Those looking to get an STD test can do so through private STD testing services, health clinics, and even their normal doctor’s office. With so many choices at your disposal, it can be tough to figure out which option is the best for you.
When you work with a private lab testing provider for your STD test, you don’t need a doctor’s order from your primary care physician (PCP). This means that you have the freedom to purchase a lab order over the web, get tested, and have your results ready online once testing is complete.
Not everybody is comfortable approaching their PCP with concerns about their sexual health. Even fewer of us are willing to be open about the fact that we want an STD test. While getting tested for STDs is far from a shameful decision, working through a private testing center can provide peace of mind and privacy.
Some clinics, especially those offering discounted or readily-accessible services, regularly require long waits in a lobby before an STD test ever occurs. Insensitive staff can create embarrassing scenarios during consultations. In many cases, patients are left with unanswered questions following a test.
Working with a private STD test provider eliminates all of these troubles. Your test will be obtained quickly. Qualified care counselors will answer your questions and respect you for being proactive and getting tested in the first place.
Will Medicare Pay for STD Testing?
The short answer is: it depends.
- Medicare Part B covers screening tests for hepatitis B, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea if you’re pregnant or at high risk of contracting an STI
- Certain STD screenings are also covered annually if your PCP provides a referral or if you’re pregnant
- Original Medicare covers STI screenings at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount if you receive the service from a number of participating providers
Head over to the Medicare website if you need to do a little more digging in order to figure out whether you’re covered.
The Testing Process
Your experience throughout the testing process is dependent on your sex and the STDs your care provider is screening for. There’s no one single test that can screen for all STDs; each and every STD has its own test. Most of these tests are far from invasive, but some do involve visual inspections of or swab samples from the genitals.
Because your testing experience will vary depending on the STD your provider is screening for, here’s a rundown on some of the procedures you may encounter:
- Gonorrhea
- May require urine sample or swab of genital areas
- Chlamydia
- May require urine sample or swab of genital areas
- HIV
- Swab of inner mouth
- Blood test
- Syphilis
- Sample taken from a sore
- Blood test
- HPV (cervical cancer)
- Pap test
- HPV (genital warts)
- Visual diagnosis is generally sufficient
How Long Until the Results are in?
This depends on who you test through, what you test for, and when you test. Some tests, especially through busy centers, can take as long as five to ten days to produce results. Most STD testing that involves a blood draw will fall into this category. If you’ve only undergone basic testing– for an STD like syphilis or gonorrhea– you may receive results within two or three days.
Working through a private STD testing service often gets you results more quickly. Many are at liberty to expedite each of their tests as a rush order because they don’t have other services to focus on. Because of this, STD test results from a private testing service may be available to you as soon as 24-72 hours after your visit.