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.

Cost is one of the biggest reasons people in Austin put off STD testing. The good news is that several programs in the city offer testing at no cost, but each one has its own rules about who qualifies. Travis County recorded a chlamydia rate of 712.6 per 100,000 residents and a gonorrhea rate of 351.4 per 100,000 in 2022, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas STD Surveillance Report. Those numbers are one reason local clinics have built free and low-cost testing options into their regular services. This guide walks through who qualifies for each one and how to use it.

What You'll Need

A phone or computer to call or schedule an appointment
A government-issued ID, if you have one (some clinics ask, others don't)
Your insurance card, if you have insurance, even though several of the options below don't require it
A rough idea of any symptoms or recent exposures, so staff can point you to the right service
About 30 to 60 minutes for the visit itself; time can vary by clinic and by how many tests you need

Steps to Find Free STD Testing in Austin, TX

1. Match your situation to the right free program

Not every free option covers the same tests or the same people. Some are free only for HIV, some cover a fuller panel, and some depend on whether you currently have symptoms. Before you call anywhere, decide which of these describes you: no symptoms and want an HIV test, want a broader STI panel at no cost, want free HIV testing specifically, or want to test at home instead of visiting a clinic in person. You can compare several Austin options at once on the local testing list.

2. Call Austin Public Health about the Red Ribbon program

Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program offers free HIV counseling and testing to people who do not have symptoms, including a free 20-minute walk-in express test, according to Austin Public Health's HIV page. Schedule by calling 512-972-5430. This is separate from Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, where the standard fee for testing and treatment is $30, covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. That clinic can only test for genital herpes if you currently have symptoms, per Austin Public Health's own description of its services. Hours there are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.

3. Contact ASHwell for a broader free STI panel

ASHwell, a nonprofit clinic at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, states that its testing, diagnosis and treatment services are always free, though it notes there can be costs related to medication. ASHwell does not accept walk-ins, so call (512) 900-3116 or email the clinic to set up a visit. Treatment through ASHwell is limited to people who are established patients there, so ask about that when you call.

4. Reach out to Vivent Health for a free HIV test

Vivent Health, at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, says it offers free and confidential HIV testing at its Austin location regardless of income. Call 512-458-2437 ahead of time to confirm walk-in testing hours or to make an appointment, since hours for walk-in testing aren't posted separately from the clinic's general information.

5. Ask about sliding-scale fees if a free program doesn't fit

If you have some income or insurance coverage, CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program at the Hancock Health Center sets its fees on a sliding scale, determined through a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist. Call 512-978-9015 to ask how that works for you. This is a useful middle option between a fully free clinic and paying full price elsewhere.

6. Order a free mail-order test kit if an in-person visit isn't practical

Three programs currently mail free self-test kits to Texas residents. The Texas DSHS "Test for Texas" program mails free self-test kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia; you can order one at testfortexas.org. Vivent Health's online depot ships free at-home HIV test kits, along with condoms and lubricant, to Austin residents, with a stated limit of 25 items per order. Together TakeMeHome, a CDC-funded program, mails free HIV self-tests to anyone 17 or older living in the United States, with a fingerstick option available for adults 18 and older. None of these require a clinic visit, which can help if transportation or scheduling is the barrier.

7. Know your rights if you're under 18

Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age can consent to testing and treatment for a reportable infection, including HIV, without a parent's permission. The same law allows a physician to choose to tell a parent about that care, with or without the minor's consent, so it is worth asking a clinic directly how it handles that before you test. This consent law applies at the state level and isn't something an individual Austin clinic can opt out of.

8. Bring what's needed and follow through afterward

Ask each clinic directly whether it requires ID, since this varies by site and isn't always listed on a clinic's own page. If a clinician recommends treatment afterward, follow through on it. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can be cured with treatment a clinician prescribes, according to the CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines. HIV, herpes and HPV are not cured but can be treated and managed over time. For a side-by-side look at costs, hours and what each Austin clinic tests for, see our guide to where to get tested in Austin and what it costs.

Tips

Call ahead whenever a program says it doesn't accept walk-ins. ASHwell is appointment-only, and Kind Clinic's walk-in testing hours differ from its general clinic hours.
Mention any symptoms when you call. Some free tracks, like Austin Public Health's Red Ribbon program, are described for people without symptoms, while others don't make that distinction.
Ask what's actually included. A "free" visit at one clinic might cover HIV testing only, while another covers a broader panel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't assume every clinic tests for every infection. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic only tests for genital herpes if you currently have symptoms.
Don't wait for symptoms before testing. Many bacterial and viral STIs don't cause noticeable symptoms early on.
Don't skip asking about the detection window for your situation. How soon a test can detect an infection after exposure varies, and a clinician can walk you through the timing that applies to you.
Don't assume insurance is required everywhere. Vivent Health and ASHwell describe their core services as free regardless of insurance status, while Kind Clinic has required insurance for lab work since January 2024 unless you qualify for its patient assistance program.

What You Might Expect

Testing may show whether specific infections are present at the time you're tested, though no test can rule out every possible infection, and the timing of the test relative to any exposure can affect accuracy. A clinician can explain what a particular result does and doesn't tell you, and which window period applies to each test you take. If a result points to a bacterial infection, treatment a clinician prescribes can often cure it. If a result relates to HIV, herpes or HPV, a clinician can talk through treatment and ongoing management, since these conditions are treated over time rather than cured.

Free STD Testing in Austin, TX: Who Qualifies