STD Testing in Nashville, TN

Don’t wait to get tested if you think you might have been exposed to an STD or are experiencing symptoms.

STDs are on the rise across the country, and in Tennessee, there is a greater prevalence of common sexually transmitted infections. According to the Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019 STD Surveillance State Ranking report, Tennessee is No. 12 for chlamydia, No. 10 for gonorrhea, No. 21 for syphilis, and No. 27 for congenital syphilis.

There are many low-cost and even free STD testing resources in Nashville. The Sexual Health Center offers partner contact services so you can have the clinic call others who might have been exposed if you test positive. Street Works partners with retailers, barbershops, and others to offer STD testing. Nashville Cares offers services regardless of your financial status.

At-Home STD Testing

Testing for STDs at home is safe, convenient, and private. Performed regularly, it can help you stay healthy and avoid unknowingly transmitting STDs.

You have many options for at-home STD testing. The best at-home STD tests are FDA approved and evaluated for safety and accuracy with fast result turnaround times and support from health care professionals.

At-home STD testing kits should include instructions for collection and test registration, along with materials such as containers and swabs to collect and send your sample to the lab. Most at-home STD tests offer results in about five days through a secure online patient portal.

Choose the STD testing option you’re most comfortable with:

• Private clinic: Your primary care physician or OB-GYN can order STD tests.
• Local lab: Some labs offer direct testing without a doctor’s orders.
• Community clinic: A community clinic, such as city or county clinics, or nonprofit organizations may offer STD testing. Some offer STD tests for free or low cost.

At home: You can test for STDs at home using a kit and send your sample to a lab for analysis.

When Should I Get Tested for STDs?

If you think you might have an STD, it’s best to get tested. STDs don’t go away if you ignore them; they’ll just get worse and could grow into more serious health consequences. If left untreated, some STDs can lead to issues like infertility and more serious infections. You can also spread STDs to sexual partners if you have an untreated infection. Ask your health care provider for STD testing recommendations or follow CDC recommendations for STD testing.

What Will Be Tested in an STD Panel?

You can request specific STD tests or a full panel. An STD clinic can recommend tests based on your sexual health and symptoms. A routine STD panel may include:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• HIV 1 and 2
• Syphilis

A full-panel STD test adds:

• Herpes (oral, genital)
• Hepatitis (A, B, C)

How Much Will STD Testing Cost in Nashville, TN?

The cost of an STD test will vary by location and test type. Some clinics, usually community or nonprofit clinics, offer free or low-cost testing. Labs, clinics, and at-home testing companies may accept insurance to cover or lower your cost of testing. Lab testing fees range from $8 to $150. At home tests cost between $35 and $175 per test.

Do I Need an Appointment for Testing in Nashville, TN?

Appointment policies vary by location, so call ahead or check the clinic website before you head in for a test. Some clinics or testing centers accept walk-ins or have same-day or next-day appointments.

How Fast Will I Get My Test Results in Nashville, TN?

Your STD test results time will depend on the test. Some clinics offer rapid HIV testing, which can offer results in less than 30 minutes. Bacterial STD testing (chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis) takes several days to get results, while viral STD testing (HPV, herpes, or HIV) results can take just one to two days.

Community-based STD testing organizations generate awareness and foster social change while providing access to testing and treatment.

If you’re concerned about visiting your regular doctor or can’t afford the cost of private testing, a community testing center may be able to help. While community testing centers may charge a fee for STD testing, it’s common to find free or low-cost testing from these resources:

Planned Parenthood offers STD testing and treatment at Nashville Health Center. Testing covers a range of possible infections, including bacterial vaginosis, genital warts, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and herpes. This center also provides transmission prevention options such as condoms and HPV vaccines and education on using these methods. Planned Parenthood accepts insurance, including Medicaid, and appointments can be scheduled online. If you do not have insurance, pricing information is available by calling 866-711-1717.

412 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203, 866-711-1717
plannedparenthood.org

Operated by Nashville Public Health, the Sexual Health Center offers a variety of testing, treatment, and counseling options if you think you might have been exposed to an STD. In addition to testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, this health center also provides partner contact services to notify others who might have been exposed, helping to reduce and control the spread of disease. Call 615-340-5647 Monday and Wednesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, the clinic is open until 6 p.m. If you decide to walk in, availability will depend on the staffing that day.

Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 110 Nashville, TN 37209, Multiple Nashville locations, 615-340-5647
nashville.gov

Nashville Public Health’s Sexual Health Center also operates a PrEP clinic that provides pre-exposure prophylaxis prescriptions if you are at a high risk of contracting HIV in addition to standard STD screenings. While insurance information may be requested, you’ll pay a $10 co-pay for screenings and appointments. The staff also work to ensure the affordability of prescriptions through a patient assistance program, helping to reduce the out-of-pocket costs to something more manageable than the $3,000 to $4,000 per month estimated cost of PrEP prescription drugs. If you decide to walk in, arrive before 2:30 p.m.

Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 110 Nashville, TN 37209, 615-340-5647
nashville.gov

Street Works offers community outreach designed to teach about the risks and prevention of STDs, focusing on HIV. It regularly schedules mobile, community-wide HIV awareness events and offers immediate testing at the location, working with various community partners such as barbershops, nail salons, retail shops, and clinics, Street Works passes out free prevention and safer sex kits that include condoms.

1225 9th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208, (615) 259-7676
streetworks.org

If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, Nashville CARES offers free, confidential testing that takes less than three minutes for the initial result. If you test positive, you will be linked to medical care and start medication on the day of diagnosis, be provided counseling to help manage your disease, and case management to help determine any additional services that would help you. Nashville CARES offers all of its services regardless of your financial status. Nashville CARES also provides Hepatitis C, syphilis, and COVID testing with rapid results. Testing is available Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call (615) 761-4474.

633 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, 1-800-845-4266
nashvillecares.org

• CDC | 2019 STD Surveillance Report | Last accessed October 2021
• CDC | Which STD Tests Should I Get? | Last accessed October 2021
• HHS | Your Rights Under HIPAA | Last accessed October 2021