NYC is the most densely populated major city in the US that has unfortunately seen an unusual STD spike in recent years. According to the CDC surveillance report, between 2014 and 2017, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis drastically increased (22%, 67%, and 76%, respectively), which set New York’s infection rate at 591.6 per 100,000 people. The reports for 2018/19 are still not available, but it is safe to assume that the situation is not getting any better, considering that STDs take decades to eradicate once they spread so much.
The key to dealing with sexually transmitted diseases on a larger scale is not just prevention but early detection as well. With that in mind, there are numerous STD testing providers in the New York area, ranging from at-home solutions to clinics.
STD Testing Options In NYC
At your disposal in NYC, you have at-home STD testing, online STD testing with clinic, STD testing at clinics, and free STD testing.
At-home and online STD testing providers with partnered physical centers are the pinnacles of modern healthcare. They take appointments and crowded waiting rooms out of the equation and allow you to test for STDs without divulging private and sensitive information.
There are no hidden doctor fees and additional copays for prescriptions, so the only price you pay is the one indicated on the official website. Since premium companies operate thousands of laboratories nationwide, the processing times are much shorter. Furthermore, at-home or online STD testing will never enter your permanent medical record.
The only difference between at-home and online STD testing providers with clinics lies in the sample collection process. Namely, the former option allows you to test for STDs without ever leaving your home while the latter requires a visit to a brick & mortar testing facility. However, the entire procedure takes around 15 minutes, there is no waiting in lines, and you remain 100% anonymous.
When it comes to private and state clinics, you usually have to make an appointment (sometimes months in advance), which translates to slower turnaround times due to overcrowded labs. You have to account for the price of the test, doctor’s fees, and copay for prescriptions. STD testing becomes a part of your permanent health record as well. Finally, the results are rarely available online, so you have to make an additional trip to the clinic to get your report.
As far as clinics that offer free testing are concerned, they usually provide services to individuals based on total income or visible symptoms. In other words, most of them do not provide free testing unless you qualify for it.
Here is a comparative breakdown of STD testing options in NYC:
| Austin, TX | At-Home STD Testing | Online STD Testing With Clinic | STD Testing At Clinics | Free STD Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $80+ individual tests, $100+ STD panels | $24+ individual tests, $100+ STD panels | Single tests: $10-$30 w/ insurance; $50-$200 w/o insurance, STD panels: $300-$400 | Free, but you have to qualify |
| Insurance Accepted | N/A | |||
| Sample Collection | Your home | Partnered draw centers | Clinic | Facilities of the testing provider |
| STD Panels Available | ||||
| Appointments | ||||
| Same-Day Testing | Free clinics operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so maybe | |||
| Anonymous Testing | ||||
| Testing Accuracy | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Turnaround Time | 1-5 days | 1-3 days | Up to 2 weeks | Depends on the number of samples in the lab |
| Online results | Rarely | |||
| Free Private Consultations | ||||
| Free Presciptions |
Let us now take a closer look at the best providers and clinics in NYC:
At-Home STD Testing
MyLab Box is a premium online service that allows its users to test potential exposure to STDs without ever leaving their homes. The company features a wide array of reliable FDA-approved single kits and convenient panels and delivers results with 99.99% accuracy in just 1-5 business days. The testing process is 100% discreet and helps you avoid awkward sessions with your doctor, sitting in crowded waiting rooms, and talking about your sex life with strangers.
- True at-home STD testing in New York
- Testing kits made in the US
- CLIA-certified labs in all 50 states
- Free shipping
- Free doctor consultations and prescriptions
- Partnership with more than 1,000 pharmacies nationwide
Online STD Testing With Clinic
STDCheck is one of the best STD testing providers on the market with more than 4,500 testing centers nationwide. Unlike regular clinics, it allows you to place your order online, pick the closest draw center, and provide the relevant sample in just 5 minutes without ever waiting in lines, talking about your symptoms or explaining why you suspect potential exposure to STDs.
- 100% confidential testing
- FDA-approved testing solutions/CLIA-certified labs
- Same-day STD testing/ results in 1-2 business days
- Individual tests + panels
- Numerous payment options
- STD Test Recommender
- Free doctor consultations + sessions with care advisors
The available STDCheck testing locations in the New York area include:
Bronx
For Central Bronx, the closest options are:
Quest Diagnostics
2015 Williamsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10461.
Working hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (closed for lunch between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM), Sat 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Quest Diagnostic
3250 Westchester Ave Ste 105, Bronx, NY 10461
Other options include:
Quest Diagnostics
4238 Bronx Blvd, Bronx, NY 10466 and 3756 Riverdale Ave Ste 6 Bronx, NY 10463
Enzo Clinical Labs
3050 Corlear Ave. Suite. 203, Riverdale, NY 10463
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM)
Manhattan
Manhattan features 10 different STDCheck draw centers, the most prominent being:
Quest Diagnostics Location 1
4071 Broadway, New York, NY 10032
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM)
Quest Diagnostics Location 2
215 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunrise Laboratories
66 East 86th St, New York, NY 10028
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM); Sat 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Enzo Clinical Labs
115 Central Park West Suite 10, New York City, NY 10023
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM)
Brooklyn
When it comes to Central Brooklyn, the closest testing centers include:
Quest Diagnostics
408 Rockaway Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212
Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM); Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunrise Laboratories
3210 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Mon 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (closed for lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM); Tue-Fri 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed for lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM); Sat 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Queens
If you live in Central Queens, these are the best options in your area:
Quest Diagnostics
44 – 02 Francis Lewis Blvd Ste 1A, Bayside, NY 11361
Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (lunch between 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM); Sat 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunrise Laboratories
135-30 Maple Avenue Suite 2C, Flushing, NY 11355
Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM (lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM); Sat 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM)
Staten Island
Finally, if you are in Staten Island, these two options should work for you:
Quest Diagnostics
1460 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10310
Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (lunch between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM); Sat 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Enzo Clinical Labs
1870 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY 10306
Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM (lunch between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM); Sat 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
These are just some of the available STD testing locations in NYC, but you can discover all of them by using the Find-a-Lab tool on the official STDCheck website.
STD Testing At Clinics
The NYC Department of Health currently offers eight Sexual Health Clinics that operate on a first-come, first-served basis. They are spread across four boroughs:
Bronx
Morrisania
1309 Fulton Avenue, 2nd floor
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; only HIV and STI testing available on the third Wednesday of each month; closed on the second Friday of each month
Manhattan
Chelsea
303 Ninth Avenue; Note that this location includes both Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic and Chelsea Express.
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. The former is also open on Saturdays (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) while the latter also admits patients on Tuesday/Thursday evenings (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Central Harlem
2238 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Only HIV and STI testing on the first Thursday of each month; no admittance on the third Tuesday of each month
Riverside
160 West 100th Street
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; starting with August 2019, the clinic will only perform HIV and STI testing on Mondays and will be closed on the third Thursday of each month
Brooklyn
Crown Heights
1218 Prospect Place, 2nd floor
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; only HIV and STI testing on the first Tuesday of each month; closed on the last Wednesday of each month
Fort Greene
295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, 2nd floor
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Sat 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM; no intakes on the second Wednesday of each month
Queens
Jamaica
90-37 Parsons Boulevard, 1st floor, Jamaica
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 P; Only HIV and STI testing on the second Wednesday of each month; no admittance on the last Thursday of each month
Corona
34-22 Junction Boulevard, Jackson Heights
Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; only HIV and STI testing on the last Tuesday of each month; no testing on the second Thursday of each month
Free STD Testing
Insurance coverage usually includes free or low-cost STD testing thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you do not have insurance, there are still plenty of clinics that provide free STD testing or reduce the price of testing based on income.
Apart from the aforementioned centers provided by the Department of Health, citizens of New York can test for STDs in the following clinics:
- Planned Parenthood New York City
- Joan Malin Brooklyn Health Center – 44 Court Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (212-965-7000)
- Margareth Sanger Center – 26 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012 (212-965-7000)
- Staten Island Center – 23 Hyatt Street, Staten Island, NY 10301 (212-965-7000)
- Diane L. Max Health Center – 21-41 45th Rd, Queens, NY 11101 (212-965-7000)
- Ironbound Health Center – 70 Adams St, Suite 13, Newark, NJ 07105 (973-465-7707)
- Mulberry Health Center (formerly, Chubb) – 240 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102, 973-622-3900
- Staten Island Center – 23 Hyatt Street, Staten Island, NY, 10301 (212-965-7000)
- Yonkers Center – 20 S Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701 (914-965-1912)
- Mount Vernon Center – 6 Gramatan Avenue 4th floor, Mount Vernon, NY 10550 (914-668-7927)
- Hempstead Center – 540 Fulton Ave, Hempstead, NY 11550 (516-750-2500)
- White Plains Center – 175 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607 (914-761-6566)
- Glen Cove Center – 110 School Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516-759-2500)