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 grown past one million residents, according to the City of Austin's planning department, and that growth shows up in the city's health data too. Travis County reported a chlamydia rate of 712.6 cases per 100,000 people and a gonorrhea rate of 351.4 per 100,000 in 2022, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) STD Surveillance Report. Testing regularly is one of the most useful things a sexually active person can do, whatever their relationship status, gender, or orientation. This guide walks through the practical steps of STD testing in Austin, from choosing a clinic in your part of town to understanding what happens after you leave.

What You'll Need

A government-issued ID, if you have one. Not having one usually is not a barrier to care at Austin clinics.
An insurance card, if you're insured. Several Austin clinics listed below offer free or sliding-scale testing for people without insurance.
A short mental note of any symptoms, or the approximate date of your most recent sexual contact. This helps the clinic choose which tests and timing make sense.
30 minutes to an hour of time, depending on whether you walk in or have an appointment.
A phone number or patient portal login, since most Austin clinics share results by phone or online rather than in person.

Step 1: Decide What You Want Tested

The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that most sexually active adults benefit from regular chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, with HIV and syphilis testing added based on individual risk and local infection rates. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25, and recommends that everyone ages 15 to 65 be tested for HIV at least once. You do not need to figure out in advance what you might have. A clinician can help you choose the right tests based on your history, your symptoms if any, and how long it has been since a potential exposure.

Step 2: Pick a Clinic in Your Part of Austin

Austin's testing options are spread across several neighborhoods, so getting tested doesn't have to mean crossing town.

East Austin: The Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic at RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and can test for genital herpes if you have active symptoms. Austin Public Health lists the fee for testing and treatment at $30. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. You can schedule online or call 512-972-5430.
Central Austin (Hancock area): CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth Program at Hancock Health Center, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, offers STI and HIV testing, doxyPEP, and sexual health vaccines including HPV. Cost is based on a sliding fee scale set with a financial eligibility specialist. Call 512-978-9015.
North Central Austin (Koenig): Kind Clinic's Austin Koenig location, 101 W Koenig Lane, Suite 100, offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C. Hours vary by day, and the clinic is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of each month. Call 833-937-5463.
South Austin: Kind Clinic's South Austin location, 2800 S IH 35 Frontage Rd #103, focuses on PrEP and PEP; walk-in STI testing is not offered at this site, so call ahead if you need a test there.
Near the University of Texas (Red River): ASHwell, 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, offers free STI testing and treatment, plus PrEP and PEP, for its patients. ASHwell does not accept walk-ins, so call 512-900-3116 or email ahead.
Highland: Vivent Health's Austin location, 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, offers free HIV testing along with other STI services. Call 512-458-2437 to ask about walk-in testing hours or to make an appointment.
UT Austin campus: University Health Services, in the Student Services Building at 100 West Dean Keeton Street, offers drop-in testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis for currently enrolled students without symptoms. Students with symptoms need a provider appointment instead. Call 512-471-4955.

Our local testing list rounds up these clinics with current hours and services in one place.

Step 3: Check Cost and Insurance Before You Go

Cost should not be the reason someone skips testing. Austin Public Health charges $30 for testing and treatment at the RBJ clinic. ASHwell and Vivent Health's HIV testing are offered at no cost. CommUnityCare uses a sliding scale based on income. If a clinic's page does not list a price for the specific service you want, call and ask before your visit so there are no surprises. Texas DSHS also offers Test for Texas, a free mail-order program for at-home HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia self-testing, which can be a starting option for people who prefer to test privately before seeing a clinician in person.

Step 4: Make an Appointment or Confirm Walk-In Hours

Some Austin clinics, like Kind Clinic's Koenig location and UT Austin's University Health Services, take walk-ins for asymptomatic testing. Others, including ASHwell and Austin Public Health, work by appointment. Calling ahead, even for a walk-in clinic, helps confirm the day's hours haven't changed and that the service you need is available that day.

Step 5: Go to Your Visit and Describe Your Situation Honestly

At the clinic, a staff member will typically ask about your recent sexual activity, any symptoms, and when your last test was. This isn't about judgment. It helps the clinician choose the right tests and the right timing, since some infections take time after exposure to show up on a test. Being specific and honest gives you the most useful results.

Step 6: Complete the Testing Itself

Depending on what's being tested, this may involve a blood draw, a urine sample, or a swab. Most visits for standard testing take well under an hour. If you have symptoms, let the clinician know, since some infections, like genital herpes, are generally only tested for when symptoms are present.

Step 7: Get Your Results and Follow Up

Clinics share results in different ways: by phone, through a patient portal, or at a follow-up visit. Ask before you leave how and when you'll hear back, and what the clinic's process is if a test comes back positive. A clinician is the one who can tell you what a specific result means and, if needed, what treatment options look like. Bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not curable, but all are manageable with ongoing care. If a partner needs treatment, Texas law allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists to prescribe or dispense STD medication for a partner without first establishing a separate patient relationship with that partner, according to the CDC's summary of Texas's expedited partner therapy rules.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

Call ahead even for walk-in clinics. Hours and holiday closures do change.
If cost is a concern, ask about sliding-scale or free options before you assume you can't afford testing.
Texas law (Family Code Sec. 32.003) allows a minor of any age to consent to STI and HIV testing and treatment without a parent's permission, though a physician may choose to inform a parent. Teens can ask the clinic directly how they handle this.
If you're pregnant, know that Texas law requires syphilis and HIV testing at your first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester, per the Texas Health and Safety Code. Your prenatal provider will walk you through this.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting for symptoms. Many STIs don't cause noticeable symptoms, which is part of why routine testing matters even when you feel fine.
Assuming one clinic does everything. Some Austin locations, like Kind Clinic South, focus on prevention services such as PrEP rather than walk-in STI testing. Check services before you go.
Skipping follow-up. Not every test result comes back the same day. Make sure you know how you'll be contacted.
Assuming cost will be a barrier. Several Austin options are free or low-cost, and asking is free.

What You Might Expect

Testing may offer you clearer information about your sexual health, but no test is instant or complete for every infection, and timing after a possible exposure matters for accuracy. A clinician can explain what a given result can and cannot tell you, and what, if anything, to do next. For a fuller breakdown of where to test across the city and what each option tends to cost, see our guide to where to get tested in Austin and what it costs.

STD Testing in Austin: A Neighborhood Guide