Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect millions of people around the world. It’s important to get tested for them, so you can find out if you have one or not.

You can get STD testing at a number of different places. Whether you want to see your primary care provider, go to an ER or visit a private practice, you have options.

Urgent care

Urgent care centers are often a convenient option for people who are looking for immediate medical attention. They provide treatment for common ailments and illnesses, like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sudden allergic reactions to broken bones.

Most urgent care facilities also offer STD testing, including chlamydia and gonorrhea tests. This can save you time and money.

When you visit an urgent care center, you can get your test results within an hour or so, depending on the clinic. They are also less likely to charge you a copay, which can be more expensive than at a doctor’s office or private practice.

However, there are many situations in which it may be best to choose a dedicated testing facility instead of an urgent care center. For instance, many urgent care centers perform routine or precautionary STD testing, but do not have the equipment or expertise to properly treat these conditions.

ER

Emergency departments (EDs) are often the only point of health care access for many individuals at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Getting tested at an ER is a simple and cost-effective way to stay safe.

CDC estimates that 1 in 2 people under the age of 25 have an STD, so getting tested regularly is important. STIs include gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.

At the ER, your doctor will check for physical symptoms of an STD and will then conduct blood testing. In some cases, a urine sample is collected as well.

EDs are an ideal setting for screening patients for STDs, but rates vary across locations and populations. This study examined the testing patterns of a sample of patients presenting to North Texas EDs over a 1-year period for three major STD test types: HIV, syphilis and genito-urinary (GC/CT).

Doctor’s office

If you’re having symptoms that suggest you may have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), you should visit your doctor’s office for testing. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you to provide urine samples, swabs, or blood samples.

Often, your doctor will also give you a test for HIV. For HIV, you can get a blood test or an oral swab.

Your doctor can also conduct a lumbar puncture, which is done by tapping your spine to collect fluid from the spinal cord. Results are usually available in a week or so, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Getting tested for STIs is essential to prevent the spread of the diseases and minimize health complications. It’s also important to remember that a positive test result does not necessarily mean you have the disease.

Private practice

STD Testing Hospital offers a number of services including STD screenings, treatment and referral to other providers. These services are provided by trained health department staff who maintain patient confidentiality.

Despite the Affordable Care Act and other public policy changes that have resulted in more coverage for STD services, maintaining the financial stability of safety-net STD clinics remains an important public health priority. The cost of delivering these services can be high and the ability to generate revenue can be challenging for these organizations.

Using the micro-costing approach, this analysis evaluated the cost of operating an STD clinic that billed for laboratory tests only and treatment as a new patient office visit. Reimbursement rates were based on Medicaid fee schedule rates for 2015 as a conservative estimate. This approach could be used as a baseline for other STD clinics to assess a financially viable service model based on rates that are standardized and known.