This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

You can get tested in San Antonio without insurance. Several local clinics offer free testing, and others charge based on income. This guide shows how to compare your options, what to ask before you go, and which warning signs to watch for.

It covers cheap STD testing in San Antonio from the health department, community clinics and state programs. It also explains why the question "how much is an STD test" has no single answer.

Why STD test cost varies so much

An STD test is not one product. It is a set of separate tests, and each one looks for a different infection. A clinic may offer a single test, a small group of tests, or a full panel.

That is why the same visit can cost nothing at one place and more at another. When you compare an STD test cost, compare what is included, not only the price.

Many local providers publish little about price. When a page does not list a cost, it is reasonable to call and ask. That is a normal question, and staff hear it every day.

Why testing is worth considering in Bexar County

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported 12,305 chlamydia cases in Bexar County in 2022. It reported 5,983 gonorrhea cases, a rate of 290.5 per 100,000 people. For the same year, DSHS reported a statewide gonorrhea rate of 207.0 per 100,000.

DSHS also reported 500 primary and secondary syphilis cases in Bexar County in 2022, a rate of 24.3 per 100,000. The statewide rate that year was 15.5.

For HIV, CDC's 2024 surveillance tables show a Bexar County rate of 21.1 new diagnoses per 100,000 people aged 13 and older. The Texas rate for the same age group is 19.4.

These numbers describe a community, not you. They are one reason the CDC recommends that sexually active people ask a clinician which tests fit their situation.

What to look for in a testing option

Quality here means a few practical things. A good option is clear about what it tests, how you get results, and what happens if a result needs follow-up.

Clear list of tests included

Ask which infections the visit covers. Local clinics describe their services in different ways. The San Antonio AIDS Foundation lists rapid HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. The Alamo Area Resource Center lists HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Neither page lists everything. If you are thinking about an infection that is not named, such as trichomoniasis, herpes or HPV, ask the clinic whether it is offered. Do not assume it is.

A way to get treatment or a referral

Testing is most useful when the clinic can also help with the next step. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV cannot be cured, but they can be treated and managed.

Ask whether the clinic treats infections on site or refers you. Metro Health's STI Walk-In Clinic and Kind Clinic both list treatment among their services.

Privacy and ID rules

Rules differ by site. Metro Health's STI Walk-In Clinic requires a current photo ID and does not offer anonymous testing. Other providers describe their testing as confidential. Ask how results are shared and who can see them.

Result timing

Rapid HIV tests give a quick result. Lab-based tests take longer. The San Antonio AIDS Foundation says its gonorrhea and chlamydia results take 7 to 10 days through the DSHS lab. Ask how you will be told, and what happens if the clinic cannot reach you.

Key features to compare

Use this list when you call or look at a clinic's page.

Price: Is the test free, a flat fee, or based on income? Are there separate fees for the visit?
Tests included: Which infections, and from which body sites if that applies to you?
Walk-in or appointment: Can you come without booking?
Hours: Is there evening or Saturday access?
ID and eligibility: Do you need a photo ID or proof of residence?
Treatment: Can the clinic treat you the same visit or soon after?
Prevention services: PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP, if you want to talk about them.

What San Antonio providers publish about cost

The table below uses only what each provider's own page says. Hours can change, so confirm before you go.

Setting	Provider	Published cost
Health department	Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic	$15 office visit administrative fee. Other fees vary by service.
Community organization	San Antonio AIDS Foundation	Screening and confirmatory services listed as free.
Community organization	Alamo Area Resource Center	Testing listed as free.
Community clinic	Kind Clinic, Isom Road	Walk-in testing listed as free. Costs for other visits are not stated.
Community organization	BEAT AIDS	Testing listed as free and confidential.
Sliding scale	CommuniCare Apollo Wellness Clinic	Sliding fee discount for self-pay patients with family income under 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
Sliding scale	CentroMed	Sliding fee scale by income and family size. CentroMed says no one is denied for inability to pay.

Two common settings are missing from that table: urgent care and online lab-order services. No local urgent care price list is published by the health department, and prices for lab-order services vary. Neither is a recommendation. If you consider one, ask for the total price in writing before the sample is taken.

Options at different price points

These are not rankings. They are groups of options, arranged from lowest published cost to income-based pricing.

Free testing

Three local organizations list testing as free.

San Antonio AIDS Foundation (SAAF): 818 E. Grayson Street, (210) 225-4715. No appointment needed. Hours listed: Monday 8:30 to 4:00, Tuesday 12:00 to 8:00, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 to 4:00, Friday 9:00 to 1:00, Saturday 11:00 to 3:00, Sunday closed. See the SAAF testing page.
Alamo Area Resource Center (AARC): 303 N. Frio, (210) 625-7200. Walk-ins are listed Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday until 8 p.m. See the AARC testing page.
Kind Clinic, 730 Isom Road: Walk-in testing is listed as free. The clinic's general support line is 833-937-5463, and no location-specific number is listed. Walk-in testing hours differ from clinic hours, so call first. See Kind Clinic locations.

BEAT AIDS also lists free, confidential HIV and STD testing. Its site does not say which San Antonio location does the testing, so call 210.212.2266 and ask before you go. Its homepage is beataids.org.

Low flat fee

Metro Health's STI Walk-In Clinic is at 512 E. Highland, Suite 150, phone 210-207-8830. Its page lists a $15 office visit administrative fee and says other fees vary by service. Ask what additional fees could apply to the tests you want.

Metro Health lists these hours: Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the latest check-in at 3 p.m. Friday it is 7:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with the latest check-in at 10:30 a.m. Check-in may close early when the clinic is at capacity, so arriving early helps.

Eligibility matters. The clinic serves residents of San Antonio and Bexar County, and people with no other means of getting STI services. A photo ID is required. Details are on the Metro Health walk-in clinic page.

Income-based pricing

CommuniCare's Apollo Wellness Clinic, 6511 W Loop 1604 N, Ste. 105, lists STD and HIV screening and testing. The phone is (726) 224-3438, and listed hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its sliding fee discount applies to self-pay patients with family income under 200% of federal poverty guidelines. See the CommuniCare testing page.

CentroMed lists screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases under its women's services, with a sliding fee scale by income and family size. Its page lists several clinics but no single testing address, so call 210-922-7000 to ask where to go. See CentroMed women's health.

Free tests mailed to your home

Test for Texas, a DSHS program, offers free mailed at-home kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. It is open to anyone in Texas aged 13 or older, and no insurance is needed. You order at testfortexas.org. DSHS says results arrive in a secure portal seven business days after the sample reaches the lab.

This can suit people who cannot get to a clinic during open hours. A home sample does not replace a conversation with a clinician if you have symptoms or need treatment.

For HIV only, the CDC-funded Together TakeMeHome program mails free self-tests to people aged 17 and older. Details are on its FAQ page.

Questions to ask about bundled panels

A panel groups several tests into one order. That can be convenient. It can also add tests you did not need, or leave out one you wanted.

Which infections are in the panel, by name?
Is each one priced separately, or is there one total?
Is the visit fee separate from the lab fee?
Will I get a separate bill from an outside lab?
What follow-up testing or treatment costs extra?

The USPSTF and CDC recommend screening based on factors such as age, pregnancy and sexual practices. A clinician can help you choose which tests make sense, so you pay for what fits your situation.

Medicaid and Texas programs

If you have Medicaid or another coverage you were not sure about, ask each clinic whether it bills it. The providers above do not publish Medicaid details on the pages reviewed for this guide, so call to confirm. The Metro Health PrEP Clinic page says its team helps people regardless of their financial situation.

For prevention medicine, the Texas DSHS PrEP page says PrEP is free for many insured people and lists PrEP navigators who help people find ways to pay. It also links a directory of PrEP prescribers. Locally, the Metro Health PrEP Clinic is at 512 E. Highland Blvd., Ste. 150, phone 210-207-7292.

Doxy-PEP is a CDC-recognized prevention option (2024) that a clinician decides on case by case. SAAF lists it among its services. Kind Clinic says it is available to its own patients only. Ask each clinic about eligibility.

Red flags to avoid

Most cost surprises come from unclear information, not bad intent. Watch for these signs.

No list of what is tested. A clear provider can tell you which infections are included.
A price that changes at the desk. Ask for the total in writing before a sample is taken.
Claims that a test is perfect. No test is guaranteed. A clinician can explain what a result means and when to retest.
Pressure to buy extra tests or products. A good clinic explains why each test is suggested.
No plan for follow-up. Ask what happens if a result needs treatment.
Websites with unrelated ads. BEAT AIDS's clinic page, for example, contained unrelated links advertising medicines without a prescription. If a page looks off, call the number on the clinic's homepage instead.

Privacy and rights in Texas

Under Texas Family Code Section 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease. DSHS states this includes HIV. Parent or guardian consent is not necessary.

The same statute lets a physician tell a parent or guardian about treatment. It is permitted, not required. A teen who wants privacy should ask the clinic about its practice before the visit.

Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions. That means labs and clinicians report positive results to public health authorities, who use them for tracking and follow-up. Ask a clinic how it handles this if you have concerns.

If a result is positive, Texas rules allow expedited partner therapy in some situations, according to the CDC's legal status page for Texas. Ask the clinician whether it applies to you.

Where to start

Start with the option that fits your schedule and budget. If you want walk-in testing at no cost, call SAAF, AARC or Kind Clinic. If you want a health department visit and can bring a photo ID, look at Metro Health. If you prefer to test at home, order through Test for Texas.

You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov to find more sites by ZIP code. For addresses, hours and what each clinic tests for, see our list of San Antonio clinics and what they offer.

Whatever you choose, tell the clinician about any symptoms and about recent partners or exposures. That helps them pick the right tests. Asking about cost first is a sensible step, and it does not delay care.

Low-Cost STD Testing in San Antonio Without Insurance