Skip the Clinic With These At-Home STI Tests

Home STI testing doesn’t get any more thorough than MyLAB Box’s 14-panel Total Box. The testing kit comes with everything you need to test multiple infection-prone sites, and the option for women over 30 to add on HPV testing.

If you want to cover all your STI bases, there’s no more comprehensive at-home test kit than MyLAB Box’s Total Box. Not only does the Total Box offer testing for 14 different STIs, but it also comes with everything you need to test every potential infection site, including vaginal, anal, and oral swab collection kits, a urine collection kit, and lancets for drawing blood via a finger-prick. We also love that there’s the option for women over 30 to add on an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer. 

Founded in California in 2013, MyLAB Box was among the first wave of companies to sell at-home STI test kits directly to users. According to the company’s website, all of its tests are either FDA-approved or FDA-authorized and it partners with labs that are CLIA- and CAP-certified—the gold standards for diagnostic analyses in the U.S. 

MyLAB Box is now a pretty well-oiled machine, offering more than a dozen STI tests and bundles. Prices start at about $60 for a test kit for a single STI, but the Total Box, MyLAB Box’s most extensive test kit goes for a costly $369 (although you can save 15% with a subscription). 

Once you place an order, your test kit will ship free and arrive within three days. After you collect your samples and send them back, it should take about another two to five days to days to get the results back. And, if you test positive for anything, you have the option to schedule a free consultation with a medical provider, who may be able to prescribe medication, depending on the STI. 

But a word of caution: “Some users have complained of longer than advertised shipping/turnaround time, which is one of the big ‘perks’ of using a testing service like MyLab Box,” says nurse and industry expert, Lindsay Modglin.

If you need to know your STI status ASAP, it’s hard to beat the speed of HealthLabs.com. While you will have to go to a lab, you can have samples taken the same day you order your test, and get your results in three days or less.

Sometimes things happen faster IRL. If you need to get STI answers ASAP, it’s hard to beat the speed of HealthLabs.com. Yes, you’ll need to visit a lab to get your blood and urine samples taken, but at least you won’t have to deal with shipping (or pricking your own finger).  

“The company has a network of over 4,500 labs located nationwide, which allows customers to find an in-network lab close to them,” explains Modglin. “This helps ensure samples are collected properly for higher accuracy levels. However, they don't accept insurance, which creates a barrier for some.”

You can easily order your own tests online from Healthlabs.com—we’re fans of the $139 Comprehensive STD Panel, which includes testing for 10 of the most common STIs. Then, head straight to the lab, no appointment needed (although making one may prevent you from having to wait). Healthlabs.com partners with Quest Diagnostics, so there are more than 4,000 locations to choose from across the U.S. 

After your samples have been collected, expect to get emailed results within one to three days. Your results will tell you if you’ve tested positive for anything and offer a brief explanation, but a provider will not automatically call you. However, “They do offer a physician consultation when results warrant it, which helps with interpretation and follow-up,” Modglin says, and you can call HealthLabs’s education specialists for assistance with interpreting your results.

The Love Box from MyLAB Box is a unique kit designed for you and your partner to test together so you can have peace of mind before you get intimate. 

You and your partner should get to leave your worries on the other side of the bedroom door. Testing together with MyLAB Box’s unique Love Box is a great way to keep each other safe when things get sexy. By buying this $378 double-box which includes two eight-panel tests, you save $20 compared to buying two Uber boxes, which contain the same eight tests. 

We love that MyLAB Box offers options to order “male + male,” “female + female” and “male + female” couples kits (though we’d like to see some more modern terms). Depending on which option you choose, your Love Box will come with tools to collect a urine sample from people with a vagina or a vaginal swab and several lancets to collect blood from finger pricks (no sharing!).

Collect your samples, send them back to the lab with the prepaid postage included, and keep an eye on your email to see your results online. Be aware that it could take a while, according to Modglin, so if you and your partner need results urgently, you might be better off getting tested individually via another company. 

If there are any positive results, you can have a free consultation with a physician from your state, who may also be able to prescribe medications (which you’ll pay for at your pharmacy).

Quest is trusted by doctors across the U.S.—and it has the research to back up the accuracy of its tests.

Quest has been around since 1967 and is one of the most recognizable names in diagnostic testing,” says Modglin. “Its reputation is generally positive, which says something given its longevity.” Despite Quest’s direct-to-consumer arm being new-ish (it was launched in 2018), “it's still one of the most established testing companies to offer at-home testing,” Modglin adds. 

With Quest’s STI testing, you get everything but the visit to the doctor. “Simply go to Quest’s site and choose the test you’d like to order. We particularly like the $199 STD Basic Panel, which includes testing for four of the most pervasive STIs. A physician will review your test order (tacking on a $9 fee), and once it’s approved, you can schedule a time to get tested at a lab, often on the same day.

While all the companies on this list analyze samples at CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratories (the gold standard), Quest wins for accuracy because all of its STI panels have been independently validated in studies published in academic journals. That’s a big deal and confirms that every test on its 10-test panel is between 90% and 99%—up to snuff with the FDA and tests ordered by medical providers.

Safe sex shouldn’t break the bank or require insurance—and it won’t with Everylwell’s comprehensive but cost-effective STI tests.

At $169 each, Everlywell’s STD tests are simply the best bang for your buck. Since its beginnings on the reality TV show "Shark Tank," Everlywell has taken off and remained at the bleeding edge of home health testing. Like the other tests on our lists, Everylwell analyzes customer samples at CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratories across the country and claims its tests are 99% or more accurate. 

We love that Everlywell offers two versions of the same panel tests for six STIs, each with appropriate tools to self-collect samples from a person with a vagina or penis (though, again, we wish they’d choose better names for the two tests than “female” and “male”). While the results may take a little longer to get back—between five and seven days—the outcomes of your tests will be available in an easy-to-read format.

Better yet, a medical provider from Everlywell will call you and prescribe medication if any of your results are abnormal (but you will have to pay for the medication, either out of pocket or through your insurance). But be advised that if you run into any issues, customer service is sometimes slow to respond, Modglin warns.

There’s only one FDA-approved early-detection test for HIV—and STDCheck.com has it. 

HIV is now a very manageable infection, but the earlier you test positive, the easier it is to prevent the virus from progressing into AIDS. However, HIV can still be a life-changing diagnosis, so you want to be sure that your test is accurate. Enter: STDCheck.com’s early HIV detection test. The testing company uses the only early detection test approved by the FDA. The early detection test detects the genetic material of the virus, called RNA, which can be detected in as little as nine to 11 days after exposure. Other tests look for antibodies to HIV, which are immune cells that develop later to try to fight the infection. These aren’t detectable until 23 to 90 days after exposure.

STDCheck.com’s early detection HIV test can be purchased on its own for $119, or as an addition to the company’s 10 Test Panel for $259 (which is a steal for total peace of mind). The only drawback to using this test is that you will have to go to a lab to get your blood drawn, rather than taking your own samples at home. But we think this is the kind of test that’s worth leaving home for.

“STDcheck.com partners with accredited laboratories to ensure sample accuracy, which reduces the risk of user error,” says Modglin. “This is important, as incorrect test results can lead to misdiagnosis or even delayed diagnosis.” And, results are quick: Expect them back in a couple of days, according to STDCheck.com’s website.

Herpes is the second most common STI, yet tests for it can be hard to come by. LetsGetChecked offers testing for both genital and oral herpes at an affordable price.

Herpes 1 and 2—usually thought of as “oral” and “genital” herpes—are a hard-to-diagnose pair of STIs. Genital herpes can be passed on orally and oral herpes can be passed on genitally. If you want to know if you have either and which one, you can order this $119 test for both from LetsGetChecked without a prescription.

“That allows many to access testing when they may not have otherwise,” says Modglin. “However, allowing customers to purchase without a prescription can be risky, as it reduces the responsibility of healthcare providers to ensure tests are ordered appropriately and results are interpreted correctly. The fact that LetsGetChecked offers affordable virtual consultations and treatment options after testing positive is a plus, but users are responsible for being proactive about the follow-up.” 

LetsGetChecked’s kits come in discreet packaging that includes lancets and a blood spot card so you can prick your finger and send in a blood sample. Within two to five days of the company receiving your sample, your results will be sent to your online account. If you are positive for either herpes 1 or 2, a medical provider from LetsGetChecked may call you to discuss your results and treatment options with you. It’s not clear whether you are guaranteed a call if you test positive, or whether this provider will necessarily prescribe you medication if you need it, though the company does offer some mailed prescriptions. 

It’s worth noting that the CDC and most doctors don’t recommend testing for herpes if you don’t have symptoms. Herpes 1 and 2 are extremely common but hard to diagnose, in part because it’s tricky to time testing just right to get an accurate result. So consider how likely it is you’ve been exposed to herpes, how long it’s been, and what you hope to gain by ordering your own test for this STI.

Not only can iDNA’s HPV test tell you whether you have the most common STI in the U.S., but it specifically looks for the 14 types of HPV linked to cancers, arming you with important screening knowledge.

HPV is everywhere. Nearly everyone who is sexually active will get infected with some form of the virus over the course of their lives; it usually causes no symptoms and goes away on its own. But knowing if you have one of 14 high-risk versions is a powerful step in screening for genital, anal, head and neck, and cervical cancers. You can take that first step with iDNA’s at-home HPV test, which detects all of the types of HPV that can cause cancer. 

We like that this test lets you start the screening process for an affordable $88, and that iDNA actually explains the method it uses to analyze urine samples (for people with a penis) or vaginal swabs. Within about a week, you’ll get results that very clearly tell you whether any of the 14 high-risk forms of HPV were detected. 

However, the report doesn’t give you a ton of additional information and advises you to take the results to your own doctor or separately book a telemedicine consultation with one of iDNA’s doctors.

“I'm generally not a fan of services that don't provide follow-up services and education with the tests,” says Modglin. We are all for taking charge of your own health, but be sure you’re ready for the possibility of news that may be upsetting and have the proper support of medical providers and loved ones before testing yourself.

A year of free unlimited messaging with medical providers after taking your first home STI test? Yes, please and thanks—to Nurx’s Basics Covered Home Test Kit. 

While most STIs can be managed easily, a positive test can still be stressful. That’s why we appreciate the ongoing medical care you get when you opt for Nurx’s Basics Covered STI Home Test Kit. 

The kit itself costs $150, plus a $14.50 service fee if you don’t have insurance. Nurx accepts most insurance, which can bring the price of the kit down to about $30-$45. “The biggest advantage of using NURX is for those who have insurance, as many testing companies with similar products don't accept insurance,” says Modglin. However, she warns that there are cost discrepancies across Nurx’s website. “This could lead to confusion and frustration when ordering,” Modglin says. 

The kit tests for four of the most common STIs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV I and II—but you can also opt for its Full Control or Health V Kits if you want a wider array of tests. The home collection kit comes with tools to collect a urine sample and blood sample via a quick finger-prick.  

It may take a week to get your results, but the wait may be worth it to get a follow-up from a medical provider, whether or not you test positive for anything, plus free unlimited messaging with licensed providers for a year. In addition, Nurx operates its own online pharmacy so, if you do test positive, its team of healthcare professionals can likely prescribe medications to be delivered to your door. 

While we love the ongoing care that Nurx offers, be aware that some customers have been frustrated by delays. “Top complaints include poor customer service, long waits for medication delivery, and unhelpful responses to issues,” says Modglin. If you’re looking for speedy results over in-depth insights into what they mean, Nurx may not be the best option for you. “Customer reviews are more negative than I'd like to see.