Lowest-cost path
Need free or low-cost care?
Start with Metro Health if you want a city-run option: the walk-in clinic posts a $15 visit fee, and mobile STI clinics are described as no cost to the individual.
See public clinic optionsDaily city guide
Free, Low-Cost & Private STD Testing in San Antonio, TX
Looking for STD testing in San Antonio? Start with the option that fits your situation: the Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic for a low-cost city-run clinic, Metro Health mobile STI clinics for no-cost community events, CommuniCare Apollo Wellness or Planned Parenthood South Texas for clinic-based follow-up, and Texas DSHS Test for Texas for free at-home screening.
Metro Health says its STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland Blvd., Suite 150 charges a $15 office visit administrative fee, with lab and STI service charges billed at the current Medicaid rate. Metro Health also says its mobile STI clinics offer testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost, which can be the better fit when cost matters most or a mobile event is closer than the fixed clinic.
A paid private lab option may still help if you want online ordering or a self-pay route outside a clinic system. If you have symptoms, a recent exposure, pregnancy-related concerns, or think you may need treatment or PEP, use a clinic or other healthcare provider instead of relying only on a mail-in test.
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
10 source listings and 5 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.
Quick answer: Where should you get STD testing in San Antonio?
In San Antonio, the best starting point depends on what matters most:
- Low-cost public clinic: Metro Health says its STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland Blvd., Suite 150 is walk-in and charges a $15 office visit administrative fee, with lab and STI charges billed at the current Medicaid rate.
- Free testing route: Metro Health says its STI Mobile Clinics provide testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost, plus HIV testing, PrEP referrals, and linkage to care at rotating locations.
- Walk-in versus appointment planning: The Metro Health clinic is walk-in, but the city says clients must arrive at least 45 minutes before closing. CommuniCare and Planned Parenthood are better treated as call-ahead or scheduled options when you do not want to depend on same-day public-clinic capacity.
- Privacy and billing questions: Ask whether insurance is billed, how results are delivered, whether confidential or anonymous testing is available, and whether treatment or follow-up can stay in the same system. Those details can vary between Metro Health, FQHCs, Planned Parenthood, and private labs.
- Free at-home testing: Texas DSHS says Test for Texas ships free self-collection kits for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis to Texas residents age 13 and older, without using insurance.
- Symptoms, recent exposure, pregnancy, or treatment needs: Use Metro Health, a mobile STI clinic, CommuniCare, Planned Parenthood, urgent care, or another healthcare provider instead of relying only on a home kit. If you may need PEP after a recent HIV exposure, treat that as an urgent same-day issue.
Free or low-cost clinics in San Antonio
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic | 512 E. Highland Blvd., Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78210 | Metro Health says the clinic provides diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for STIs and HIV on a walk-in basis. CDC GetTested lists HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, and related sexual-health services at the Metro Health program. | Metro Health says the office visit administrative fee is $15, with lab and STI service charges billed at the current Medicaid rate. | Walk-in only. Metro Health says clients must arrive at least 45 minutes before closing to register. Call 210-207-8830 to confirm current hours, eligibility, and whether the service you need is available that day. | 2026-06-02 |
| San Antonio Metro Health STI Mobile Clinics | Rotating locations across San Antonio; current schedule posted on the official Metro Health events page | Metro Health says mobile clinics provide testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost, plus HIV testing, PrEP referrals, and linkage to care. | Metro Health says services are offered at no cost to the individual. | Schedules rotate by date and location. Check the official Metro Health mobile-clinic page before traveling, or call 210-207-8830 to confirm the next event that fits your area. | 2026-06-02 |
| CommuniCare Apollo Wellness Center | 6511 W. Loop 1604 N., Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78254 | CommuniCare says Apollo Wellness offers confidential HIV and STI testing to anyone who requests it. CDC GetTested also lists HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and related prevention services. | CommuniCare says it uses an HHSC-set sliding fee scale and accepts Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and most commercial insurance. Ask directly how STI-specific charges and billing work if privacy matters to you. | Call 210-233-7000 to confirm scheduling, current hours, and whether same-day testing is available. CommuniCare describes the setting as non-judgmental and culturally competent, but confidential versus anonymous workflows should still be confirmed directly. | 2026-06-02 |
| CommuniCare Health Centers West Campus | 1102 Barclay St., San Antonio, TX 78207 | CDC GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis testing through the CommuniCare network, while CommuniCare says HIV and STI testing is available through its Apollo Wellness partnership. | CommuniCare says sliding-fee support and major public or private insurance options are available across its health-center network. | Use 210-233-7000 to confirm whether you should book through West Campus directly or through the Apollo Wellness sexual-health workflow before visiting. | 2026-06-02 |
| Planned Parenthood South Texas Medical Center Health Center | 2140 Babcock Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229 | Planned Parenthood lists STI testing and treatment for infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes, plus HIV testing and counseling at this San Antonio location. | Planned Parenthood South Texas lists fee-based care with insurance accepted, Medicaid accepted, and sliding-scale support. Exact self-pay STI testing prices are not posted on the health center pages listed here, so confirm pricing directly before booking. | Use the Planned Parenthood South Texas contact and booking pages to confirm current scheduling, walk-in availability, and Saturday access. If privacy is important, ask whether insurance will be billed and whether self-pay is available for the services you need. | 2026-06-02 |
When a private lab option may make more sense in San Antonio
San Antonio has a real public-health and FQHC safety net, so private lab testing is usually not the cheapest first option. It can still be worth comparing if you:
- want to order online before visiting a lab;
- prefer upfront self-pay pricing instead of clinic or insurance billing;
- want a testing path outside a public clinic or FQHC setting;
- need scheduling flexibility and do not want to depend on a walk-in line or mobile-clinic calendar;
- want to ask about privacy directly before a lab visit instead of using a public-clinic workflow.
Paid option. Not a substitute for medical care if you have symptoms, need treatment, may need pregnancy-related follow-up, or may need urgent HIV prevention medication after a recent exposure.
Public clinic vs private lab vs at-home STD testing in San Antonio
| Option | Best for | Pros | Trade-offs | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic | Low-cost city clinic testing, diagnosis, treatment, and counseling | Metro Health posts a $15 visit fee, lists walk-in access, and provides diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for STIs and HIV | Eligibility is narrower than some private options, and you must arrive before the registration cutoff; ask about total lab charges and current capacity before you go | See walk-in clinic details |
| Metro Health mobile clinic | No-cost community-based STI testing and treatment | Metro Health says testing and treatment for most STIs are offered at no cost, with HIV testing and linkage support included | Locations rotate, so this is only useful if a posted event fits your date and part of town | See mobile clinic details |
| CommuniCare / Apollo Wellness or Planned Parenthood | Confidential clinic care, broader follow-up, PrEP support, and a scheduled alternative to the city clinic | CommuniCare describes confidential HIV and STI testing with sliding-fee support, while Planned Parenthood offers another clinic-based route with insurance and Medicaid options | Specific test pricing, walk-in rules, and billing practices vary by site and should be confirmed directly before you test | See clinic alternatives |
| Private lab | Self-pay privacy, online ordering, scheduling flexibility | Upfront pricing and a paid path outside public clinics and FQHCs | Paid out of pocket; lab visit still required; not a treatment clinic | View private pricing |
| Texas DSHS Test for Texas (at-home) | No clinic visit, full HIV/syphilis/gonorrhea/chlamydia panel by mail | Free to Texas residents 13+, discreet packaging, and insurance is not needed | Results are not immediate and home collection is not a substitute for in-person care if you have symptoms or may need treatment quickly | Compare home kit options |
Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic
Best for: Low-cost city clinic testing, diagnosis, treatment, and counseling
Pros: Metro Health posts a $15 visit fee, lists walk-in access, and provides diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for STIs and HIV
Trade-offs: Eligibility is narrower than some private options, and you must arrive before the registration cutoff; ask about total lab charges and current capacity before you go
See walk-in clinic detailsMetro Health mobile clinic
Best for: No-cost community-based STI testing and treatment
Pros: Metro Health says testing and treatment for most STIs are offered at no cost, with HIV testing and linkage support included
Trade-offs: Locations rotate, so this is only useful if a posted event fits your date and part of town
See mobile clinic detailsCommuniCare / Apollo Wellness or Planned Parenthood
Best for: Confidential clinic care, broader follow-up, PrEP support, and a scheduled alternative to the city clinic
Pros: CommuniCare describes confidential HIV and STI testing with sliding-fee support, while Planned Parenthood offers another clinic-based route with insurance and Medicaid options
Trade-offs: Specific test pricing, walk-in rules, and billing practices vary by site and should be confirmed directly before you test
See clinic alternativesPrivate lab
Best for: Self-pay privacy, online ordering, scheduling flexibility
Pros: Upfront pricing and a paid path outside public clinics and FQHCs
Trade-offs: Paid out of pocket; lab visit still required; not a treatment clinic
View private pricingTexas DSHS Test for Texas (at-home)
Best for: No clinic visit, full HIV/syphilis/gonorrhea/chlamydia panel by mail
Pros: Free to Texas residents 13+, discreet packaging, and insurance is not needed
Trade-offs: Results are not immediate and home collection is not a substitute for in-person care if you have symptoms or may need treatment quickly
Compare home kit optionsHow much does STD testing cost in San Antonio?
Metro Health posts the most specific pricing details on this page. The city says the STI Walk-In Clinic charges a $15 office visit administrative fee and bills lab and STI services at the current Medicaid rate. Metro Health separately says mobile STI clinics provide testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost to the individual.
- Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic: posts a $15 office visit fee, with lab and STI service charges billed at the current Medicaid rate.
- Metro Health mobile STI clinics: provide testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost to the individual, according to Metro Health.
- CommuniCare / Apollo Wellness: uses an HHSC sliding-fee scale and accepts major public and private coverage, which can help if you want clinic follow-up beyond a testing-only visit.
- Planned Parenthood South Texas: lists fee-based care with insurance, Medicaid, and sliding-scale options, but exact STI testing prices should be confirmed directly with the health center.
- Texas DSHS Test for Texas: ships free at-home HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia kits to Texas residents 13 and older; no insurance is needed.
CommuniCare says it uses an HHSC-set sliding fee scale and accepts Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, and most commercial insurance. Planned Parenthood South Texas and private options may also be useful, but exact charges can vary by test type, insurance use, and whether treatment or follow-up is needed. If privacy matters, ask before testing whether insurance will be billed and how results and prescriptions are handled.
San Antonio testing notes: Metro Health walk-ins, rotating mobile clinics, and urgent-exposure planning
The Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic is the most concrete city-run option on this page. Metro Health lists it at 512 E. Highland Blvd., Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78210, and says clients must arrive at least 45 minutes before closing to register. That cutoff matters because a clinic can still be open on paper even when you are already too late to be checked in.
Metro Health’s mobile STI clinics can be the better move when a no-cost option matters most or when a community event is closer than the fixed clinic. Because mobile dates and locations rotate, the practical step is to confirm the current event page before you leave home instead of assuming an older schedule still applies.
CommuniCare Apollo Wellness and Planned Parenthood South Texas are useful alternatives when you want to ask about billing, privacy, and follow-up before testing or expect to need services such as PrEP, prescriptions, or continuing sexual-health care in the same system.
Texas DSHS says Test for Texas is free for Texas residents age 13 and older, but at-home testing is still routine screening rather than urgent care. If you have pelvic pain, testicular pain, fever, sores, a concerning rash, pregnancy-related concerns, or a recent HIV exposure where PEP may be needed within 72 hours, use same-day in-person care instead of waiting on a mail-in result.
Why Metro Health is the first public option to compare in San Antonio
San Antonio has a city-run STI clinic with posted fees and a separate no-cost mobile program. That makes Metro Health a practical first stop when cost, treatment access, and local follow-up matter more than ordering a test online. The fixed clinic works best when you want a predictable address and posted fee structure, while the mobile clinics work better when free testing matters most and an event is happening in a convenient part of town.
What to ask about privacy, insurance, and follow-up
Before testing, ask whether insurance is billed, how results are delivered, whether treatment can happen on site, and whether PrEP, PEP, partner services, or prescriptions can be handled through the same organization. Those follow-up details matter as much as the initial test if you are trying to avoid fragmented care or unexpected billing.
When a clinic is better than home or private testing
A clinic is usually the better first choice if you have symptoms, a known exposure, pelvic or testicular pain, sores, possible pregnancy-related concerns, or you think you may need treatment or PEP within 72 hours. At-home and private lab options can still be useful for routine screening, but they are weaker when you need same-day clinical judgment or medication.
What STD test do you need?
Not sure what to test for? Use our private STD Test Finder.
Use the STD Test FinderNo 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.
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Free STD testing in DallasFAQ
Where can I get low-cost STD testing in San Antonio?
Start with the Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland Blvd., Suite 150. Metro Health says the clinic charges a $15 office visit administrative fee, with lab and STI service charges billed at the current Medicaid rate.
Where can I get free STD testing in San Antonio?
Metro Health says its mobile STI clinics provide testing and treatment for most STIs at no cost to the individual. CommuniCare and some CDC-listed community sites may also offer free HIV or STI testing for some services, but Metro Health’s mobile program is the most clearly described no-cost local option on this page.
Does the Metro Health STI clinic accept walk-ins?
Yes. Metro Health describes the STI clinic as a walk-in clinic and says clients must arrive at least 45 minutes before closing to register. Call 210-207-8830 before traveling if you want to confirm the current workflow.
Who can use the Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic?
Metro Health says the clinic serves residents of San Antonio and Bexar County or people who have no other means of obtaining STD services. If you are unsure whether that applies to you, call before you go.
Can I get a free at-home STD test in Texas?
Yes. Texas DSHS says Test for Texas ships free at-home HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia kits to Texas residents age 13 and older. Results are posted through the program portal after the lab processes the sample.
What clinic alternatives does San Antonio have besides Metro Health?
CommuniCare Apollo Wellness offers confidential HIV and STI testing with sliding-fee support, and Planned Parenthood South Texas offers another clinic-based STI testing and treatment route in San Antonio. These options can make more sense if you want to confirm privacy, insurance, or ongoing follow-up before testing.
Will STD testing in San Antonio stay confidential?
Confidentiality practices vary by provider. CommuniCare explicitly describes confidential testing, while Metro Health and Planned Parenthood users should still ask how results are shared, whether insurance is billed, and whether treatment or follow-up can stay in the same system if privacy matters to them.
When is private STD testing worth considering in San Antonio?
A private lab option can make sense if you want online ordering, upfront self-pay pricing, or more scheduling flexibility than a walk-in clinic or rotating mobile event can offer. If lowest cost, treatment access, or public-health follow-up matters most, start with Metro Health or another local clinic first.
Where should I go in San Antonio after a recent HIV exposure?
Treat a recent HIV exposure as a same-day issue rather than waiting on routine screening alone. Contact a clinic immediately or use urgent in-person medical care because PEP works on a short timeline and should be started within 72 hours when indicated.
Is private STD testing worth it in San Antonio 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.
Can I get STD testing in San Antonio 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.
Sources and methodology
- Metro Health STI/HIV services — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
- Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
- Metro Health STI Mobile Clinics — San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
- CDC GetTested - San Antonio Metropolitan Health District — CDC Get Tested
- CommuniCare Health Centers HIV/STD Screening & Testing — CommuniCare Health Centers
- CDC GetTested - CommuniCare Health Centers — CDC Get Tested
- Planned Parenthood South Texas — Planned Parenthood South Texas
- Planned Parenthood South Texas contact information — Planned Parenthood South Texas
- Texas DSHS Free At-Home HIV and STD Testing — Texas Department of State Health Services
- Texas DSHS HIV and STD Testing — Texas Department of State Health Services