Frequently Asked Questions

Around 19 million people in the U.S. will be infected with an STD this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The worst part is that most people don't know they have an STD — no itch, no pain, no burns, no signs at all. About 50% of all sexually active people will get an STD by they time they are in their mid-20s. Unless you plan on stopping all sexual activity, you're at risk of contracting or spreading STDs. Early detection with highly accurate screening tests can save you from the dangers of advanced disease and prevent others from contracting STDs.

So again, why should you get tested?

• 1) Things can get worse, much worse.
• 2) Early detection can prevent the infection from getting worse.
• 3) You may unknowingly be putting other people's health in danger.
• 4) Knowing is always better.

By testing direct, you'll save up to 50% of the cost of a doctor visit for the same high-quality tests. How do we do it? We have negotiated excellent pricing for our high volume service and we pass along the savings to you. You also save the cost of a doctor's office visit, which can cost on average $100...and that's before you order any tests.

We saw the need for private, fast, high-quality testing for busy people. We are fierce about protecting your privacy and believe you should be in control of your health information. STD Test Express offers the same high quality tests doctors use at 50% the cost. No appointments, no waiting for weeks for results. If your results are positive, we connect you with a physician to answer any questions and, when appropriate, prescribe treatment. There is no other online service that offers this revolutionary innovation in healthcare.

In most states, yes. It is our policy, however, to have doctors order all lab tests purchased with STD Test Express.

No, the tests we offer require blood and urine samples for screening and do not require a physical exam. If you are experiencing symptoms, please see a doctor. Note that we do not test for genital warts (HPV). Why? HPV tests are only approved for use in women as part of cervical cancer screening. If you are sexually active and/or 21 years of age or older, talk with your health care provider about Pap tests and cervical cancer prevention.

Our service is available in all states except New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

Yes. Please do not urinate for 1 hour prior to getting tested. You do not need to fast.

Results are usually ready in 2 to 3 business days. Certain tests, including the HIV DNA test, can take up to five days to process. When your results are ready, you'll receive an email from "PHN Services" instructing you to sign-in to your account. A physician will be available within 3 hours or at a time of your choosing to answer your questions if positive, excluding Herpes 1 (HSV-1). The physician can discuss followup treatment and, if necessary, prescribe medication that can be picked up at your local pharmacy. The cost of the phone call? It's free.

In order to protect the privacy of our customers regarding this sensitive healthcare service we use "PHN Services" (Physician Health Network) as the identifier in our emails and credit card processing. Many of our customers appreciate this more general brand appearing on their documents.

If you results are positive, except Herpes 1 (HSV-1) tests, you can speak with a doctor in about an hour or you can schedule an appointment to speak at your convenience. Seven days a week...at no extra cost.

If you are positive, you will need to speak with a doctor on the phone about your results and discuss followup treatment. Depending on your case, he or she may want you to have another test in a few weeks for confirmation that you, in fact, have an infection. There is a chance of a false-positive result, which means that you may have a positive test result but not have an infection. That's why re-testing may be recommended so you can be sure. Or, he or she may decide to prescribe treatment for you. If that's the case, the prescription can be called into your local pharmacy for pickup. You'll also need to let your recent partners know that you've been infected with an STD so they can get tested too.

Yes. Getting re-infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea, for example, can happen if you have unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. Or, if you are infected and do not take your medication as prescribed, the bacteria may not clear up. You can also have more than one STD at a time. And viral infections such as herpes and HIV can be managed but cannot be cured.

An example of our test results can be found here. After we notify you that your results are ready, the report can then be accessed and printed via our secure website www.stdtestexpress.com/my-account/.

The laboratory which processes your tests is the same CLIA-certified facility doctors and hospitals use. We work exclusively with LabCorp, one of the nation's largest diagostic laboratories. LabCorp operates a sophisticated network and processes over 400,000 samples each day. LabCorp is a pioneer in applying advances in medicine to diagnostic testing, esoteric testing, genomics, and clinical and anatomic pathology.