STD Testing in Pittsburgh: Where to Get Tested, What It Costs and What to Expect

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections is a routine part of health care. In Pittsburgh you have several ways to do it, and some of them are free.

This guide covers every main route: the Allegheny County Health Department, community and LGBTQ+ health centers, Planned Parenthood, nonprofit walk-in sites, primary care, urgent care and at-home kits. It explains what happens at a visit, what is usually included, what to ask for, and what Pennsylvania law says about privacy and consent for young people.

Terms vary. You will see STD, STI and sexually transmitted infection used for the same thing. This guide uses them interchangeably.

Table of Contents

1. Why STI testing matters in Pittsburgh
2. Where to get tested in Pittsburgh
3. What testing costs
4. What to expect at a visit
5. What is tested and what to ask for
6. When to test and window periods
7. Privacy, consent and Pennsylvania law
8. After your results

Why STI Testing Matters in Pittsburgh

Many STIs cause no symptoms, so testing is the only way to find out your status. A clinician or a lab test can tell you. Guessing from how you feel cannot.

The Allegheny County Health Department publishes local surveillance figures. For 2024, ACHD reported a chlamydia rate of 421.3 per 100,000 people in Allegheny County, with 5,190 cases. It reported a gonorrhea rate of 209.0 per 100,000, with 2,574 cases.

ACHD also reported early syphilis at 15.5 per 100,000, or 191 cases, in 2024. It reported 78 new HIV diagnoses, a rate of 7.5 per 100,000 among people 15 and older. For comparison, ACHD lists the statewide 2024 HIV rate at 7.1 per 100,000 for ages 13 and older.

ACHD's most recent county figures are preliminary 2025 counts: 4,744 chlamydia cases, 1,850 gonorrhea cases, 109 early syphilis cases and 53 new HIV diagnoses. These numbers describe a community, not any one person. They are a reminder that testing is ordinary health care.

Who health authorities say should be tested

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) set out routine screening advice. In summary:

• Sexually active women under 25 should be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. Older women should be screened if they have risk factors, such as a new partner or a partner with an STI.
• Sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men should be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at least once a year. More frequent screening is recommended for people at higher risk.
• Everyone should be tested for HIV at least once. The CDC recommends this for ages 13 to 64, and the USPSTF recommends it for ages 15 to 65.
• Pregnant people should be screened for syphilis and HIV, and for hepatitis B, early in pregnancy.
• The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening at least once for all adults.
• Anyone with a new partner, more than one partner, a partner with an STI, or symptoms should talk with a clinician about testing.

Your own situation may differ. A clinician can help you decide which tests fit your life.

Where to Get Tested in Pittsburgh

Below are the main routes, starting with the lowest-cost options. For a quick list of local clinics, see the local testing list. You can also search by ZIP code at gettested.cdc.gov, the CDC's testing locator.

1. Allegheny County Health Department Sexual Health Clinic

The county health department runs the Sexual Health Clinic at two sites. ACHD lists services including STI testing, HIV testing, hepatitis C testing, PrEP, non-occupational PEP, doxy-PEP and treatment. It lists the cost as free.

Downtown Pittsburgh (Hartley Rose Building)

• Address: 425 First Avenue, Fourth Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The entrance is on Cherry Way.
• Hours, per ACHD: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. Thursday 11:30 am to 6:15 pm. The clinic closes from 12 to 1 pm for lunch. On Thursday it closes from 2:30 to 3:30 pm instead. Hours may vary on holidays.

McKeesport (Wander Building)

• Address: 339 Fifth Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132. The entrance is at Lysle Boulevard and Locust Street.
• Hours, per ACHD: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 3:45 pm, closed 12 to 1 pm for lunch. Hours may vary on holidays.
• ACHD lists the HPV vaccine at this site, along with hepatitis A and B and mpox vaccines. A hepatitis B titer (a blood test that checks immunity) costs $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents.

Both sites take the same number for questions and appointments: 412-578-8081. The ACHD main line is 412-687-2243.

Appointments get priority. Walk-ins are seen first come, first served. Other ACHD pages show different Downtown hours for some days, so call to confirm before you go.

ACHD says anyone 13 and older can be seen without parental consent, and that patients are seen regardless of immigration status. Photo ID is not required to be seen, but ACHD says it is required to receive results.

More information is on the ACHD Sexual Health Clinic page.

2. Allies for Health + Wellbeing

Allies for Health + Wellbeing is a nonprofit that provides HIV, STI and hepatitis C services. Its address is 211 North Whitfield Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. The phone number for clinic appointments is 412-345-7456.

Allies lists free walk-in testing at several sites each week:

• Allies office: Sundays 9 to 11:15 am and 1 to 4:15 pm.
• Unity Recovery, 801 Bingham St, 15203: Tuesdays 5 to 7:15 pm.
• Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, 81 S. 19th St, 15203: Wednesdays 9:30 to 11 am and noon to 4 pm.
• Bethany Baptist Church, 7745 Tioga St, 15208: Fridays 11 am to 2:15 pm.

Allies says rapid HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis results come back in about 20 minutes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing uses urine, oral and rectal swabs. Allies also lists PrEP and PEP.

Its page has posted notices that walk-in testing was canceled on specific days, so check before you go. The CDC GetTested listing says clinic visits at Allies require an appointment. See the Allies free testing page.

3. Central Outreach Wellness Center

Central Outreach Wellness Center is an LGBTQ-focused community health center. Its North Shore location is at 127 Anderson Street, Suite 101 (Timber Court Building), Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

The center's website lists (412) 322-4151. The CDC GetTested directory lists (412) 515-0000. If one number does not work, try the other.

The center lists hours as Monday and Thursday 9 am to 7 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 am to 5 pm, and Friday 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed on weekends. The CDC directory lists Friday as 9 to 5, so confirm by phone.

The CDC directory lists STI testing, rapid HIV testing, hepatitis C testing, PrEP and the HPV vaccine. It says no appointment is needed. The center says it serves patients with or without insurance and offers sliding-scale options. Its website does not say which site handles walk-in STI testing, so call first.

The company page also lists a second site at Club Pittsburgh, Room 319, 1139 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, open Tuesday to Saturday 4 pm to 11 pm. The page does not say what services that site offers. Visit centraloutreach.com for details.

4. Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Family Planning Health Center is at 933 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The phone number is (412) 434-8971.

The CDC GetTested listing shows tests for HIV (with a rapid result), herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. It also lists the HPV vaccine and PrEP navigation. An appointment is required.

The listing says the center accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, and offers a sliding scale. It also says PrEP is available for people without insurance. Hours are not listed, so confirm with the center. See the CDC GetTested listing.

5. Primary care and UPMC

Your regular doctor can order STI tests. One example in the CDC directory is University Family Medicine UPMC in Squirrel Hill, at 5608 Wilkin Ave, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, phone (412) 422-8762.

The listing shows tests for HIV (blood draw), hepatitis A, B and C, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, plus PrEP navigation. It says an appointment is required and that insurance and Medicaid are accepted. Cost and hours are not listed there, so ask the office. Contact the office about eligibility.

If you have a primary care clinician, ask whether they can add STI tests to a routine visit. Say plainly what you want. For example: "I would like to be screened for STIs."

6. Urgent care

Urgent care centers in Pittsburgh may offer STI testing, especially if you have symptoms. The sources used for this guide do not list specific urgent care sites, prices or hours. Call ahead and ask whether they test for the infections you are concerned about, what they charge, and how long results take.

7. At-home testing

ACHD offers free at-home test kits for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. ACHD says to order them at lumba.health/achd. A county flyer reportedly limits kits to Allegheny County residents age 16 or older, but we could not read it. Check the ACHD page for current eligibility.

A separate Pennsylvania program announced in 2021 mailed free HIV self-test kits to residents outside Philadelphia County, per the Penn State Office of Rural Health. Whether it is still running is not confirmed, so check with the health department.

An at-home test is one way to collect a sample. If a result is positive, you will still need a clinician to confirm it and prescribe treatment.

Quick comparison

Option	Listed cost	Walk-in?	Phone
ACHD Sexual Health Clinic (Downtown and McKeesport)	Free	Yes, appointments get priority	412-578-8081
Allies for Health + Wellbeing	Free (walk-in testing)	Yes at listed sites; clinic visits by appointment	412-345-7456
Central Outreach Wellness Center	Sliding scale	Per CDC directory, yes	(412) 322-4151
Planned Parenthood, Liberty Ave	Sliding scale; insurance accepted	No, appointment required	(412) 434-8971
University Family Medicine UPMC	Not listed	No, appointment required	(412) 422-8762

What Testing Costs

Cost is a common worry, and in Pittsburgh it does not have to be a barrier. Here is what the sources say.

• Free: the ACHD Sexual Health Clinic lists its cost as free. Allies lists free walk-in testing. ACHD's at-home kits are free.
• Sliding scale: Central Outreach and Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania list sliding-scale fees. That means what you pay is based on your income. Ask the clinic how it works.
• Insurance: the CDC directory lists Medicaid and insurance as accepted at Planned Parenthood, Central Outreach and UPMC. Allies says it accepts many plans and offers financial assistance. None of these clinics publishes a price in the sources used here, so ask for the cost before you are tested.
• Urgent care and private practice: prices are not published in these sources. Call and ask for the fee for each test you want.

For insured Pennsylvanians, the PA Department of Health notes that the Affordable Care Act requires HIV PrEP coverage with no cost-sharing. The Department also says its Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program helps residents with medication costs. If you are uninsured, the CDC directory lists PrEP for uninsured patients at Planned Parenthood and Central Outreach.

What to Expect at a Visit

A visit is usually short and focused. Clinicians who do this work see people of every gender, orientation and background every day. They are there to help, not to judge.

Before you go

• Call to confirm hours and whether you need an appointment. Hours can change, and some clinic pages list different times.
• Bring a photo ID if you want to get results from ACHD. ACHD says ID is not required to be seen but is required to receive results.
• Bring your insurance card if you have one, and ask about fees if you do not.
• You do not need to prepare in any special way, though a clinician may ask you not to urinate for an hour or so before a urine test. Ask when you call.

At the visit

1. Check-in. You will fill out a form or answer questions about your health and contact information.
2. A private conversation. A clinician or counselor asks about symptoms, partners, and the kinds of sex you have. This helps them choose the right tests and the right body sites to swab. Answer as openly as you can. There are no wrong answers.
3. Sample collection. Depending on the test, this may be a urine sample, a swab of the throat, rectum, vagina or penis, a finger prick or a blood draw. Many swabs can be collected by you in private.
4. Results plan. You will be told how and when you will hear about results. Rapid HIV tests can give results within minutes. Allies lists about 20 minutes for rapid HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis tests. Lab tests take longer.

Using a different name or pronoun

If your name or pronouns differ from your ID, tell the front desk. Central Outreach describes itself as an LGBTQ-focused health center, and many clinics are used to this request.

What Is Tested and What to Ask For

Testing is not one test. Each infection has its own test, and the right one depends on the body site and the type of sex. Ask the clinician exactly which infections are included so you know what has and has not been checked.

Common tests

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea. The CDC says these are tested with a urine sample or a swab. The swab site (throat, rectum, genitals) depends on the sex you have had. Allies lists urine, oral and rectal swabs.
• Syphilis. Usually a blood test. Allies lists rapid syphilis testing, and the CDC GetTested listings show syphilis tests at several Pittsburgh clinics.
• HIV. A blood test or a rapid test using a finger prick or an oral swab. Several local clinics list rapid HIV tests.
• Hepatitis C and hepatitis B. Blood tests. ACHD, Allies and Central Outreach list hepatitis C testing.
• Herpes. The CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood testing for people with no symptoms. If you have a sore or symptoms, a clinician can test the sore itself. Planned Parenthood and UPMC list herpes tests in the CDC directory.
• HPV. There is no routine HPV test for most people outside cervical cancer screening. Ask a clinician about screening and about the HPV vaccine, which ACHD lists at its McKeesport site and the CDC directory lists at several other clinics.
• Trichomoniasis. A clinician can order this if you have symptoms or concerns.

Questions worth asking

• Which infections will you test for today, and which will you not?
• Do you need swabs from more than one body site?
• How and when will I get my results, and who will call me?
• What happens if a result is positive? Can treatment start here?
• Do you offer PrEP, PEP or doxy-PEP, and do I qualify?
• Can my partner be seen too?

PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP

PrEP is medicine to lower the chance of getting HIV. PEP is medicine started after a possible exposure to HIV. ACHD says its clinic offers PrEP and non-occupational PEP, and tells people to call the clinic for urgent PEP guidance. Allies also lists PrEP and PEP.

PEP works best when it is started as soon as possible after an exposure. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last few days, call a clinic right away.

Doxy-PEP is a newer option. In 2024 the CDC issued guidance that a clinician may consider doxycycline after sex for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and for transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. It does not prevent HIV or viral STIs. ACHD lists doxy-PEP among its services. A clinician decides whether it is right for you and prescribes it.

When to Test and Window Periods

A window period is the time between an exposure and when a test can reliably detect an infection. Testing too early can miss an infection that is already present.

For HIV, the CDC gives these general windows:

• A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
• An antigen/antibody lab test on a blood draw can usually detect it 18 to 45 days after exposure.
• Antigen/antibody tests using a finger prick can take 18 to 90 days.
• Antibody tests, including home self-tests, can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, windows differ by test and lab. Ask the clinician how long to wait after an exposure, and whether to repeat testing later. If you were recently exposed, tell the clinician. They may suggest testing now and again later.

Do not wait for symptoms. Many infections have none. If you do have symptoms, such as unusual discharge, sores, pain with urination or pelvic pain, see a clinician soon.

How often to test

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) set the baseline described earlier in this guide. Your clinician may suggest more frequent testing if you have new or multiple partners, or if a partner has been diagnosed with an STI. For some people at higher risk, the CDC suggests testing every 3 to 6 months.

Privacy, Consent and Pennsylvania Law

Young people

Pennsylvania law lets any minor consent to medical and health services to determine the presence of or to treat venereal disease. This comes from the Act of Feb. 13, 1970, P.L. 19, No. 10 (35 P.S. 10103), Section 3. The consent of no other person is necessary. The text of that section does not mention parental notification. The Guttmacher Institute also summarizes Pennsylvania law as allowing minors to consent to STI testing and treatment, with no age restriction.

In practice, ACHD says its Sexual Health Clinic sees anyone 13 and older without parental consent. If you are younger than 13, call the clinic to ask how they can help.

Billing can raise privacy questions when you use a parent's insurance. Ask the clinic how statements and results are handled. Free clinics such as ACHD avoid this issue.

Immigration status

ACHD says it sees patients regardless of immigration status.

Reporting

Some infections must be reported to public health authorities. Under 28 Pa. Code 27.21a, laboratory-confirmed chlamydia, gonococcal infections, syphilis at all stages and HIV are reportable within five work days of identification. Reporting lets health departments track trends and offer partner services. It is a public health process, not a public announcement.

Partner treatment

Pennsylvania law (35 P.S. 603 and 604) allows a health care practitioner to prescribe or furnish antibiotics for STIs to a patient's partner without examining the partner. The CDC calls this expedited partner therapy. Which infections it covers is not confirmed in the sources used here, so ask your clinician.

Pregnancy

Pennsylvania regulation 28 Pa. Code 27.89 directs a physician examining a pregnant woman to offer a syphilis test at the first examination. The PA Department of Health recommends additional testing in the third trimester and at delivery. If you are pregnant, ask your prenatal provider which tests are planned.

HIV and the law

Pennsylvania's HIV-related laws have been changing. Secondary reports say a bill signed in July 2026 repealed an HIV-specific felony enhancement for prostitution-related offenses, but the exact citation has not been confirmed. For legal questions, speak with a lawyer or a legal aid organization.

After Your Results

A negative result

A negative result means the test did not find that infection in the sample taken. Ask whether the window period applies to your situation and when to test again. Many people also use a negative result as a chance to talk about prevention, such as condoms, vaccines, PrEP or doxy-PEP.

A positive result

A positive result is information, and there are clear next steps. A clinician will talk with you about what comes next.

• Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are bacterial infections. The CDC says they are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician.
• Trichomoniasis is also curable with treatment from a clinician.
• HIV is not curable, but it is treatable. The CDC says people with HIV who take medicine as prescribed and reach an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV sexually. A clinician can start the conversation about care.
• Herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are manageable. Clinicians can treat symptoms, and many HPV infections clear on their own.

Take any treatment exactly as your clinician directs, and ask when it is safe to have sex again. Tell recent partners so they can be tested. Your clinic or the health department can help with this, and ACHD runs the Sexual Health Clinic that can see partners too.

If cost or fear is holding you back

Start with a call. ACHD at 412-578-8081 can answer questions and book an appointment. Allies at 412-345-7456 can explain walk-in sites. You can also search the CDC locator at gettested.cdc.gov. Testing is a way of looking after yourself and the people you care about.

Sources

• Allegheny County Health Department: Sexual Health Clinic
• Allegheny County Health Department: Sexually Transmitted Infections surveillance
• Allegheny County Health Department
• CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
• CDC GetTested locator
• CDC GetTested: Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania
• CDC GetTested: University Family Medicine UPMC
• CDC GetTested: Central Outreach Wellness Center
• Central Outreach Wellness Center
• Allies for Health + Wellbeing: Free Testing
• CDC: Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy in Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Act of Feb. 13, 1970, P.L. 19, No. 10
• 28 Pa. Code 27.21a, reportable diseases
• PA Department of Health: Congenital Syphilis (provider)
• PA Department of Health: No-cost HIV PrEP coverage available
• Guttmacher Institute: Minors' Access to STI Services