STI Testing: Which Tests to Order and When
Most sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know. A standard screen covers HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis B and C: a blood draw plus one urine sample at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center. Order online, results are posted privately to your JustLabs dashboard, and a licensed physician authorizes every order. A positive result is something to act on with a healthcare provider, who can confirm it, treat it and advise on partner notification.
Recommended Tests
Includes 4 of the 5 recommended tests below (not included: Trichomonas (Trich)), plus 1 more.
All 5 recommended tests
$191 + one $18 order fee = $209 all-in
The full three-marker hepatitis B screen the CDC recommends once for every adult: shows current infection, past infection or immunity.
$52 · 3 tests + $18 order fee per order
Which test do I need?
- Routine screen or a new partner
- The STI Panel ($102): HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in one order.
- Women, especially with a new partner
- The STI Panel plus trichomoniasis ($97), a common infection that usually has no symptoms.
- Only chlamydia and gonorrhea
- The chlamydia and gonorrhea urine test ($40).
- Oral or anal sex
- Our chlamydia and gonorrhea test uses urine, which does not detect throat or rectal infections. Those need a swab from a clinic or health department.
- Sores, discharge, burning or pelvic pain
- See a clinician, who can examine you and swab any sores. Herpes in particular is best tested from a sore, not with a blood test.
- Possible HIV exposure in the last 72 hours
- Go to an urgent care, emergency room or sexual health clinic now and ask about PEP, medicine that can prevent HIV if started within 72 hours. A lab test this early cannot detect HIV.
When to test after an exposure
Each infection takes time to show up on a test (the window period). Testing earlier can give a false negative.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea
- Reliable from about 2 weeks after exposure.
- Trichomoniasis
- Reliable from about 2 weeks after exposure.
- HIV (4th-generation)
- Detects most infections 18–45 days after exposure.
- Syphilis
- Usually detectable from about 6 weeks; can take up to 12 weeks.
- Hepatitis B
- Usually detectable 4–6 weeks after exposure; can take up to 12 weeks.
- Hepatitis C
- Usually detectable 8–12 weeks after exposure; occasionally up to 6 months.
- After a specific exposure: test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis at 2 weeks, then repeat HIV and syphilis at 6 weeks and the full panel at 12 weeks.
- For routine screening with no recent exposure, one panel is enough.
If a result is positive
- Contact a healthcare provider promptly. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with antibiotics; HIV and hepatitis B and C are treatable.
- JustLabs does not provide treatment. Your local health department and many sexual health clinics treat STIs at low or no cost; find one at gettested.cdc.gov.
- Avoid sex until you and your partners have been treated, and let recent partners know so they can get tested.
- Some positive results are reported to the health department by law. Their staff may offer to notify partners for you, without using your name.
How to Order
Order Online
Select your tests and pay securely. A licensed physician authorizes your order.
Visit Quest Diagnostics
Walk into any of 2,200+ Quest locations nationwide. No appointment needed.
Get Results
Most results post within a few days of your visit. A reactive HIV or syphilis screen is confirmed automatically, which can add a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles
How soon after an exposure the HIV antigen/antibody test becomes reliable, and when to retest.
How syphilis screening works, what a reactive RPR means, and how it is confirmed.
Where you can order your own lab tests without a doctor visit, state by state.
Content reviewed for accuracy by the JustLabs editorial team.