask on the phone or at the front desk.

What you'll need

A short list of what you want tested for, or a description of any symptoms or exposures
Your insurance card, if you have one (some clinics bill insurance, others do not)
A method of payment, in case there is a fee
Photo ID, since some clinics ask for one at check-in
A phone to call ahead and confirm hours, cost, and what the visit includes
A list of questions, using the ones below as a starting point

Step-by-step: how to choose a clinic

1. Decide why you're testing

The USPSTF and the CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines both support routine testing for sexually active people, not just testing after symptoms appear. Think about whether you want a routine screening, you're following up on a specific exposure, or you have symptoms you want a clinician to look at. This affects which clinic and which service fits best, since some locations only test for certain infections if symptoms are present.

2. Call or check the clinic's own page for what they test for

Not every clinic tests for every infection. For example, the Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center says its standard panel covers HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and that it can only test for genital herpes if symptoms are active, according to Austin Public Health. Kind Clinic's Koenig location lists walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C, per Kind Clinic. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program lists STI and HIV testing along with doxy-PEP and sexual health vaccines such as HPV, hepatitis A and B, and mpox, according to CommUnityCare. If you need a specific test, ask directly rather than assuming.

3. Ask about cost before you book

Cost varies a lot between clinics in Austin. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic states its fee for testing and treatment is $30, per the clinic's own page. ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness describes its STI testing and treatment services as always free, though it notes there can be costs tied to certain medications, according to ASHwell. CommUnityCare uses a sliding fee scale set after a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist, per CommUnityCare. Kind Clinic says that since January 1, 2024, patients with insurance must use it to cover lab work, and that its Kind Patient Assistance Program can help uninsured patients with lab costs, according to Kind Clinic. Vivent Health describes its HIV testing as free and confidential, per Vivent Health. Ask what is included in the quoted price, since some fees cover testing only and treatment is billed separately.

4. Ask whether you need an appointment or can walk in

Kind Clinic's Koenig Lane location offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C, but its South Austin location does not offer walk-in STI testing, according to Kind Clinic. The University of Texas at Austin's University Health Services STI Testing Clinic allows drop-in visits for students without symptoms, though students with symptoms need a provider appointment, per UT Austin's Healthyhorns site. Austin Public Health also describes a free, no-symptom walk-in express testing option through its Red Ribbon program, booked by calling 512-972-5430, according to Austin Public Health. ASHwell, by contrast, asks that you call ahead rather than walk in, per ASHwell. Confirm which model applies before you show up.

5. Ask how and when you'll get results

Ask the clinic directly how results are shared, how long they usually take, and whether a clinician will call you or whether you need to return in person. Policies differ by clinic and by test type, and this detail is not always posted online.

6. Ask what happens if a result needs follow-up

Ask whether the clinic can connect you with a clinician for treatment on-site, or whether you would be referred elsewhere. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician, per the CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not cured but can be treated or managed with ongoing care. ASHwell notes that its STI treatment is for ASHwell patients specifically, so ask whether that applies to you before assuming you can get treated at the same place you tested.

7. Ask about privacy, and about minor consent if it applies to you

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age in Texas may consent to testing and treatment for a reportable infectious disease, including HIV, without a parent's permission. The same law also allows, but does not require, a physician to tell a parent or guardian about that care. If privacy is a concern, ask the clinic directly how they handle this rather than assuming.

8. Ask about prevention services if you want them

If you're also interested in PrEP, PEP, or doxy-PEP, ask whether the clinic you're considering offers it. CommUnityCare and Kind Clinic both list doxy-PEP, and several Austin clinics including ASHwell, CommUnityCare, Kind Clinic, and Vivent Health offer PrEP or PEP, according to their own pages. Kind Clinic notes that doxy-PEP there is only available to patients already receiving ongoing care, not as a standalone visit, per Kind Clinic.

Tips

Call ahead even if a clinic's hours are posted online. Austin Public Health notes that its own website content can lag behind actual hours and fees, so a quick call confirms what's current.
Ask specifically about herpes testing if you want it. Several Austin clinics, including Austin Public Health, only test for herpes when symptoms are present, not as a routine screen.
If cost is a concern, ask about sliding scale or assistance programs before your visit rather than after, since eligibility conversations can take time to set up.
If you were tested recently elsewhere, bring that information. It can help a clinician decide whether retesting makes sense.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming every clinic tests for the same panel of infections. They do not, and the gap is often herpes or hepatitis C.
Assuming "free" or "low-cost" means every part of the visit is free. Medication or treatment can carry a separate cost even when testing does not.
Walking in to a location that requires an appointment, or the reverse. Confirm this detail specifically rather than guessing from the clinic's general reputation.
Waiting for symptoms before testing. Many infections don't cause noticeable symptoms, which is part of why routine screening is recommended.

What to expect

A test can tell you, and the clinician reviewing it, whether a specific infection was detected at the time of the sample. It cannot rule out every possible infection, and timing matters. The CDC notes that how soon a test can detect an infection after exposure varies by infection and by test type, so ask the clinic what window applies to the specific tests you're getting. A clinician can walk you through what your results mean and what, if anything, comes next.

For a broader look at where to get tested across the city and what different providers tend to charge, see our guide to STD testing in Austin, where to get tested and what it costs. You can also browse the list of local testing locations to compare options near you.

Choosing an STD Clinic in Austin: What to Ask Before You Go