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.

Waiting for std test results can feel long, even when the wait is only a few days. This page answers the questions San Antonio residents ask most about timing, delivery and next steps. It explains how results work in general. A clinician is the only person who can explain your own result.

How Long Results Take

How long do std test results take?

It depends on the test and the place. Rapid tests can return a result during the visit, while lab tests usually take several days. The clinic can tell you the timeline before you leave, so ask at check-in.

Which tests give a result the same day?

Rapid HIV tests are the best known. The Alamo Area Resource Center lists rapid HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C tests done by fingerstick. The San Antonio AIDS Foundation also lists rapid HIV testing.

How long do chlamydia and gonorrhea results take in San Antonio?

The San Antonio AIDS Foundation says its chlamydia and gonorrhea results come back in 7 to 10 days through the state lab (Texas DSHS). Other clinics may differ. Ask the clinic you choose how long it expects.

How long do at-home test results take?

Texas DSHS runs Test for Texas, which mails free kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia to anyone in Texas aged 13 or older. DSHS says results appear in a secure online portal seven business days after the sample reaches the lab. Mail time is extra, so plan for more than a week in total.

Why do some results take longer than others?

Rapid tests screen on the spot. Lab tests are sent out, run in batches and then reviewed. A result that needs a second, confirming test also takes more time.

When to Test

How soon can you test for std after an exposure?

It depends on the infection. A test needs enough time after exposure to detect it, and that time is called the window period. CDC gives specific windows for HIV, and a clinician can advise on the timing for other infections.

What is the window period for HIV tests?

CDC says a nucleic acid test can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure. An antigen/antibody test from a lab blood draw usually works 18 to 45 days after exposure. Fingerstick antigen/antibody tests take 18 to 90 days, and antibody tests, including self-tests, take 23 to 90 days.

Can a test be negative too early?

Yes. A test taken inside the window period may not detect an infection that is there. CDC advises asking a provider whether a repeat test is useful after a recent exposure.

What if I have symptoms?

Tell the clinician about them at the visit. Symptoms can help a clinician choose which tests make sense. Many STIs cause no symptoms at all, so testing is also how people find out.

How Results Are Delivered

How will I get my results?

Delivery varies by clinic. Some give rapid results in person, some call, and some use a secure portal. Ask which method the clinic uses and confirm your contact details before you leave.

Can I test anonymously at Metro Health?

No. The Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland, Suite 150 requires a current photo ID and does not offer anonymous testing. It serves residents of San Antonio and Bexar County and people with no other way to get STI services, per the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Call 210-207-8830 to confirm details.

Will the health department be told about my result?

Possibly. Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions, so labs and clinicians report confirmed cases to public health. For gonorrhea and chlamydia the deadline is within one week, and for primary or secondary syphilis it is within one work day. Ask the clinic how your information is handled.

Can a teenager get results without a parent?

Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets a minor of any age consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease, and parental consent is not needed. The same section says a physician may tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. Ask the clinic about its practice before the visit.

What Results Mean

What does a negative result mean?

It means the test did not detect that infection in the sample. How much weight it carries depends on timing, because of the window period. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test makes sense.

What does a positive result mean?

A positive result means the test detected a sign of that infection. A clinician can explain it and arrange any follow-up testing and care. Many infections have effective options, and the clinician decides what to prescribe.

What does reactive mean?

Reactive means a screening test found something that needs a follow-up test. CDC explains that a reactive HIV screening result is not a final diagnosis on its own. A confirming test comes next, and a clinician explains what it shows.

Can a test result be wrong?

Tests are strong tools, but no test is perfect. Testing too early can miss an infection, and screening tests sometimes need confirming. A clinician can explain how reliable a specific test is for your situation.

After You Get Results

What happens next if a result is positive?

A clinician talks through the result and, if needed, prescribes treatment. CDC says bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable but are treatable or manageable.

Do partners need to know?

Partners may need testing or care too. CDC lists expedited partner therapy as an option in some states. Under Texas rules, per CDC, a clinician can prescribe for the partner of an established patient, so ask your clinician how it works for you.

Should I retest later?

Sometimes. A clinician may suggest retesting after treatment or after a very recent exposure. Follow the clinician's advice about timing.

Free and Low-Cost Testing in San Antonio

Where can I get tested for free or at low cost in San Antonio?

The San Antonio AIDS Foundation and the Alamo Area Resource Center both list free testing, with walk-ins accepted. Kind Clinic at 730 Isom Road lists free walk-in testing, and BEAT AIDS lists free, confidential testing at 210.212.2266. CommuniCare and CentroMed use sliding fee scales. You can compare them on the local testing list.

What does the Metro Health walk-in clinic cost?

Metro Health says it charges a $15 office visit administrative fee, and other fees vary by service. Walk-in hours are Monday to Thursday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the latest check-in at 3 p.m. On Friday it is 7:45 a.m. to noon, with the latest check-in at 10:30 a.m., and check-in may close early at capacity.

How common are STIs in Bexar County?

Texas DSHS reported 5,983 gonorrhea cases in Bexar County in 2022, a rate of 290.5 per 100,000 people. Those numbers are reported cases, so they reflect who was tested. Testing is how people learn their status and get care.

How do I find other testing sites?

CDC runs a testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov that lists sites by ZIP code. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District also publishes STI and HIV services. Call a clinic first to confirm hours and what it tests for.

STD Test Results: How Long They Take and What They Mean