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.

Getting tested for an STI is a routine part of taking care of your health, and Austin has several low-cost and free options for doing it. This guide walks through the practical steps, from deciding what to test for to understanding your results, so you know what to expect before you go.

Travis County recorded 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. Rates like these are a reason routine testing matters here, not a reason to feel singled out. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends regular chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active people at increased risk, and routine HIV testing for most teens and adults, regardless of risk.

What You'll Need Before You Go

You don't need much to get tested, but a little preparation makes the visit faster.

A form of identification, since some clinics ask for it. If you're unsure, call the clinic ahead and ask.
Insurance card, if you have one. Some Austin clinics are free or low-cost regardless of insurance.
A rough timeline of recent sexual contact, including approximate dates. This helps the clinician decide which tests and timing make sense for you.
A note of any symptoms you've noticed, even mild ones, since this can change which samples a clinician collects.
Payment, if applicable. The Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic lists a fee of $30 for testing and treatment on its own page, while several nonprofit clinics in the city offer free services.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Tested in Austin

Step 1: Decide what kind of testing fits your situation

Austin has three general paths: an in-person clinic visit, walk-in testing, and free at-home test kits mailed to you. A clinician can tell you which tests make sense based on your exposure and symptoms, since no single panel covers every infection. If you have symptoms, plan for an appointment rather than a self-test, since a clinician may need to examine you directly.

Step 2: Choose where to go

Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, offers standard testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia for a $30 fee, per the clinic's own page; herpes testing there is limited to people with active symptoms. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 512-972-5430.

Other options include CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth program at the Hancock Health Center, which offers sliding-scale testing, and Kind Clinic's Koenig Lane location, which offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C with no appointment needed. ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness and Vivent Health both describe their core testing services as free, though ASHwell asks that you call ahead rather than walk in. For a fuller list of clinics, their hours, and current costs, see the list of local testing locations.

If getting to a clinic is hard, Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, which mails free at-home kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and Vivent Health's online depot ships free HIV self-test kits to Texas residents.

Step 3: Schedule your visit or request your kit

Call ahead for an appointment-based clinic, or confirm walk-in hours before you go, since walk-in windows can differ from a clinic's general hours. For a mailed kit, follow the ordering instructions on the program's own site and allow time for shipping both ways.

Step 4: Attend your appointment or collect your sample

At a clinic, a staff member will ask about your exposure history and symptoms, then collect the samples needed, which may include blood, urine, or a swab depending on the tests ordered. If you're doing an at-home kit, read the instructions fully before starting, since sample collection steps vary by test.

Step 5: Ask about timing if you've had a recent exposure

Tests can take time to become accurate after an exposure, and this window differs by infection. A clinician can tell you whether it's too soon for a particular test to be reliable and whether a follow-up test later makes sense.

Step 6: Get your results and follow up

Ask how and when results will reach you, since this varies by clinic and by test type. If a result suggests an infection, a clinician is the one who can explain it to you and what comes next. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with ongoing care.

If cost after testing is a concern, our guide on where to get tested in Austin and what it costs breaks down pricing across local clinics in more detail.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

Call the clinic the same day you plan to go, since hours and walk-in availability can change.
If you're not sure which tests you need, say that out loud. Clinicians are used to building a testing plan around what you tell them.
If you're under 18, Texas law allows a minor to consent to STI and HIV testing and treatment without a parent present, under Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003. That same law does let a physician choose to tell a parent or guardian about the visit, so ask the clinic about their practice if that matters to you.
If you're pregnant, know that Texas law requires syphilis and HIV testing at your first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester, under Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 81.090; your prenatal care provider can walk you through this.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Testing too soon after an exposure. Going in right away can feel responsible, but a test taken before the right window has passed may not be reliable. Ask the clinic what timing makes sense for you.
Assuming one test covers everything. A standard panel does not automatically include every infection. If you're worried about a specific one, such as herpes, ask directly what is and isn't included.
Skipping follow-up care. If a clinician recommends treatment or a repeat test, finishing that process matters as much as the first visit.
Not telling partners. If you test positive for something treatable, Texas rules make it easier for a clinician or pharmacist to get treatment to your partner without requiring a separate appointment for them, under Texas Medical Board rules cited by the CDC's summary of Texas's expedited partner therapy law. Ask the clinic how this works.
Assuming free testing isn't available. Several Austin clinics and statewide programs offer no-cost options, so cost alone shouldn't be a reason to put off testing.

What to Expect From Your Results

Generally speaking, testing can give you and a clinician useful information to act on, but no test can rule every infection in or out with absolute certainty, and a clinician is the one who can interpret your specific result. Treatment for curable bacterial infections and trichomoniasis, when prescribed by a clinician, is generally understood to clear the infection. For HIV, herpes, and HPV, ongoing care from a clinician is aimed at managing the condition over time rather than curing it. Results and next steps can vary from person to person, so treat this guide as a starting point for a conversation with a clinician, not a substitute for one.

STD Testing in Austin, TX: A Complete Guide