STD Testing in Atlanta: 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 Atlanta you have several ways to do it, including free testing, sliding scale public health clinics, community health centers, Planned Parenthood and your own doctor.

This guide covers every route for STD testing in Atlanta. It explains what happens at a visit, what is usually tested and what to ask for. It also explains how cost works and where the numbers come from. Anything about Atlanta clinics comes from the clinics' own pages or from Georgia public health sources, and each is named where it appears.

The short version of the local list is on the Atlanta testing list. This page is the longer explanation behind it.

In This Guide

1. Why STI testing matters in Atlanta
2. Where to get tested in Atlanta
3. What gets tested and what to ask for
4. What a visit involves, step by step
5. What testing costs and how to pay less
6. Teens, pregnancy, privacy and reporting
7. After your results: treatment, partners and prevention
8. Common questions

Why STI Testing Matters in Atlanta

Many STIs cause no symptoms for a long time. The CDC's 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines explain that this is a main reason screening is recommended for people who feel fine. A test is the only way a clinician can tell whether an infection is present.

What the local numbers show

Atlanta sits mostly in Fulton County, with a portion in DeKalb County. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) publishes reported case counts for both counties.

For 2023, the Georgia DPH OASIS data tool reports a chlamydia rate of 978.7 per 100,000 people in Fulton County (10,599 cases). The CDC's 2023 STI Surveillance state tables put Georgia's overall chlamydia rate at 646.4 per 100,000.

For gonorrhea, OASIS reports 569.4 per 100,000 in Fulton County for 2023. The CDC reports 274.8 per 100,000 for Georgia overall.

For primary and secondary syphilis, OASIS reports 39.2 per 100,000 in Fulton County (425 cases). The CDC reports 20.0 per 100,000 for Georgia.

For HIV, Georgia DPH's 2023 surveillance fact sheet reports a new diagnosis rate of 50.5 per 100,000 people aged 13 and older in the Fulton Public Health District (466 cases). The statewide table figure is 26.4 per 100,000.

These are reported cases, and they depend partly on how much testing happens. They do not describe any one person's risk. They do show that testing is an ordinary, expected part of health care in this city.

Who the CDC says should be tested

The CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both recommend routine screening for some groups, even without symptoms. Here is a summary from those sources.

• HIV: The CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine care. The USPSTF recommends screening for people aged 15 to 65. Both recommend more frequent testing when there are new or ongoing factors that raise the chance of exposure.
• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: The CDC and USPSTF recommend yearly screening for sexually active women under 25. They also recommend it for older women with new or multiple partners or a partner with an STI. The CDC recommends at least yearly screening for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, at each site of sexual contact.
• Syphilis: The CDC recommends at least yearly screening for men who have sex with men and for people with HIV who are sexually active. It recommends screening for all pregnant people.
• Hepatitis C: The CDC recommends that all adults be screened at least once.
• More frequent testing: The CDC says people at higher chance of exposure may be screened every 3 to 6 months. A clinician can tell you which schedule fits your situation.
• Transgender and nonbinary people: The CDC says screening should follow a person's anatomy and sexual practices. A clinician can help work out which sites to test.

Where to Get Tested in Atlanta

There are six main routes for testing in Atlanta. Each has different strengths, so the right one depends on your budget, schedule and comfort. Details below come from each organization's own pages. Hours and services change, so call before you go.

1. Fulton County Board of Health sexual health clinics

The Fulton County Board of Health is the local health department for most of Atlanta. Its Locations page lists STI screening and treatment at several health centers. Its Sexual Health page says fees for people without insurance can be charged on a sliding scale.

• 10 Park Place Health Center, 10 Park Place S.E., 5th floor, Atlanta, GA 30303. Phone (770) 520-7500. The Fulton County Board of Health lists STI screening and treatment, HIV testing, PrEP and doxy-PEP here. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a last walk-in appointment at 3:00 p.m.
• Adamsville Regional Health Center, 3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, GA 30331. Phone (770) 520-7323. STI screening and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP are listed. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sexual Health page says services may be available on a walk-in basis or by appointment only, and that appointments are recommended.
• Neighborhood Union Health Center, 186 Sunset Avenue N.W., Atlanta, GA 30314. Phone (770) 520-7351. STI screening and treatment and PrEP are listed. The Fulton County Board of Health's own pages give different hours for this center (Monday to Friday on the Locations page, Wednesday to Friday on the Sexual Health page), so confirm by phone before you go. HIV testing is not listed for this site on the HIV Testing and Prevention page, so ask when you call.

The Fulton County Board of Health says its sexual health clinics serve Fulton County residents aged 14 and up. If you live in DeKalb County, DeKalb Public Health serves the DeKalb portion of Atlanta. Check its site for services, since this guide does not have details for those clinics.

2. AID Atlanta Wellness Center

AID Atlanta is a community organization and the main free option listed for the city. Its testing page says free HIV tests and STI testing are offered onsite, and that free screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are available. It also says free treatment is available for reactive screening results.

• Address: 1438 W Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309.
• Phone: (404) 870-7741 for STI testing, (404) 870-7700 for general questions.
• Hours: Testing is Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with last check-in at 5:30.
• Walk-ins: AID Atlanta says walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is necessary.
• HIV tests offered: A fourth generation blood test or an INSTI rapid test.
• PrEP: Its PrEP coordinator can be reached at (404) 870-7721.

AID Atlanta is known for serving the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. Its testing page describes services for everyone.

3. Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center

Planned Parenthood Southeast operates a health center at 440 Moreland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. Phone 404-688-9300. Its page lists STD testing and treatment, HIV testing and PrEP.

A snapshot of the center's page from April 2026 showed hours of Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on weekends. Confirm current hours by phone.

The page says insurance is not required, and that the center accepts listed insurers and cash or major credit and debit cards. It does not state a sliding scale. Walk-ins are welcome, but the page notes that only appointments secure a visit, so booking ahead is the safer plan.

4. The Teen Health Clinic

The Fulton County Board of Health runs a Teen Health Clinic for people aged 12 to 21. The Adamsville location (3700 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., phone 770-520-7323) is inside Atlanta. The clinic lists STI examinations and HIV counseling and testing.

Fees are based on income and family size, and the clinic says no teen is turned away for inability to pay.

5. Primary care and urgent care

Your own doctor, a nurse practitioner or an urgent care center can also order STI tests. This route works well if you already have insurance and a clinician you trust. It can also be a good fit when you have symptoms and want to be seen the same day.

This guide does not have local urgent care or primary care listings, hours or prices from a verified source, so it does not name any. Because practices differ, ask these questions when you call.

• Do you test for the infections I am asking about, and at which body sites?
• Is the visit covered by my insurance, and what would I owe if it is not?
• How will I get my results, and how long does it usually take?
• Who will see the results, and how is my information shared?

6. At-home options

Some at-home HIV self-tests are available through public health programs.

• Georgia DPH offers an at-home HIV self-test by online request through SendSS. The page does not state a cost or eligibility rules, so check the details when you request one.
• The CDC's HIV Testing page links to Together TakeMeHome, a national program offering free HIV self-tests ordered online.

This guide does not recommend any commercial test kit or lab service. If you use any home test, a clinician can help you understand the result and decide whether a follow-up test is needed.

The CDC also runs a locator at gettested.cdc.gov. You can enter a ZIP code to find testing sites. It is a good way to double check this list or find a site in another part of town.

What Gets Tested and What to Ask For

Many people assume an STD test is one test that checks for everything. It is not. Clinics usually test for a set of infections based on your age, anatomy, partners and symptoms. Saying clearly what you want checked is the best way to get the right tests.

Common tests, in plain terms

• Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Usually done with a urine sample or a swab. The CDC says swabs may be taken from the throat, rectum or genitals depending on the sexual contact you have had. Both are bacterial and curable with treatment from a clinician.
• Syphilis: A blood test. Syphilis is bacterial and curable with treatment from a clinician, and the earlier it is found, the simpler the care tends to be.
• HIV: A blood test or a rapid test, depending on the clinic. HIV is not curable, but the CDC says it is treatable with medicine that lets people live long, healthy lives.
• Trichomoniasis: Tested with a swab or urine sample. It is curable with treatment from a clinician.
• Herpes: Testing depends on whether there are sores. The CDC's 2021 guidelines do not recommend routine herpes blood tests for people without symptoms, so ask a clinician what makes sense for you. Herpes is not curable but is manageable.
• HPV: There is no general HPV test for everyone. Cervical screening, which looks for HPV or cell changes, is part of routine care for people with a cervix. HPV is not curable, though many HPV infections clear on their own, according to the CDC.
• Hepatitis B and C: Blood tests. The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening for all adults at least once.

What is not always tested by default

Clinics differ. Some run a standard panel and others test only what you ask for. AID Atlanta, for example, lists free screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis along with HIV testing. Other infections may not be part of that visit.

Throat and rectal swabs are often skipped unless you mention them. Herpes and hepatitis tests usually need a specific request. If you are unsure, ask: "Which tests are you running today, and which are not included?"

Understanding the window period

A test can miss a very recent infection because the body or the test needs time to show it. This gap is called the window period. The CDC gives these windows for HIV tests after an exposure:

• A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
• An antigen/antibody test on blood drawn from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure.
• An antigen/antibody test using a finger prick can take 18 to 90 days.
• Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days.

Windows for other infections vary by test. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test is a good idea after a recent exposure. If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, the CDC says to contact a clinician or health department right away about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Georgia DPH's HIV prevention program provides PEP information, and the Georgia AIDS and STI InfoLine is 1-800-551-2728.

What a Visit Involves, Step by Step

Knowing what to expect takes away much of the worry. Most visits are short and routine for the staff.

Before you go

• Call to confirm hours, whether walk-ins are taken and what to bring. Some clinics need a photo ID or proof of residence.
• Bring your insurance card if you have one. If you do not, say so, because that is when sliding scale fees apply at Fulton County clinics.
• If you plan to give a urine sample, a clinician may ask you not to urinate for a short time beforehand. Ask when you call.
• Write down any symptoms, the date of any recent exposure and any medicines you take.

At the visit

1. Check-in. You will fill out forms with your contact details and health history.
2. A private conversation. A nurse or clinician usually asks about your health, symptoms and the type of sexual contact you have. These questions help choose the right tests. They are not a judgment, and you can answer in whatever words feel comfortable.
3. Sample collection. Depending on what is being tested, this may be a urine sample, a swab, a blood draw or a finger prick. Many samples can be collected by you in private.
4. A physical exam, only if needed. If you have symptoms such as sores, discharge or pain, a clinician may examine the area. You can ask questions at any point.
5. Results plan. You should leave knowing how and when you will hear back. A rapid HIV test can give a result during the visit, while other results can take days.

Getting results

Ask how results are delivered, whether by phone, a patient portal or in person. Ask which phone number the clinic will use, and whether it is safe to leave a message. If a result is reactive or positive, a clinician explains next steps and treatment. AID Atlanta says free treatment is available for reactive screening results at its center.

What Testing Costs and How to Pay Less

Cost depends on the clinic, your insurance and which tests you need. This guide does not list dollar prices for visits or lab panels, because none of the clinics above publish a price list we could verify. What is known is how each one handles payment.

Option	How cost works, per the clinic's own pages
AID Atlanta Wellness Center	Lists free HIV tests, free STI screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and free treatment for reactive screening results.
Fulton County Board of Health clinics	Sliding scale for people without insurance. Ask the clinic what fee applies to you.
Teen Health Clinic (ages 12 to 21)	Fees based on income and family size. The clinic says no teen is turned away for inability to pay.
Planned Parenthood East Atlanta Health Center	Insurance not required. Accepts listed insurers and cash or major credit and debit cards. No sliding scale is stated on the page.
Primary care or urgent care	Depends on the practice and your insurance. Ask for the cost before the visit.
At-home HIV self-test	The CDC links to Together TakeMeHome, a national program offering free HIV self-tests ordered online. Georgia DPH offers a self-test by online request but does not state a cost.

Ways to keep the cost down

• Start with the free and sliding scale options above if cost is your main concern.
• If you have insurance, ask whether STI screening counts as preventive care under your plan. Coverage rules vary by plan, so ask your insurer or the clinic's billing staff.
• Ask what is included in a visit fee and what is billed separately, such as lab work.
• If a bill seems unclear, ask the clinic for an itemized statement.

Teens, Pregnancy, Privacy and Reporting

Teens and consent

Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 31-17-7), a minor who is or says they are affected by a venereal disease may consent to examination and treatment. No parent, guardian or spouse consent is required. The statute defines venereal disease as syphilis, gonorrhea and chancroid (O.C.G.A. 31-17-1).

The law also says a provider may, but does not have to, tell a parent, guardian or spouse. The Guttmacher Institute summarizes Georgia as allowing minors to consent to STI testing and treatment, with parental notification permitted. The statute does not name every infection, such as chlamydia or HIV, so ask the clinic how it handles consent for the specific test you want. The Teen Health Clinic is a good place to ask, and it serves ages 12 to 21.

Pregnancy

Georgia's HIV/Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Act (O.C.G.A. 31-17-4.2) sets testing rules for prenatal care. The provider who takes responsibility for prenatal care must test for HIV and syphilis unless the patient refuses. In the third trimester, the provider must offer HIV and syphilis testing at the first exam of that trimester.

At delivery, the attending provider must order a test if there is no written evidence of one. The CDC also recommends screening for other infections in pregnancy, including chlamydia and hepatitis B, and a prenatal provider can explain what is checked. Untreated syphilis in pregnancy can affect a baby, which is why the screening schedule exists, and treatment from a clinician can prevent that.

Privacy and reporting

Georgia DPH says all Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers must report notifiable conditions. For STIs, DPH lists syphilis as reportable immediately, and chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV as reportable within 7 days. Reports go to public health for tracking and follow-up. They are not shared with employers or landlords.

If privacy worries you, tell the clinic when you check in and ask how contact details, billing statements and results are handled. Insurance paperwork can sometimes go to the policyholder, so ask about that if it matters to you.

After Your Results: Treatment, Partners and Prevention

If a result is positive

A positive result is a medical finding, not a judgment. A clinician will explain what it means and what comes next.

• Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician.
• Trichomoniasis is also curable with treatment from a clinician.
• HIV is not curable but is treatable. The CDC says that with treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives, and that people who keep an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV through sex.
• Herpes and HPV are not curable but are manageable, and a clinician can discuss options.

Take only what a clinician prescribes for you. Do not share or save medicine, and finish the course the clinician gives you.

Telling partners

Partners may need testing and treatment too. Many people find this the hardest part, and clinicians and health department staff can help with how to share the news. Public health staff can also notify partners without naming you.

For some infections, a clinician may be able to give treatment for a partner without a separate visit. This is called expedited partner therapy. The CDC lists the legal status of expedited partner therapy in Georgia, and Georgia DPH says these services can be located through local public health departments. Ask your clinician whether it applies in your case.

Prevention tools to ask about

• Condoms: Georgia DPH lists a free mail-order condom program on its STD page.
• PrEP: Medicine a clinician prescribes to lower the chance of getting HIV. The Fulton County Board of Health has a PrEP clinic, reached at 404-613-4708, with PrEP offered at 10 Park Place, Adamsville and Neighborhood Union health centers. AID Atlanta also runs a PrEP program and says it requires check-ins at least every 3 months with HIV and STD testing.
• Doxy-PEP: The CDC's 2024 guidelines say clinicians can consider doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of certain bacterial STIs for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. A clinician decides whether it fits you. The Fulton County Board of Health lists doxy-PEP at 10 Park Place Health Center.
• Vaccines: Vaccines exist for HPV and hepatitis B, and the CDC recommends them in routine care. A clinician can check which ones you have had.
• Regular testing: Testing on the schedule a clinician suggests is itself a prevention tool.

Common Questions

Can I get tested without symptoms?

Yes. The CDC's 2021 guidelines recommend screening for some groups regardless of symptoms, because many STIs cause none. Routine testing is normal and clinic staff do it every day.

Is there walk-in STD testing in Atlanta?

Some clinics take walk-ins. AID Atlanta says walk-ins are welcome. The Fulton County Board of Health lists a last walk-in time of 3:00 p.m. at 10 Park Place, and says services at its other centers may be walk-in or by appointment. Planned Parenthood welcomes walk-ins but suggests appointments. Call ahead, because hours and capacity change.

How soon after sex should I test?

It depends on the infection and the test. The CDC's HIV window periods are listed above. For other infections, ask a clinician whether to test now and again later.

Will I be tested for everything?

Not automatically. Ask which infections are included, and name any others you want checked. This matters most for throat and rectal swabs, herpes and hepatitis.

Do I need to see a doctor in person?

Not always. Some people start with an at-home HIV self-test through a public program. A clinician can help with any result and with infections that need an in-person visit.

I do not have insurance. Can I still be tested?

Yes. AID Atlanta lists free testing. Fulton County Board of Health clinics use a sliding scale for people without insurance, and Planned Parenthood says insurance is not required.

Where do I start?

Pick the option that fits your schedule and budget, then call to confirm hours. You can also use the CDC locator at gettested.cdc.gov, or review the Fulton County Board of Health sexual health page. Free and low-cost testing is available in Atlanta, and taking a test is a routine, responsible step.

Sources

• CDC, Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
• CDC, Guidelines for Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis for Bacterial STI Prevention, 2024
• CDC, HIV Testing
• CDC, GetTested locator
• CDC, Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy in Georgia
• CDC, 2023 STI Surveillance Report, State Ranking Tables
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, recommendations on STI and HIV screening
• Georgia DPH, OASIS STD data table tool
• Fulton County Board of Health, Sexual Health
• Fulton County Board of Health, HIV Testing and Prevention
• Fulton County Board of Health, Teen Health Clinic
• Fulton County Board of Health, Locations
• AID Atlanta, Testing
• Planned Parenthood, East Atlanta Health Center
• DeKalb Public Health
• O.C.G.A. 31-17-7, minor consent
• O.C.G.A. 31-17-4.2, Georgia HIV/Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Act