This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Prenatal care in Los Angeles usually includes blood and urine tests for several infections. The tests help protect both the pregnant person and the baby. The answers below follow CDC guidelines, California rules and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health information.

The Basics of Prenatal STD Testing

Why is STD testing part of prenatal care?

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) explain that some infections can pass to a baby during pregnancy or birth. Testing lets a clinician find an infection early. Many can then be treated or managed to protect the pregnancy.

Which tests does the CDC recommend?

The CDC recommends that all pregnant people be tested for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B at the first prenatal visit. It also recommends hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy. Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is recommended for people under 25 and for older people at increased risk, and a clinician decides which tests fit each person.

Does being offered these tests mean the clinician suspects a problem?

No. These are routine parts of prenatal care. The CDC recommends them based on pregnancy, not on gender, orientation or relationship status.

How are the tests done?

HIV, syphilis and hepatitis tests use a blood sample. Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests use a urine sample or a swab, according to the CDC guidelines. Most can be done at the same visit as other routine prenatal labs.

Syphilis in Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis

What is congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis happens when syphilis passes from a pregnant person to the baby during pregnancy, according to the CDC. It can lead to serious outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth and health problems for the newborn. Testing and treatment during pregnancy are the main ways to prevent it.

Can syphilis in pregnancy be treated?

Yes. Syphilis is curable with treatment from a clinician. The CDC says penicillin is the only recommended treatment during pregnancy, and the clinician decides the details.

Does syphilis always cause symptoms?

No. The CDC notes that syphilis sores can be painless and rashes easy to miss. A blood test is how a clinician checks.

How common is congenital syphilis in Los Angeles?

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health 2024 STI Surveillance Snapshot reports 102 congenital syphilis cases, or 120 per 100,000 live births. That figure is provisional and excludes Long Beach and Pasadena. The California Department of Public Health reports 438 cases statewide in 2024, or 109.2 per 100,000 live births.

Does California require syphilis testing in pregnancy?

Yes. Under California Health and Safety Code section 120685, as amended by SB 306 (effective January 1, 2022), professionals giving prenatal care or attending a delivery must screen for syphilis. The California Department of Public Health guidelines call for three screens: at the first prenatal visit, in the early third trimester (about 28 weeks) and at delivery.

Why are there three syphilis screens?

The repeat screens give a clinician more than one chance to find an infection that began after an earlier negative result. The state schedule applies to every pregnancy, so being asked to repeat the test is routine.

What if I get care at an emergency department?

The California Department of Public Health says emergency departments and hospital-affiliated urgent care should screen pregnant people before discharge if there is no syphilis result for the current pregnancy. You can also tell any clinician if you are unsure whether you have been tested.

HIV, Hepatitis and Other Infections

Why is HIV testing recommended during pregnancy?

The CDC recommends HIV testing for every pregnant person. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable. The CDC says HIV medicine prescribed by a clinician during pregnancy can greatly lower the chance of passing HIV to the baby.

What about hepatitis B and hepatitis C?

Both can pass to a baby, so the CDC recommends hepatitis B testing at the first prenatal visit and hepatitis C screening in each pregnancy. If a test is positive, a clinician can plan steps to protect the newborn.

Are chlamydia and gonorrhea treatable in pregnancy?

Both are curable with antibiotics from a clinician. The CDC recommends a repeat test in the third trimester for people at increased risk. Clinicians choose treatments that are appropriate for pregnancy.

What about herpes and HPV?

Herpes and HPV are not curable, but both are manageable. The CDC guidelines do not recommend routine herpes blood screening for pregnant people without symptoms. Tell your clinician about any past diagnosis or new symptoms so they can plan your care.

Can a partner be treated without their own visit?

Sometimes. California Health and Safety Code section 120582 allows expedited partner therapy for chlamydia, gonorrhea and other infections covered by current CDC guidance, according to the CDC's legal status page for California. Ask your clinician whether it applies to you.

Getting Tested in Los Angeles

Where can I get free STD testing in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health sexual health clinics offer free STD testing. The Central Health Center is at 241 Figueroa St., and the MLK Jr. Center for Public Health is at 11833 S. Wilmington Ave. Pacoima Health Center offers screening only. Appointments are preferred, with limited walk-ins, through (213) 449-7009. More options are in the local clinic list.

Does a county clinic replace my prenatal provider?

The county's sexual health clinic page does not say these clinics provide prenatal care. Ask the clinic what it offers, and share your results with whoever manages your pregnancy.

How long do results take?

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says results come through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days. Ask the clinic or your prenatal provider how they will contact you about results that need follow-up.

Can a teenager get tested without a parent?

California Family Code section 6926 lets minors aged 12 and older consent to STI testing and treatment. Parents or guardians are not liable for payment for that care. County clinics tell patients 12 and older they can be tested and treated without their parents knowing.

Does immigration status or cost matter at county clinics?

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says its clinics are open to everyone regardless of citizenship and that it will not report immigration status. It lists no patient fees at its sexual health clinics and bills insurance only if you have it.

Where can I learn more?

See our guide to where to get tested in Los Angeles and the latest STD rates in Los Angeles. The CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov also lists testing sites by ZIP code.

STD Testing During Pregnancy in California