STD Test in Austin: Walk-In vs Scheduled Appointment
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 have decided to get tested, the next question is usually logistical: walk in somewhere today, or call ahead and book a time. Both paths exist in Austin, and each has trade-offs around wait time, cost, and which tests are available. This guide walks through both so you can pick the one that fits your schedule and your situation.
What You Need Before You Go
Whichever route you choose, a little preparation makes the visit faster and less stressful.
- A photo ID, if you have one. Some clinics ask for it to confirm identity, though lack of ID is usually not a reason to be turned away for testing.
- Insurance card, if you have coverage and plan to use it. Some Austin clinics, like Kind Clinic, now require insured patients to bill insurance for lab work.
- A way to pay, if the clinic charges a fee. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic lists a $30 fee that covers both testing and treatment, according to the clinic's own page.
- A short list of your exposures or symptoms
- A list of current medications or allergies, in case treatment is recommended.
- Nothing extra if you are a minor. Under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003, a minor of any age can consent to STI and HIV testing and treatment without a parent present. A physician is permitted, though not required, to tell a parent about the visit.
You do not need to know in advance what you might have. A clinician's exam and a lab test are what determine that, not a guess on your part.
Step-by-Step: Getting a Walk-In STD Test in Austin
Walk-in testing means showing up during posted hours without booking ahead. In Austin, this is offered at specific locations and specific hours, so a quick call first still saves time.
- Confirm the location still offers walk-ins that day. Kind Clinic's Austin Koenig location (101 W Koenig Lane, Ste 100) offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C, per the clinic's own locations page. Its South Austin location does not offer walk-in testing. Call 833-937-5463 to check same-day hours, since walk-in hours differ from the clinic's general hours.
- Check whether the clinic serves your situation. The University of Texas at Austin's University Health Services offers drop-in STI testing (chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis) for students who are not having symptoms, at the Student Services Building, Room 1.400. If you have symptoms, UHS asks you to book a provider appointment instead. This clinic serves UT Austin students.
- Arrive during the posted walk-in window. Kind Clinic's general hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and certain Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., though walk-in testing hours are narrower, so confirm by phone. Kind Clinic is also closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of every month, according to its locations page.
- Bring your ID and insurance card if you have one. Starting January 1, 2024, Kind Clinic requires insured patients to use their insurance for lab costs. If you are uninsured or cannot afford the lab cost, ask about the clinic's patient assistance program.
- Expect some waiting. Walk-in care is first-come, first-served, so you may wait behind other patients, especially later in the day.
Step-by-Step: Scheduling an Appointment
A scheduled appointment generally means a shorter wait once you arrive, and it is often the only option for clinics that do not take walk-ins.
- Decide which clinic fits your needs. The list of Austin testing locations covers several options, including Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic, CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth Program, and ASHwell.
- Call or book online. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic at RBJ Health Center (15 Waller Street) takes appointments online or by calling 512-972-5430, per the clinic's page. ASHwell (3100 Red River St, Suite 3) does not accept walk-ins and asks that you call 512-900-3116 or email ahead. Vivent Health's Austin location (104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100) asks callers to dial 512-458-2437 for either an appointment or walk-in testing hours.
- Ask what the visit covers. Austin Public Health's standard panel includes HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia; the clinic can only test for genital herpes if you currently have symptoms, according to its own description. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth Program lists STI and HIV testing, doxy-PEP, and sexual health vaccines including HPV, hepatitis A and B.
- Confirm the cost ahead of time. Austin Public Health's fee is $30 for testing and treatment. CommUnityCare uses a sliding fee scale set after meeting with a financial eligibility specialist. ASHwell describes its testing and treatment as free for its patients, though related medication could carry its own cost. If a clinic's price is not listed anywhere, ask the clinic directly rather than assuming.
- Show up a few minutes early with your ID and insurance card if applicable, since some paperwork is often done before the clinical visit starts.
Walk-In vs Scheduled: Which Fits Your Situation
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| You want to be tested today without planning ahead | Walk-in, where offered and during posted hours |
| You are having symptoms | Scheduled appointment, so a clinician has time to examine you |
| You want the shortest possible wait once you arrive | Scheduled appointment |
| You are a UT Austin student with no symptoms | Drop-in testing at University Health Services |
| You want doxy-PEP, PrEP, or a vaccine conversation | Scheduled appointment, since these usually involve more discussion time |
Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't assume every location offers walk-ins. Kind Clinic's South Austin site, for example, does not, even though its Koenig location does.
- Don't skip the phone call. Posted hours and walk-in windows can differ, and holiday closures (like Kind Clinic's first-Friday-of-the-month closure) can catch you off guard.
- Don't wait for symptoms to appear before testing. Many STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, often cause no symptoms, per CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines. A clinician and a lab test, not symptoms alone, are what can tell you about your status.
- Don't assume a single visit covers every infection. A standard panel at Austin Public Health, for instance, tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia; herpes testing there is only done if you have active symptoms. Ask what is included before you go in.
- Don't forget about timing after a specific exposure. CDC's guidelines note that some infections take time to become detectable after exposure. If your exposure was recent, ask the clinic whether an immediate test or a follow-up test later makes more sense for you.
What to Expect After Testing
Results timing varies by clinic and by which test is run, so ask when and how you will be notified before you leave. Some results, like certain rapid HIV tests, may be available the same visit, while others are sent to a lab and may take longer. A clinician is the one who can explain what a given result may mean for you and what, if anything, comes next.
If a result does call for treatment, a clinician will prescribe it. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, along with trichomoniasis, are generally curable with treatment from a clinician, per CDC guidance. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with ongoing care. None of this is something to work out on your own, and a single visit, walk-in or scheduled, is simply the step that gets you in front of a clinician who can guide the rest.
For a fuller breakdown of where to go and what each option tends to cost, see our guide to STD testing in Austin, where to get tested and what it costs.