Getting Tested for STDs in Redwood City, CA

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing in Redwood City is confidential and widely available. You can test after a possible exposure, before a new relationship, or as part of routine screening at clinics, health centers, and private labs.

Your main choice for STD testing is usually where to go. Some sites focus on lower-cost care, while others offer faster turnaround times or walk-in availability. In San Mateo County, chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD, followed by gonorrhea, so many routine screenings include both tests.

If you want clear answers, testing is the next step. Redwood City offers in-person and at-home options, so you can choose the setting that fits your schedule, budget, and privacy preferences. For statewide resources, explore STD testing in California.

Find an STD Testing Location in Redwood City, CA

STD testing is available in Redwood City through clinics, health centers, and nearby hospital systems. You can find locations along El Camino Real, Middlefield Rd., and Douglas Ave., with additional options in San Mateo and Palo Alto. A health care provider can help you choose the right tests based on your symptoms, sexual history, and the timing of a possible exposure.

What to expect from STD testing

STD Testing Options in Redwood City, CA

You can choose STD testing in Redwood City based on privacy, turnaround time, and whether you want to see a clinician during the visit.

  • In-clinic testing: You can test through a primary care office, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), urgent care, or a public health clinic if you want help choosing tests and reviewing results.
  • Community or public health clinics: These clinics can be a good fit if cost or insurance is a concern, and some offer broader sexual health services.
  • Private lab testing: LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics collection sites in the area may offer sample collection by appointment when a provider or clinic orders testing.
  • At-home testing: at-home STD tests let you collect a sample at home and mail it to a certified lab. Results are posted in a secure online portal.
STD testing options in Redwood City

When Should I Get Tested for STDs?

If you’re sexually active in Redwood City, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most commonly reported STDs in San Mateo County. Routine screening covers both and takes less than 10 minutes, which makes it an easy part of ongoing sexual health maintenance. Testing makes sense if you have a new partner, more than one partner, a partner who may have other partners, or symptoms like unusual discharge or burning when you urinate. Many STDs have no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know, and the CDC recommends routine screening for sexually active people based on age and risk. A healthcare provider can help you choose the right tests for your history.

What Will Be Tested in an STD Panel?

You can ask for individual STD tests or a full panel. A clinic or health care provider can help match testing to your symptoms, sexual history, and timing.

Here is what a testing visit usually includes:

  1. Check in at the front desk or complete online registration
  2. Provide a urine sample, blood sample, or swab based on the tests ordered
  3. Wait for results, which are often ready within one to three business days for lab-based tests

A routine STD panel may include:
– Chlamydia
– Gonorrhea
– HIV 1 and 2
– Syphilis

A full-panel STD test may also include:
– Herpes (oral, genital)
– Hepatitis (A, B, C)

For general screening guidance by age and risk, review the CDC’s STI screening recommendations and confirm the right panel with a clinician.

How Much Will STD Testing Cost in Redwood City, CA?

Costs in Redwood City range from free to about $250, depending on the provider and the tests you need. Most insurance plans cover preventive STD screening at 100% with no copay. If you do not have insurance, community clinics such as Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Redwood City Health Center and Fair Oaks Health Center may offer sliding-scale pricing or free services for people who qualify. Private options often cost more, and at-home STD tests cost about $169.

How Fast Will I Get My Test Results in Redwood City, CA?

Most lab-based STD test results in Redwood City are ready within one to three business days. Some clinics also offer same-day HIV testing.

Turnaround time can vary by site. Community clinics may take longer because of appointment demand or lab volume, while bacterial STD results for chlamydia and gonorrhea are often ready within a few business days. Before your visit, ask how results will be shared, whether through a patient portal, phone call, or follow-up appointment.

STI Statistics in San Mateo County, CA

In San Mateo County, chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD, with a rate of 360.4 cases per 100,000 people. That helps explain why routine screening often includes chlamydia even when you do not have symptoms.

Gonorrhea also remains part of the local picture, with 910 reported cases. Together, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis accounted for 3,595 reported cases in the latest CDC STI statistics.

HIV is also part of routine screening for many people in the area. San Mateo County had 1,707 people living with HIV in the latest CDC data, and many testing visits include HIV screening along with chlamydia and gonorrhea.



Cities Near Redwood City, CA for STD Testing

Free STD Testing Centers in Redwood City, CA

Free and low-cost STD testing is available in Redwood City and nearby cities. Community clinics can be a good option if you want confidential care, do not have insurance, or do not have a regular provider. Services and hours can change, so check the clinic website or call before you go.

AIDS Community Research Consortium (ACRC)

  • Address: 855 Douglas Ave., Redwood City, CA 94063
  • Number: (650) 364-6563
  • Hours: Not listed

Edison STD Clinic

  • Address: 222 W. 39th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403
  • Number: (650) 573-2385
  • Hours: Not listed

Fair Oaks Health Center

  • Address: 2710 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City, CA 94063
  • Number: (650) 578-7141
  • Hours: Not listed

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Redwood City Health Center

  • Address: 2907 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94061
  • Number: (650) 503-7810
  • Hours:
    • Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Sunday: Closed

Stanford University Medical Center

  • Address: Hoover Pavilion, 211 Quarry Rd., Suite 202, Palo Alto, CA 94304
  • Number: (650) 723-8561
  • Hours: Not listed