Daily city guide

Free, Low-Cost & Private STD Testing in Nashville, TN

Looking for STD testing in Nashville? Start by comparing Metro Public Health Department’s Sexual Health Center at Lentz, Nashville CARES/CARES 360, Planned Parenthood Nashville, and private lab options.

Metro Nashville’s Sexual Health Center is the official public clinic for confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis. Nashville.gov says the clinic is appointment-based, though walk-ins may be seen depending on staffing and demand. Nashville CARES adds community-based HIV/HCV and STI testing, while Planned Parenthood gives a clinic-based backup if you want another sexual-health provider in the city.

Last source check:

Fact-checked: 2026-06-02. Source links for the Nashville public-health clinics, nonprofit services, CDC locator entries, and official city materials mentioned on this page are listed below.

Source-checked city guide

Written by

STD Test Options Editorial Team

Editorial review

Editorially reviewed against official public-health, clinic, and provider sources where available.

Sources checked

8 source listings and 4 clinic/resource listings. Availability, cost, hours, and appointment rules can change.

Medical review

Not medically reviewed. This guide is informational and is not medical advice.

Best STD testing options in Nashville

Public clinic

Need official clinic care?

Start with Metro Public Health Department’s Sexual Health Center if you need confidential STI/HIV testing, treatment, counseling, PrEP, or public-health follow-up.

See Nashville clinic options

Fast / Private / Self-pay

Need private lab testing?

Best if you want online ordering, upfront self-pay pricing, and a paid option outside public-health or nonprofit clinic workflows.

Check private lab prices

Paid option. Lab visit required. Availability varies by location.

Nonprofit testing

Need community-based testing?

Nashville CARES offers CARES 360 STI testing and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing through My House, with call-ahead caveats.

Compare CARES options

Quick answer: Where should you get STD testing in Nashville?

In Nashville, the best starting point depends on what matters most:

  • Official public clinic: Start with Metro Public Health Department’s Sexual Health Center at Lentz for confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis.
  • Public clinic cost: Metro clinic service documents list costs based on family income with a $10 minimum fee for service, and HIV testing listed as free; confirm current fees when scheduling.
  • Community nonprofit testing: Nashville CARES lists CARES 360 STI/STD testing and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing through My House, with call-ahead guidance for same-day availability.
  • Clinic-based backup: Planned Parenthood Nashville lists STD testing and treatment at 412 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. Its official page says walk-ins are welcome, while CDC GetTested lists the site as appointment required, so call ahead if you are relying on same-day access.
  • Public-health routing backup: If you are unsure whether Metro, Nashville CARES, Planned Parenthood, urgent care, or another provider fits your situation, call the local clinic directly and ask about same-day availability, costs, confidentiality, and treatment follow-up before you go.
  • Recent HIV exposure or urgent symptoms: Do not wait on routine testing if you may need PEP after a recent HIV exposure or if you have severe pain, pelvic pain, testicular pain, sores, fever, or a concerning rash. Use in-person medical care promptly.
  • Fast private testing: Compare private lab testing if you want online ordering, upfront self-pay pricing, or a paid path outside public-health and nonprofit workflows.

Free or low-cost clinics in Nashville

These listings are starting points, not guarantees of availability or price. Call before visiting because hours, eligibility, walk-in availability, and fees can change.

Clinic Address Tests listed Cost / eligibility Appointment Last checked
Metro Public Health Department Sexual Health Center Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 Nashville.gov lists confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis, plus PrEP services through the Sexual Health Center. Metro clinic service documents list cost based on family income with a $10 minimum fee for service and HIV testing as free; confirm current fees when scheduling. Call 615-340-5647 to schedule STD/HIV testing. Nashville.gov says the clinic is appointment-based, with walk-ins possibly seen depending on staffing and demand. Hours are listed Monday–Friday 7:30 am–4 pm. 2026-05-30
Nashville CARES / CARES 360 STI Testing 633 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204 Nashville CARES lists STI/STD testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, herpes, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B/C through CARES 360 Community Clinic. The public CARES STI page does not publish a complete fee table; call to confirm current costs, insurance, and program eligibility. Appointments are listed at 615-499-7406. Confirm current clinic schedule, visit type, and result/follow-up process before visiting. 2026-05-30
Nashville CARES HIV/HCV Testing at My House 442 Metroplex Drive, Building D, Nashville, TN 37211 Nashville CARES lists rapid confidential HIV and hepatitis C testing, with finger-stick results available within minutes. The HIV testing page does not list a fee on the public service page; call before assuming current cost. No appointment necessary. Hours: Mon–Fri 9:15 am–5 pm, final test at 4:30 pm; second Saturday 9 am–12 pm, final test at 11:30 am. Call 800-845-4266 to verify same-day walk-in availability. 2026-05-30
Planned Parenthood Nashville Health Center 412 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37203 Planned Parenthood lists STD testing and treatment at its Nashville center, and CDC NPIN/GetTested listings support that this site is part of the city’s clinic-based testing network. Specific pricing varies by service, insurance, and financial assistance eligibility. Confirm self-pay cost, insurance billing, and medication-related charges before booking. The official center page says walk-ins are welcome, while CDC GetTested lists the site as appointment required. Call 866-711-1717 before relying on same-day access. 2026-06-02

When a private lab option may make more sense in Nashville

Nashville has official public-health and nonprofit testing paths, so private lab testing is usually not the cheapest route. It can still be worth comparing if you:

  • want to order online before visiting a lab;
  • prefer upfront self-pay pricing instead of public clinic or nonprofit intake;
  • want a testing path outside Metro Health, Nashville CARES, or local health-department workflows;
  • need scheduling flexibility and do not need treatment, counseling, or public-health follow-up.

Paid option. Not a substitute for medical care if you have symptoms, need treatment, or need urgent exposure evaluation.

Public clinic vs private lab vs at-home STD testing in Nashville

Option Best for Pros Trade-offs Next step
Metro Sexual Health Center at Lentz Official public clinic testing, treatment, counseling, PrEP, and follow-up Confidential city public-health clinic with income-based cost guidance and HIV testing listed as free in clinic service documents Appointment-based; walk-ins may be limited by staffing and demand See Metro clinic details
Nashville CARES / CARES 360 Community-based STI/STD testing and rapid HIV/HCV testing Lists broad STI/STD testing through CARES 360 and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing at My House STI clinic scheduling and HIV testing locations differ; call ahead to verify same-day availability and fees See Nashville CARES details
Planned Parenthood Nashville Clinic-based sexual health care outside Metro or nonprofit routes Official Nashville center lists STD testing and treatment and may fit users who want another dedicated sexual-health clinic in town Walk-in messaging and CDC appointment listings do not fully match, so confirm same-day access, cost, and insurance rules before going See clinic-based options
Urgent care or in-person medical evaluation New symptoms, recent exposure concerns, or when you may need treatment quickly Better fit than routine screening when you need same-day evaluation, medication, pregnancy-related care, or guidance about HIV PEP timing Cost and privacy practices vary by site, and not every urgent care provides full STI testing or treatment follow-up Use clinic care if symptoms are urgent
Private lab Self-pay privacy, online ordering, scheduling flexibility Useful when you want a paid path outside public-health and nonprofit workflows Paid out of pocket; lab visit still required; not a treatment clinic Check private prices

Metro Sexual Health Center at Lentz

Best for: Official public clinic testing, treatment, counseling, PrEP, and follow-up

Pros: Confidential city public-health clinic with income-based cost guidance and HIV testing listed as free in clinic service documents

Trade-offs: Appointment-based; walk-ins may be limited by staffing and demand

See Metro clinic details

Nashville CARES / CARES 360

Best for: Community-based STI/STD testing and rapid HIV/HCV testing

Pros: Lists broad STI/STD testing through CARES 360 and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing at My House

Trade-offs: STI clinic scheduling and HIV testing locations differ; call ahead to verify same-day availability and fees

See Nashville CARES details

Planned Parenthood Nashville

Best for: Clinic-based sexual health care outside Metro or nonprofit routes

Pros: Official Nashville center lists STD testing and treatment and may fit users who want another dedicated sexual-health clinic in town

Trade-offs: Walk-in messaging and CDC appointment listings do not fully match, so confirm same-day access, cost, and insurance rules before going

See clinic-based options

Urgent care or in-person medical evaluation

Best for: New symptoms, recent exposure concerns, or when you may need treatment quickly

Pros: Better fit than routine screening when you need same-day evaluation, medication, pregnancy-related care, or guidance about HIV PEP timing

Trade-offs: Cost and privacy practices vary by site, and not every urgent care provides full STI testing or treatment follow-up

Use clinic care if symptoms are urgent

Private lab

Best for: Self-pay privacy, online ordering, scheduling flexibility

Pros: Useful when you want a paid path outside public-health and nonprofit workflows

Trade-offs: Paid out of pocket; lab visit still required; not a treatment clinic

Check private prices

How much does STD testing cost in Nashville?

Metro Public Health Department clinic service documents list the Sexual Health Clinic cost as based on family income, with a $10 minimum fee for service, and HIV testing listed as free. The Nashville.gov testing page says to call 615-340-5647 to schedule STD/HIV testing and notes appointments are the normal path, with walk-ins dependent on staffing and demand.

  • Metro Sexual Health Center: lists income-based cost guidance with a $10 minimum fee for service and HIV testing listed as free in Metro clinic service documents.
  • Nashville CARES: lists CARES 360 STI/STD testing and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing; call 615-499-7406 for STI clinic appointments or 800-845-4266 for HIV testing availability.
  • Planned Parenthood Nashville: is a useful clinic-based backup, but confirm self-pay pricing, insurance use, and whether walk-in access is realistic for the day you plan to go.
  • Symptoms or urgent exposure: need a different decision path. Ask whether the clinic can treat on site, and seek prompt in-person care if you have pelvic pain, testicular pain, fever, sores, rash, or possible recent HIV exposure that could require PEP.
  • Private lab testing: usually uses upfront self-pay pricing and may fit users who want a path outside public-health and nonprofit workflows.

Nashville CARES does not publish a complete STI fee table on its public testing page, so call before assuming a free STI visit. Planned Parenthood Nashville also does not post one flat local STI price, so ask about self-pay pricing, insurance billing, and financial assistance before booking. If you have symptoms or need fast treatment rather than routine screening, ask whether the clinic can treat on site or whether an urgent care or other medical provider is the better first stop.

Nashville testing notes: Metro appointments, CARES testing, Planned Parenthood backup, and privacy/treatment caveats

Metro Public Health Department’s Sexual Health Center is located at Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue. Nashville.gov says it provides confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis, with appointment scheduling at 615-340-5647 and limited walk-ins depending on staffing and demand.

Nashville CARES has two useful testing routes: CARES 360 Community Clinic at 633 Thompson Lane for STI/STD testing, and rapid confidential HIV/HCV testing through Nashville CARES at My House, 442 Metroplex Drive, Building D. The HIV testing page says no appointment is necessary but recommends calling 800-845-4266 to verify same-day walk-in availability.

Planned Parenthood Nashville at 412 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. can work as a clinic-based backup when you want another sexual-health provider, but same-day expectations should be cautious because its official center page says walk-ins are welcome while CDC GetTested lists appointment required. Call 866-711-1717 before relying on it as a walk-in option.

If confidentiality matters, ask any Nashville clinic how results are shared, whether insurance is billed, whether an explanation of benefits could be sent to the policyholder, and whether treatment, prescriptions, partner services, or PrEP/PEP follow-up can be handled in the same system.

If you may have been exposed to HIV recently, do not wait on a routine testing timeline alone because PEP has strict timing limits. Severe pain, pelvic pain, testicular pain, fever, rash, sores, or pregnancy-related concerns also justify prompt in-person medical evaluation rather than routine screening only.

Why Metro Sexual Health Center is the first public clinic to check

Metro’s Sexual Health Center is the official Nashville public-health anchor because it lists confidential testing, treatment, and counseling for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis, plus PrEP services. Metro also publishes more concrete cost guidance than most local listings: income-based fees, a $10 minimum service fee, and HIV testing listed as free in clinic service documents.

How Nashville CARES changes the decision

Nashville CARES is useful when community-based testing, rapid HIV/HCV testing, or CARES 360 STI testing fits better than a Metro clinic appointment. Because the STI clinic and HIV/HCV testing use different locations and phone numbers, call before assuming same-day access or specific fees.

When Planned Parenthood is the better Nashville backup

Planned Parenthood Nashville is worth comparing when you want another dedicated sexual-health clinic in the city rather than a public-health or nonprofit setting. Cost details are less specific than Metro’s public clinic materials, and walk-in expectations should be verified directly because official and CDC listings are not perfectly aligned.

When Nashville users should choose clinic care over private or home testing

Private lab or at-home screening can help with straightforward self-pay screening, but Nashville users should choose Metro Health, Nashville CARES, Planned Parenthood, urgent care, or another healthcare provider for symptoms, treatment, pregnancy-related concerns, site-specific exposure questions, positive results, or urgent HIV exposure evaluation.

What STD test do you need?

Not sure what to test for? Use our private STD Test Finder.

Use the STD Test Finder

No email required. Answers are not submitted to our server.

When to speak with a healthcare provider

Consider contacting a healthcare provider promptly if you have symptoms, are pregnant, had a known exposure, need throat or rectal testing, or are unsure which test is right for you.

Nearby STD testing guides

FAQ

Where can I get low-cost STD testing in Nashville?

Start with Metro Public Health Department’s Sexual Health Center at Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave. Metro clinic service documents list income-based costs with a $10 minimum fee for service and HIV testing listed as free; call 615-340-5647 to schedule and confirm current fees.

Does Nashville’s Metro Sexual Health Center accept walk-ins?

Nashville.gov says the clinic is appointment-based, though walk-ins may be seen depending on staffing and demand. Call 615-340-5647 before going.

Where can I get HIV testing through Nashville CARES?

Nashville CARES lists rapid confidential HIV and hepatitis C testing at My House, 442 Metroplex Drive, Building D. No appointment is necessary, but the page recommends calling 800-845-4266 to verify same-day walk-in availability.

Does Nashville CARES offer STI testing beyond HIV?

Yes. Nashville CARES lists CARES 360 STI/STD testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, herpes, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B/C at 633 Thompson Lane. Call 615-499-7406 for appointments and current fee details.

How do I protect privacy when getting STD testing in Nashville?

Ask the clinic whether results are shared through a portal, phone call, or mail, whether insurance will be billed, and whether an explanation of benefits could be sent to the policyholder. If that matters to you, ask about self-pay options before the visit and whether treatment or follow-up can stay in the same clinic system.

Is Planned Parenthood an option for STD testing in Nashville?

Yes. Planned Parenthood Nashville Health Center at 412 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. lists STD testing and treatment. Its official center page says walk-ins are welcome, but CDC GetTested lists appointment required, so call 866-711-1717 before relying on same-day access.

Should I use a private lab or a Nashville clinic?

Use Metro Health, Nashville CARES, Planned Parenthood, urgent care, or another healthcare provider if you have symptoms, need treatment, need PrEP/PEP guidance, are pregnant, or need public-health follow-up. A private lab may fit straightforward self-pay screening when you want online ordering, upfront pricing, or a path outside local clinic workflows.

Compare private lab testing options

Is private STD testing worth it in Nashville if free clinics are available?

It can be. Free clinics may be the best choice if cost, treatment access, or public health follow-up matters most. Private lab testing may be worth comparing if you want online ordering, upfront self-pay pricing, scheduling flexibility, or a testing path outside a public clinic setting.

Compare private lab testing options

Can I get STD testing in Nashville without using insurance?

Often, yes. Some public or community clinics may not require insurance, and private lab testing is often paid out of pocket with upfront pricing. If avoiding insurance billing is important to you, compare self-pay private lab options before choosing where to test.

Nashville clinic hours, walk-in rules, fees, and follow-up services can change. Confirm appointments, confidentiality practices, treatment availability, and urgent-exposure guidance directly before you travel.

Sources and methodology

Official Nashville, CDC, Planned Parenthood, and nonprofit resources for the services discussed on this page are listed below.