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 STDs is a routine part of staying healthy, not an emergency. In Austin, several clinics offer walk-in or same-day testing, so you often do not need to wait weeks for an appointment. This guide walks through how to find a same-day option, what to bring, and what happens during a typical visit.

Testing access matters in Travis County. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported a chlamydia rate of 712.6 cases per 100,000 residents and a gonorrhea rate of 351.4 per 100,000 in its 2022 Texas STD Surveillance Report, the most recent year available. Those numbers are not a reason for alarm. They are a reason testing is widely offered here, often at low or no cost.

What You'll Need Before You Go

A photo ID, if the clinic asks for one. 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, so lack of an ID or being under 18 should not stop you from calling a clinic to ask about options.
Your insurance card, if you have coverage. Some Austin clinics bill insurance; others offer free or sliding-scale testing regardless of insurance status.
A way to pay a testing fee, if one applies. For example, Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic lists a $30 fee that covers both testing and treatment.
A general idea of your symptoms, if you have any, and roughly when your last potential exposure happened. This helps the clinic decide which tests make sense and when.
Time to wait. Walk-in does not always mean no wait. Calling ahead helps you plan your visit.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Tested the Same Day in Austin

1. Note whether you have symptoms or want routine screening

Some clinics in Austin reserve walk-in or drop-in slots for people without symptoms and ask symptomatic patients to schedule a provider visit instead. For example, the University of Texas at Austin's University Health Services STI Testing Clinic offers drop-in testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis, but says symptomatic patients need a provider appointment rather than the drop-in line. Knowing which category you fall into before you go can save you a trip.

2. Choose a walk-in or same-day location

Kind Clinic's Austin-Koenig location, at 101 W Koenig Lane, Suite 100, offers walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis C. Call 833-937-5463 to confirm current walk-in hours, since they differ from the clinic's general hours. UT Austin students can use the drop-in STI Testing Clinic at the Student Services Building, Room 1.400 (512-471-4955). Austin Public Health also runs a Red Ribbon program with a free 20-minute walk-in express HIV test for people without symptoms; call 512-972-5430 to schedule that or a standard clinic visit.

3. Call ahead even if walk-ins are offered

Hours and walk-in availability change. Austin Public Health's own website notes that content updates may be delayed, so it is worth confirming hours and fees by phone before you go. ASHwell, a nonprofit clinic at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, offers free testing and treatment but does not accept walk-ins, so you would call 512-900-3116 or email ahead there instead.

4. Decide if a clinic visit fits your schedule, or consider a mail-order option

If you cannot get to a clinic the same day, the Texas Department of State Health Services runs Test for Texas, a free mail-order program for at-home HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia self-testing, ordered through testfortexas.org. This does not replace a clinician visit if you have symptoms, but it is one way to test without an in-person appointment.

5. Bring your ID, insurance card, and payment method

Arrive with whatever documentation the clinic asked for on the phone. If cost is a concern, ask about sliding-scale pricing. CommUnityCare's IDEALhealth Program, at 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, offers STI and HIV testing on a sliding fee scale determined through a meeting with a financial eligibility specialist.

6. Expect a short intake conversation

Staff will typically ask about your symptoms, recent partners, and the kind of exposure you are concerned about. This isn't about judgment; it helps them decide which samples to collect. Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic notes its standard tests cover HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and that herpes testing there is done only if you have active symptoms, since the CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines do not recommend routine herpes blood testing without symptoms.

7. Understand that window periods affect timing

Each infection has a window period, the time between exposure and when a test can reliably detect it. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines describe these windows as varying by infection and by test type. If your visit happens very soon after a possible exposure, a clinician may suggest a follow-up test later rather than relying on a single result.

8. Ask how and when you'll get results, and what happens next

Ask before you leave how results will be shared and how long they typically take. If a result needs follow-up, a clinician will discuss next steps, which may include treatment they prescribe. Note that under Texas law, certain infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, are reportable conditions that clinics must report to the Texas Department of State Health Services within set timeframes; this is a standard public health practice, not a reflection on you personally.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't assume every Austin clinic offers walk-ins. Kind Clinic's South Austin location, for instance, does not offer walk-in STI testing, even though its Koenig location does.
Don't skip the phone call. Confirming hours, walk-in availability, and fees ahead of time avoids a wasted trip, especially since some clinics close on certain days; Kind Clinic, for example, closes on observed holidays and the first Friday of each month.
Don't assume a free HIV test means a full STI panel. Several Austin clinics, including Vivent Health, specifically note that HIV testing is free, which is not always the same as free testing for every infection.
Don't test too soon after a possible exposure and assume a single result is final. Ask the clinic about window periods and whether a repeat test is a good idea.
Don't let cost stop you from calling. Several Austin options, including ASHwell and Austin Public Health's Sexual Health Clinic, offer free or low-cost testing.

What Results May Tell You

A test result is information a clinician uses to guide your care, not a verdict. A negative result may suggest no infection was detected at the time of testing, within that test's window period. A positive result lets a clinician recommend next steps. Bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are generally curable with treatment a clinician prescribes. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with ongoing care. Only a clinician reviewing your specific test and history can tell you what your results mean for you.

For a fuller breakdown of where to get tested across the city and what each option tends to cost, see our guide to STD testing in Austin and what it costs. You can also browse a list of local Austin testing locations to compare options near you.

STD Testing in Austin, TX: Same-Day and Walk-In Options