According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018, St. Louis ranked first for chlamydia and gonorrhea rates and fourth for syphilis rates. Unfortunately, St. Louis has had the highest STD rates among US cities for the past two decades.
In 2018, St. Louis had 1,449 cases of chlamydia per 100k people, 739 gonorrhea infections, and 42.4 cases of syphilis. Note that these numbers come from people who actually performed some kind of STD testing; the real numbers are always much higher.
In order to stop this epidemic in St. Louis, it is important for people to get regular STD testing and timely therapy. This comprehensive guide will familiarize you with all STD screening options in St. Louis and allow you to pick the best one for your needs.
STD Testing Options In St. Louis
Like many other cities in the US, St. Louis allows you to pick from at-home STD testing providers, online providers with clinics, STD testing at clinics, and free STD testing.
At-home STD testing in St. Louis is the most discreet option of the four. After placing an order with your chosen company, a personal testing kit will be delivered to your home address. Once the kit arrives, all you have to do is collect the relevant samples and send them to the processing lab. Your results will be available online in just a day or two and you will have access to professional in-house counselors who can also prescribe adequate medications.
Online STD testing providers with clinics implement a similar screening procedure with one crucial difference – the sample collection is performed in a physical draw center instead of your home. Major companies usually partner with thousands of clinics across the country, which means you should have no problems locating one near you. Since we are talking about real clinics, nobody will ever know why you are there, you will not have to make an appointment, and the whole procedure will take less than 15 minutes. After your sample has been collected, the rest of the protocol is pretty much the same as with at-home providers.
Opting for private or state clinics has a wide variety of downsides, including the fact that you will have to make an appointment and wait for your turn in a crowded waiting room where everybody knows you are about to get tested for STIs. Apart from the original testing price, you will also have to account for doctor’s fees and copays for medications in case you test positive. The turnaround times are usually much longer due to overflowing processing labs and your results will most likely not be available online. Lastly, if you test positive, your STD status will be reported, which means it will become a part of your permanent medical record.
Free STD testing options do exist in St. Louis, but the providers usually operate on a sliding scale. This means that your income has to be practically non-existent in order to qualify for free testing. Also, many of these institutions offer free STD testing only if you already exhibit certain symptoms, which is extremely dangerous since around 80% of all STIs remain asymptomatic during their initial stages when they can be cured with simple antibiotics.
| 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 |
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 St. Louis
- 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
Some of the STDCheck testing locations in St. Loius include:
Quest Diagnostics
40 N Kingshighway, Saint Louis, MO 63108
(Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM);
6651 Chippewa St, Saint Louis, MO 63109
(Mon-Fri 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM);
463 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122
(Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM);
777 S New Ballas Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63141
(Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
LabCorp
1035 Bellevue Ave Ste 314, Richmond Heights, MO 63117
(Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM);
6555 Chippewa St Ste 100, Saint Louis, MO 63109
(Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM);
28 Ronnies Plz, Saint Louis, MO 63126
(Mon-Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
747 N New Ballas Road Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM)
You can find all STDCheck locations in St. Louis simply by entering your zip code in the convenient Find-a-Lab tool on the official website.
STD Testing At Clinics
Here are some of the clinics in St. Louis that offer STD testing services:
St. Gabriel Clinic Urgent Care
6113 Ridge Ave, St. Louis, MO 63133, United States
(Mon-Sat 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM);
+1 314-230-9050
North Central Community Health Center
4000 Jennings Station Rd, St. Louis, MO 63121, United States
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
+1 314-615-9700
Washington University Infectious Diseases Clinic
620 S Taylor Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
(Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM);
+1 314-362-9098
24/7 Healthcare (Downtown St. Louis)
916 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63101, United States
(Open 24 hours);
+1 636-253-3000
Southampton Healthcare Inc
2340 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139, United States
(Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM);
+1 314-647-2200
North City Urgent Care
6113 Ridge Ave, St. Louis, MO 63133, United States
(Mon-Sat 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM);
+1 314-932-1213
Total Access Urgent Care
6900 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109, United States
(Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM);
+1 314-899-9344
Free STD Testing
St. Louis features the following options for potentially free STD testing:
St. Louis County Health Centers (free HIV testing):
- John C. Murphy Health Center, 314-615-0500 (Main), 314-615-0560 (Appointment Line);
- N. Central Community Health Center, 314-679-7800 (Main), 314-679-7812 (Appointment Line)
- S. County Health Center, 314-615-0400 (Main), 314-615-0444 (Appointment Line)
St. Louis Efforts for AIDs (free STD testing)
1027 S. Vandeventer Ave, #700, St. Louis, MO 63110;
314-645-6451
The SPOT (free STD testing/14-24 yrs. only)
4169 Laclede Ave, 1st Floor, St. Louis, MO 63108;
314-535-0413
Jefferson County Health Department (call for available sessions)
1818 Lonedell, Arnold, MO 63010;
636-282-1010
St. Louis also features two Planned Parenthood offices:
Planned Parenthood – Reproductive Health Services of PPSLR
4251 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108, United States;
+1 314-531-7526
Planned Parenthood – South Grand Health Center
3401 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118, United States;
+1 314-865-1850