STD Testing Urgent Care

Urgent Care STD Testing

In the case of urgent care, it’s true that you’re likely to have better access to STI testing than you would at a regular doctor’s office or clinic. You can sometimes get tested immediately without having to make an appointment with a primary care physician or specialist. On top of that, many urgent care centers offer free STD testing when you go in for another reason (like a cold). Urgent care std testing is available and convenient.

That said, there are limitations on what kinds of tests are available at urgent care facilities—and which ones they’ll recommend based on your symptoms and risk factors. Here are some quick guidelines:

What tests are performed at urgent care for STDs?

  • Chlamydia and gonorrhea: These two common bacterial infections can easily be tested for at most walk-in clinics as part of a general STD panel (or as part of one specific test).
  • Syphilis: The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all adults be screened annually for syphilis during routine visits with their health care provider; if you do not have regular medical contact with your health care provider and suspect infection from syphilis (based on symptoms), then urgent care might be able to administer this test immediately upon arrival—but it’s best to check beforehand so you don’t waste time waiting unnecessarily or paying out-of-pocket costs if necessary!

Do all Urgent Care centers perform STD testing?

  • Yes. All urgent care centers offer STD testing.
  • Some urgent care centers offer free STD testing, but only if you have insurance.
  • Some urgent care centers offer free STD testing with a prescription from your doctor, but not always.
urgent care std testing

Can urgent care centers treat STDs?

If you’re suffering from an STD, the first thing to do is go to your primary care doctor or you can get tested at one of our partner labs if you don’t have a primary doctor or prefer private testing. If they don’t have time to see you or are unable to treat your condition, a nearby urgent care center may be able to offer some relief.

Most urgent care centers are not equipped with the necessary equipment and personnel needed for treating STDs. Some will be able to refer patients directly to a specialist, while others might only perform testing but send the specimen off to another lab for diagnosis. They might refer to a doctor for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

While it’s possible that an urgent care facility could provide some relief in the form of prescription medication or over-the-counter treatments, it may be better off if you visit an actual medical clinic or hospital where they can give proper diagnoses and treatment options without worrying about whether their insurance will cover them or not (which often happens at fast-paced clinics).

Does insurance cover STD testing at urgent care centers?

If you have health insurance, then you’re in luck. STD testing at urgent care centers is usually covered by your insurance company. However, not all insurance companies cover STD testing at urgent care centers. Some only cover STD testing when the patient has symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease and needs to be tested for it or treated for it immediately.

std testing urgent care

Urgent Care Centers offer a great way to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Urgent care centers offer a great way to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases if they have the means to do so. Otherwise, a smaller urgent care may refer you over to a doctor or larger hospital. They may not have the lab equipment or medical staff that does STD screenings. 

However, urgent care offices are easy to access, convenient, and affordable. Additionally, urgent care centers may offer a variety of STD tests that will help you find out what you may have. If you’re curious about your risk of contracting an STD and want answers quickly without spending money on an expensive clinic or doctor’s appointment then urgent care centers can be helpful in answering those questions.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been around for a long time. STDs can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation. About 20 million new sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed each year in the United States. Most STDs are curable with antibiotics or other medications. Some types of STDs can be prevented by safe sex practices, such as not having sex without a condom and limiting your number of sexual partners.

What is an STD?

An STD, or sexually transmitted disease, is an infection that is spread through sexual contact. There are many different types of STDs, but all of them fall into two categories: bacterial infections and viral infections. Bacterial STDs are caused by bacteria such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Viral STDs can be caused by viruses such as HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), herpes simplex virus type 1 (the virus that causes cold sores), hepatitis B or hepatitis C (both can cause liver damage).

An STD may be passed from one person to another through vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex — and even skin-to-skin contact with a person who has an active STD infection on their genitals or mouth.

How can I get tested for STDs?

  • Go to the doctor. You can get tested for STDs at your local clinic or hospital.
  • Get a blood test. If you are comfortable with needles, this is an option for STD testing and treatment in many cases, although it’s not as common as urine tests or swab tests.
  • Get a urine test. A urine test is commonly used for STD detection since it’s simple and inexpensive compared to other methods of testing, such as blood tests and swabs from inside the vagina and rectum (which require more time). However, there are some challenges with using urine samples: they may be diluted by water or bacteria in the bladder; they can be affected by medication or drugs taken within the last 24 hours; they’re less accurate than other types of samples because organisms may die before reaching their reproductive phase; and some STDs don’t show up until months after exposure so results won’t necessarily be conclusive right away anyway.

Whatever you choose, know that STD Check offers safe and private STD testing at partner labs in your area.

Can STDs be cured?

Most STDs are treatable, but not curable. In many cases, the infection can be treated and cured within a few days to weeks. However, some STDs cannot be cured because they’re caused by viruses that live in your body permanently and continue to cause problems even after treatment ends.

In rare cases, some people do not get better with treatment. This may be due to the fact that their immune system is too weak for effective treatment or because the infection has spread so widely throughout their body that it has become difficult for medical professionals to get it all under control.

Do I need to fast for STD testing?

No, you don’t need to fast for STD testing. However, it is best if you can drink plenty of water before the test so that your urine sample will be as clear and clean as possible. This will help ensure that the test is more accurate.

What are the symptoms of an STD?

The symptoms of STDs can vary greatly. They can be mild, moderate or severe. Depending on the infection, you may experience a number of different symptoms in your genital area. Some examples include:

  • Painful urination
  • Vaginal discharge or bleeding
  • Itching and burning around the vagina or penis
  • Redness in the genital area (a sign of skin irritation)
  • Swollen lymph nodes (in women)
  • Painful or swollen testicles (in men)

As you can see, there are many reasons why someone would visit an urgent care STD testing center. The fact that they offer a wide range of services is just one advantage, however, this does depend on the type of urgent care they are. If you’re worried about privacy or cost, don’t be—many centers offer affordable prices on their tests and don’t require any sort of appointment before coming in to get tested. STD Check also offers private testing in your area. Plus, most staff members at these urgent care std testing centers will treat patients with respect regardless of whether they have insurance or not!

Medically Reviewed by on October 10, 2022

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Author: Esther Jordan

Esther Jordan has been a writer ever since she can remember. She has always loved the free gift of self-expression through journaling, creating stories, and sharing life experiences in front of audiences. Public speaking and creating content has been a strong suit of hers since high school. Immediately after college, she received a paid position as an search engine optimization (SEO) writer in 2010 when SEO was still a very brick and mortar concept for a lot of small businesses. It was a time of do-it-yourself websites and online magic that everyone wanted and either referred to it as SEO or pay-per-click (PPC).