Most reliable STI testing options available
1. NHS Testing Services The NHS provides free and confidential STI testing across the UK. You can access these services at sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and some GP practices. Testing is typically available for common infections like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. Appointments are often required, but many clinics also offer walk-in services as well as postal at home kits as well. Results can be quick, but does depend if you are in a big city (usually a quick turn around) compared to a small city or more rural location (slower turn around due to transport and reduced funding) and follow-up care is included if needed.
2. Private Clinics For those seeking faster results or more privacy, private sexual health clinics offer a range of testing options. These clinics are ideal if you’d like to avoid waiting times or access additional services like HPV or herpes testing (please note a blood test for HSV should rarely ever be done as it is not beneficial for you, private clinics offer blood HSV tests against most national guidelines, usually because its a good money earner). Costs vary, so it’s worth comparing providers. Ensure the clinic is accredited and follows strict confidentiality protocols. Or if you live in the UK, just use an NHS clinic. If your local NHS sexual health clinic is very busy then investigate clinics further away.
3. At-Home Testing Kits At-home testing kits provide a discreet and convenient way to check for STIs. These kits can be ordered online (usually from your nearest sexual health NHS clinic, from their web page) and delivered in plain packaging. You simply collect a sample (urine, swab, or blood) and send it to a lab for analysis. Look for kits that are CE-marked or FDA-approved to ensure reliability. Results are usually delivered within a few days, often through a secure online portal.
Recommended providers include:
Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor
LetsGetChecked
SH:24 (free services in some areas of the UK)
4. Free Testing Services for Under-25s Many local councils and organizations offer free chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing for individuals under 25. These services are often available through schools, colleges, and community centers, making it easy for young people to access care.
5. Community-Based Testing Events Some charities, like the Terence Higgins Trust and other organizations, host testing events, particularly for HIV and hepatitis. These events are often targeted at high-risk groups and provide rapid testing results, sometimes within 15 minutes.
6. Pharmacy-Based Testing Certain pharmacies now offer free STI testing services, including rapid tests for HIV. These are convenient if you need quick results without visiting a clinic. Pharmacists can also advise on follow-up care and treatments if needed. Most pharmacies don’t have free services and you will have to pay for the tests, see the best tests we think you can get online below.
7. Buying an independent rapid at home tests There are many at home rapid results testing kits. We suggest tests should be used as preliminary screening; please see a medical professional for a confirmed diagnosis. All results should be interpreted together with other clinical information available to the physician, and need to be repeated in clinic to confirm the result. below is a list of what we think are the best tests that are available in the UK (and in other countries as well).
Home tests lists by infection:
HIV:
Newfoundland HIV Test Kit*, read the instructions carefully, everything within a single unit.
Syphilis: Important to understand that all home syphilis test kits are antibody test kits. So if you have had syphilis previously then don’t do this test, you need to go to a sexual health clinic to get a full range test done (antibody and RPR result, RPR is a type of indication of syphilis activity). The RPR test cannot be tested at home.
SELFCHECK Syphilis test*, made in France with a CE mark, good reviews. We currently think this is the best and most trust worthy test on the internet.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea:
THERE ARE NO VIABLE TESTS WHERE YOU GET RAPID RESULTS AT HOME. All chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests have to be send away tests. There involve a complex labratory method to extract the DNA to detect the infection and currently this cannot be done at home. Any tests which say they can give instant, accurate results at home are usually from unreliable sources. Get your tests from NHS or a trusted UK charity, company or other organisation. See above, they will send you the test and you can send it back for the tests to be processed and the results sent to you, usually by text (SMS) message. Can use the freetest.me website for a free kit sent to your home, do the test and get the results in a couple of days.
Hepatitis B:
No reliable home test kits known, we advise to do a home postal test kit.
Hepatitis C:
No reliable home test kits known, we advise to do a home postal test kit.
Herpes (HSV):
We DO NOT RECOMMEND ANY home testing for Herpes (HSV) by any means. Herpes is a very common infection with 90% of the population having some form of herpes by the time they are 50 years of age. Stigmatizing a common infection is not helpful to the individual or society at large. If you get sores on the mouth and they are cold-sores then this is herpes. Sores on the genitals could be herpes, but could also be something else. Go to a sexual health clinic and ask for a swab of the sores, this is the only sure method and correct method of testing for herpes. The only exception to this is if you are pregnant. If you have caught herpes in the third trimester, then your baby is at risk of neonatal herpes which can carry a high morbidity and mortality rate. In these circumstances of pregnancy then you should get a blood test to find out if you have herpes new infection (more of a risk to the baby during birth) or old infection (risk reduced but not zero).
Thrush: Thrush test kits usually rely on a pH difference. Many tests also test for BV and TV but are unable to distinguish between the later two infections. Feel free to do the test, but if you have the symptoms maybe better to just treat. If unsure call your local sexual health center and they can advise.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Home tests usually can’t differentiate between BV and TV, so if unsure speak to your local sexual health clinic as they can visualize directly under a microscope as well as doing direct lab tests.
Trichomonas vaginalis (TV): Home tests usually can’t differentiate between BV and TV, so if unsure speak to your local sexual health clinic as they can visualize directly under a microscope as well as doing direct lab tests.