Daily city guide

Free, Low-Cost & Private STD Testing in Winston-Salem, NC

Looking for STD testing in Winston-Salem? Start by comparing Forsyth County public-health services, Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem, private lab testing, and at-home kits based on cost, privacy, speed, and whether you may need treatment or follow-up.

Forsyth County says its Winston-Salem STD clinic offers confidential exams, diagnostic testing, STD treatment, and HIV counseling and testing. Planned Parenthood is another local option if you want a clinic appointment through a reproductive-health provider instead of the county system.

Last source check:

Fact-checked: 2026-05-31. Source links for the clinics and services 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

5 source listings and 3 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 Winston-Salem

County public health

Need lower-cost local care?

Start with Forsyth County if confidential testing, treatment, and local follow-up matter most.

See county clinic details

Clinic backup

Need another Winston-Salem clinic?

Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem is another local option if you prefer appointment-based reproductive-health care.

Compare local clinics

Fast / Private / Self-pay

Need private lab testing?

Best if you want online ordering, upfront self-pay pricing, and a paid path outside county or clinic workflows.

Check private lab prices

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

Quick answer: Where should you get STD testing in Winston-Salem?

Your best starting point depends on whether you want public-health care, a clinic appointment, or a private self-pay route:

  • Public-health care: Start with Forsyth County if confidential testing, treatment, and local follow-up matter most.
  • Cost and eligibility: Call before you go because the county page does not publish a simple fee table, and clinic policies can change.
  • Local clinic option: Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem is another local option if you prefer a reproductive-health clinic rather than county intake.
  • Private self-pay option: A private lab may fit better when online ordering, upfront pricing, or avoiding insurance billing matters most.
  • Recent HIV exposure: Do not wait on routine testing if you may need urgent prevention medication or immediate evaluation after a recent exposure.

Free or low-cost clinics in Winston-Salem

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
Forsyth County POSSE STD Clinic 799 North Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Forsyth County says the clinic provides confidential examinations, diagnostic testing, STD treatment, and HIV counseling and testing. Confirm current fees, insurance handling, and any county eligibility rules directly with the clinic before visiting because the public page does not publish a simple fee table. Call 336-703-3181 before going to confirm the current clinic schedule, whether you need an appointment, and how results are being returned. Forsyth County also says test results are available approximately three weeks after testing, with a separate result line available Mondays and Wednesdays. 2026-05-31
Forsyth County Public Health contact resources 799 North Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 The county contact page helps Winston-Salem residents verify the latest public-health routing and department contact details before visiting. Use the county contact page to confirm current clinic logistics and billing questions before relying on the public-health route. Use the public-health contact page for the main county number and to verify the current department routing before visiting. 2026-05-31
Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem Health Center 3010 Maplewood Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 Planned Parenthood lists STD testing and treatment through the Winston-Salem health center, and CDC directories also list the site. Confirm current self-pay pricing, insurance handling, and any financial-assistance details directly with the health center before visiting. Call (336) 768-2980 or use the official center page to confirm the latest schedule, same-day availability, and booking workflow. 2026-05-31

When a private lab option may make more sense in Winston-Salem

Forsyth County public health is often the best first stop when confidential testing, treatment, or local follow-up matter most. A private lab may still be worth considering if you want routine screening and you:

  • want online ordering before visiting a lab;
  • prefer upfront self-pay pricing instead of county or clinic scheduling;
  • want a testing path outside county result timelines or intake workflows;
  • do not need treatment, broader clinic support, or local follow-up.

Paid option. Not a substitute for medical care if you have symptoms, may need treatment, or may need urgent HIV prevention medication.

Public clinic vs private lab vs at-home STD testing in Winston-Salem

Option Best for Pros Trade-offs Next step
County or clinic care Confidential care, treatment access, local follow-up Local public-health clinic plus an in-city clinic backup Call ahead for current fees, scheduling rules, and result timing See local clinic options
Private lab Self-pay privacy, online ordering, scheduling flexibility Upfront pricing and a separate path outside clinic workflows Paid out of pocket; lab visit still required; not a treatment clinic See private pricing
At-home kit Convenience and no clinic visit Home collection and private ordering Shipping time, self-collection limits, and follow-up needs vary Compare home kits

County or clinic care

Best for: Confidential care, treatment access, local follow-up

Pros: Local public-health clinic plus an in-city clinic backup

Trade-offs: Call ahead for current fees, scheduling rules, and result timing

See local clinic options

Private lab

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

Pros: Upfront pricing and a separate path outside clinic workflows

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

See private pricing

At-home kit

Best for: Convenience and no clinic visit

Pros: Home collection and private ordering

Trade-offs: Shipping time, self-collection limits, and follow-up needs vary

Compare home kits

How much does STD testing cost in Winston-Salem?

Costs in Winston-Salem depend on where you go, what tests you need, whether you use insurance, and whether you choose county public health, a clinic, a private lab, or a mailed kit.

  • Forsyth County public health: can be a good first call because the county says the clinic provides confidential exams, diagnostic testing, treatment, and HIV counseling and testing in Winston-Salem.
  • Result timing: can affect your choice because the county says results are available about three weeks after testing.
  • Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem: is another local clinic option, but users should confirm current self-pay pricing, insurance handling, and appointment details directly before visiting.
  • Private lab testing and at-home kits: are usually paid out of pocket and may fit better when privacy, online ordering, or avoiding insurance billing matters more than clinic follow-up.

If cost matters most, start with county public health and ask about current charges, insurance handling, and any eligibility rules because the county service page does not publish a simple fee table. Planned Parenthood may also be worth checking if you want a clinic-based setting or a different appointment workflow.

Winston-Salem testing notes: county clinic access, result timing, and local backups

Forsyth County offers Winston-Salem residents a direct public-health testing route with a named clinic address and contact information.

The county says test results are available about three weeks after testing. If faster answers matter, compare that timeline with other local or self-pay options before deciding.

If you may need urgent HIV prevention after a recent exposure, do not wait on standard testing workflows. Seek immediate medical care, because urgent-exposure timing matters more than convenience.

Why county public health is still a good first place to check

Forsyth County publishes an STD clinic page with a Winston-Salem address, service description, and contact details. That makes county public health a practical first stop when confidential testing, treatment, and local follow-up matter most.

Why result timing changes the decision

The county says test results are available about three weeks after testing. That can be reasonable for routine screening, but people who want faster answers may want to compare other local or self-pay options.

Why the clinic backup matters

Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem can help if you prefer appointment-based reproductive-health care or want a clinic setting outside county intake. It gives Winston-Salem residents another local option when the county clinic is not the best fit.

What STD test do you need?

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

Use the STD Test Finder

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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 should I start for STD testing in Winston-Salem?

Start with Forsyth County public health if you want a direct local public-health option. Planned Parenthood Winston-Salem is another local clinic choice.

What does the Winston-Salem county STD clinic provide?

Forsyth County says the clinic provides confidential examinations, diagnostic testing, STD treatment, and HIV counseling and testing.

How long do STD test results take in Winston-Salem county public health?

Forsyth County says results for all tests are available approximately three weeks after your testing date.

Do I need an appointment for STD testing in Winston-Salem?

Do not assume walk-in or same-day access. Call the county clinic or Planned Parenthood before you go to confirm the current scheduling process, hours, and whether appointments are required.

Should I use a private lab or a Winston-Salem clinic?

Use a clinic or another healthcare provider if you have symptoms, may need treatment, want local follow-up, or may need throat or rectal testing. A private lab may fit routine self-pay screening when online ordering and privacy matter most.

Private lab pricing

Is private STD testing worth it in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem 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.

Fact-checked on 2026-05-31. STDTestOptions.com is an informational comparison site, not a clinic, lab, or telehealth provider; we do not diagnose, treat, or order tests.

Sources and methodology

The sources below include county public-health pages, clinic pages, and CDC directories for the locations mentioned in this guide. Hours, fees, appointment rules, eligibility, and test menus can change, so confirm details directly before visiting or ordering a test.