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.

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections is a routine part of health care. In Los Angeles, there are more ways to do it than most people realize, including county clinics that charge patients nothing.

This guide covers every testing route in the city. It explains what a visit involves, what is usually tested, what to ask for, what the costs look like, and what your privacy rights are in California. Use it as a starting point, then pick the option that fits your schedule, comfort and budget.

Key takeaways

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) runs sexual health clinics that provide STD testing at no patient charge, and the Central and MLK Jr. clinics also offer HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP and treatment.
Community and LGBTQ+ health centers add more options. Some state that services are free or low-cost, and others do not publish prices, so it is worth asking before you go.
Appointments are preferred at DPH clinics, and all DPH sexual health appointments go through one scheduling line, (213) 449-7009.
Testing is usually a urine sample, a swab, a blood draw, or a mix. A clinician decides what to test based on your history, your body and the kind of sex you have.
Under California law, anyone 12 or older can consent to STI testing and treatment on their own.
Most STIs that people worry about can be treated. Bacterial infections and trichomoniasis can be cured, and HIV, herpes and HPV can be managed.

Why STI testing matters in Los Angeles
Where to get tested: every route in the city
What STD testing costs
What to expect at a visit
Who should be tested and how often
Results, privacy and your rights in California
After testing: treatment, partners and prevention
Next steps

Why STI testing matters in Los Angeles

Many STIs cause no symptoms for a long time. That is the main reason testing exists. A test can tell you something a mirror or a symptom check cannot.

The local picture

Los Angeles is a large, connected region, and infections move through it like they do anywhere else. The numbers below come from public health agencies and cover Los Angeles County, not only the city.

The LA County Department of Public Health 2024 STI Surveillance Snapshot reports chlamydia at 493 cases per 100,000 people (45,459 cases) and gonorrhea at 252 per 100,000 (23,272 cases).
The same snapshot reports early syphilis at 36 per 100,000 (3,344 cases) and 102 congenital syphilis cases.
The county's 2025 HIV Snapshot reports 1,454 new HIV diagnoses among people aged 13 and older in 2024, or 17 per 100,000.
For comparison, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports a statewide 2024 chlamydia rate of 437.2 per 100,000 and a gonorrhea rate of 173.3 per 100,000.

The county figures exclude Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments. The 2024 data are provisional, and chlamydia counts come from laboratory reports only. These numbers are not a reason for alarm. They show that testing is common and expected, and that routine screening is how most infections are found.

Testing is routine health care

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend screening based on age, anatomy, pregnancy and sexual activity, not only on symptoms. Testing does not say anything about a person's character. It is a standard step, like checking blood pressure.

Where to get tested: every route in the city

You have several routes. Each has trade-offs in cost, speed, privacy and the range of services. A local testing list gathers the clinics covered here in one place. For a deeper comparison of clinic types, see our guide to STD clinics in Los Angeles.

1. Los Angeles County public health sexual health clinics

DPH runs sexual health clinics across the county. The DPH Sexual Health Clinics page says services are provided at no patient charge. Insurance is billed if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance. DPH also says its clinics are open to everyone regardless of citizenship, and that it will not report immigration status.

Three DPH sites carry a Los Angeles address:

Clinic	Address	Services listed	Cost
Central Health Center (DPH Sexual Health Clinic)	241 Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012	STD and HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, treatment	Free to patients
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health (DPH Sexual Health Clinic)	11833 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059	STD and HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, treatment	Free to patients
Pacoima Health Center (screening only)	13300 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331	STD testing	Free to patients

A few details matter before you go:

All DPH sexual health appointments use one centralized scheduling line, (213) 449-7009. Telehealth visits are offered by phone booking.
Appointments are preferred at the Central and MLK Jr. clinics, with limited walk-ins. The Central clinic lists registration hours Tuesday through Friday and is closed Monday. Check the current schedule when you call, because hours can change.
Pacoima is screening only. DPH tells people with symptoms or a possible exposure to book at another DPH clinic for evaluation and treatment.
DPH also runs sites in Glendale, Monrovia and Whittier. North Hollywood Health Center is closed, and its services moved to Glendale.

For a full walkthrough of no-cost options, see our guide to free and sliding-scale STD testing in Los Angeles.

2. Community and LGBTQ+ health centers

Several nonprofit health centers in the city offer sexual health care, and many have staff with deep experience in LGBTQ+ health. They are open to people of every gender and orientation.

Los Angeles LGBT Center, McDonald/Wright Building, 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. The county lists it as accepting walk-ins with same-day appointments available, Monday through Friday, 10am to 7pm. The county lists the phone as (323) 993-2997, and the Center's site lists a main line of (323) 993-7500. The Center's page lists STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP and treatment. It says PrEP care is free or low-cost and does not state what STI testing costs, so ask when you call.
AHF Wellness Center, Western, 1811 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 1 (855) 783-2434. AIDS Healthcare Foundation says it tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV for free. It states that no appointment is needed and suggests calling ahead about wait times. The county lists hours as Tuesday through Friday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm, closed Sunday and Monday. AHF says it can help you find affordable treatment, but does not state that treatment is given on site.
APLA Health, Gleicher/Chen Health Center Annex (Out Here Sexual Health Center), 3741 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90016, (213) 201-5000. APLA says its Out Here locations offer free or low-cost sexual health services, with testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP and treatment listed. APLA directs patients to book an appointment, and its pages do not state a walk-in policy. The county lists hours as Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 7pm, and Tuesday and Friday 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm.
Watts Health Center, 10300 Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002, 1 (323) 564-4331. The county lists it among its STD and HIV screening and treatment resources, with hours every day from 9am to 2pm. Cost and walk-in policy are not published in the sources reviewed, so confirm with the clinic.

3. Youth-focused care

Children's Hospital Los Angeles lists STD services for youth aged 12 to 24 at 3250 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010, 1 (323) 361-7550. The county lists hours Monday through Friday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm. Cost, HIV services and walk-in policy are not confirmed, so call first. The DPH clinics also welcome young people, as described in the privacy section below.

4. Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood operates health centers in Los Angeles that offer STI testing and treatment. Services, hours and prices vary by center, and they change. Check Planned Parenthood's own site or call your nearest center for current details before you go.

5. Primary care and urgent care

Your regular doctor, nurse practitioner or a medical group can order STI tests. This route can be convenient if you already have a relationship with a clinician and insurance. A few points apply:

Do not assume a standard checkup includes STI tests. Ask for specific ones.
Insurance statements may show visits and lab charges. If that is a concern, ask the office how billing and explanation-of-benefits notices work, or use a clinic that does not bill patients.
Urgent care centers can often test and treat when symptoms are new. Whether a given center tests for HIV or syphilis varies, so ask before you go.

The sources reviewed do not publish prices for primary care or urgent care STI testing in Los Angeles. Ask the office for an estimate before you are tested. For people without coverage, our guide to low-cost STD testing in Los Angeles without insurance covers the options.

6. At-home testing

Some people prefer to collect a sample at home. Two public programs are relevant:

I Know, from the LA County DPH Division of HIV and STD Programs, offers a free home chlamydia and gonorrhea test kit. It is a vaginal-swab kit for people with a vagina aged 12 to 44 in Los Angeles County. The kit, lab test and return postage are free, and results come online or by phone. The program hotline is (800) 758-0880.
TakeMeHome, from the CDPH Office of AIDS, has offered free mailed self-test kits for HIV, STI and hepatitis C, and expanded in January 2023 to free oral-swab HIV self-tests for residents of all California counties. Current availability and eligibility were not confirmed for this guide, so check the program before relying on it.

A home kit tests only what it is designed to test, and it cannot replace a clinician's exam if you have symptoms. Our comparison of at-home STD tests and clinic testing in Los Angeles explains the trade-offs.

7. Finding more options

The CDC runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov where you can look up testing sites by ZIP code. The LA County STD hotline for finding free testing is 800-758-0880, and the HIV hotline is 800-367-AIDS (2437).

What STD testing costs

Cost is the most common reason people put off testing, so here is what the published sources say, and what they do not.

What is free

DPH sexual health clinics: no patient charge, according to the LA County DPH Sexual Health Clinics page. Insurance is billed if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance. DPH notes that a fee may be charged for immunizations.
AHF Wellness Center, Western: AHF's FAQ lists gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV testing as free.
I Know home kit: free kit, lab test and postage for eligible people.
PrEP, PEP and DoxyPEP at DPH clinics: provided at no patient charge, according to DPH.

What is described as free or low-cost

APLA Health Out Here locations: APLA says it offers free or low-cost sexual health services. It does not state a sliding scale or specific fees.
Los Angeles LGBT Center: its page says PrEP care is free or low-cost. It does not state a price for STI testing.

What is not published

The sources reviewed for this guide do not list prices at Watts Health Center or Children's Hospital Los Angeles. They also do not list prices for Planned Parenthood, primary care or urgent care. Prices at these sites depend on your insurance, your income and the tests ordered. Call ahead, ask for the cost of each test you want, and ask whether a sliding scale or financial assistance exists.

If you have insurance, ask the clinic whether the visit will appear on an explanation-of-benefits statement. If you do not, start with the no-charge options above. Our guides to free STD testing and low-cost testing without insurance go deeper.

What to expect at a visit

Knowing the steps can make the visit easier. For a full, step-by-step description, see what happens at an STD test.

Before you go

Call or book online if the clinic prefers appointments. For DPH clinics, call (213) 449-7009.
Ask if the clinic has any instructions for urine samples. Some clinics ask you not to urinate for a period before the visit, so ask when you book.
Think about what you want to tell the clinician: recent partners, the kinds of sex you have, symptoms, medications, and any past results.
Bring identification or insurance information if you have it, and ask whether either is required.

At the visit

A clinician or staff member will usually ask a short set of questions about your sexual history. These are routine medical questions, and honest answers help the clinician choose the right tests. You can tell them about every type of sex you have, because samples may need to come from more than one body site.

Depending on your history, testing may involve:

A urine sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Swabs from the vagina, throat or rectum, which you can sometimes collect yourself.
A blood draw for HIV, syphilis, and sometimes hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
A swab of a sore if there is one, to test for herpes.
A physical exam if you have symptoms or the clinician thinks it is helpful.

What is tested by default and what to ask for

There is no single test that checks for every infection. What counts as a standard panel differs between clinics. DPH clinics and AHF list testing for the common bacterial infections and HIV. AHF's FAQ names gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV.

It helps to ask the clinician directly:

Which infections will you test me for today?
Will you test every body site that may have been exposed?
Is hepatitis B or hepatitis C testing included, if it is relevant to me?
Is herpes testing recommended for me? The CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood testing for people without symptoms, so this is a conversation to have with the clinician.
When and how will I get results?

If you need results sooner, our guide to same-day STD testing in Los Angeles lists which options move faster. Rapid HIV testing has its own page: free and rapid HIV testing in Los Angeles.

Who should be tested and how often

Screening advice depends on age, anatomy, pregnancy and sexual activity. The outline below summarizes national guidance. A clinician can tailor it to you.

CDC and USPSTF screening guidance

HIV: The CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. People with ongoing risk may need testing more often. The USPSTF makes a similar recommendation for adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea: The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and the USPSTF recommend yearly screening for sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors such as a new partner or a partner with an STI.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend at least yearly screening for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, with more frequent screening, such as every 3 to 6 months, for people at higher risk.
Pregnancy: The CDC recommends screening for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B at the first prenatal visit, with additional testing for others based on risk.
Hepatitis C: The CDC recommends that all adults be screened at least once in their lifetime, and during each pregnancy.
Transgender and nonbinary people: Screening depends on the anatomy a person has and the sex they have, not on gender identity. A clinician can help you choose the right sites and tests.

Testing after a possible exposure

Tests detect infection only after a window period, which differs by infection and by test type. The CDC explains window periods on its HIV and STI pages, and a clinician can tell you when a test is most informative for your situation. If you had a recent exposure, ask the clinic what to do now and when to retest. If it was within the last few days, ask about PEP, which is covered below.

Prenatal syphilis screening in California

California law requires licensed professionals who give prenatal care or attend a delivery to screen for syphilis under current CDPH guidelines. Those guidelines call for three screens: at confirmation of pregnancy or the first prenatal visit, in the early third trimester (around 28 weeks), and at delivery, according to the CDPH STD Control Branch's SB 306 fact sheet. The county reported 102 congenital syphilis cases in 2024, which is part of why this schedule exists.

Results, privacy and your rights in California

How you get results

DPH says results come through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days. Timing at other sites varies by the test and the lab. Rapid HIV tests can give a result during the visit at sites that offer them. See STD test results: how long they take and what they mean for a plain-language explanation of what different results indicate and what usually happens next.

Confidential and anonymous options

Clinic care is confidential in the ordinary medical sense. Your information is protected by health privacy laws, and DPH says it will not report immigration status. If you want to understand how your information is used, ask the clinic. Our guide to anonymous and confidential STD testing in Los Angeles explains the differences.

Public health reporting

Some results are reported to the health department. This is routine and is how health agencies track infections and offer partner support.

Under California Code of Regulations Title 17, section 2500, health care providers must report gonococcal infections, syphilis and HIV infection to the local health officer.
Under section 2505, laboratories must report chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and acute HIV infection results to the local health department.
LA County DPH notes that since October 2019, chlamydia is reportable by laboratories only, not by providers.

Minors can consent

California Family Code section 6926 allows a minor aged 12 or older to consent to care related to the diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted infections. The statute also says parents or guardians are not liable for payment for that care. LA County DPH says its clinics tell patients 12 and older they can be tested and treated without their parents knowing. The Guttmacher Institute's summary of state law lists no parental notification provision for California.

HIV and California law

California's SB 239, effective January 1, 2018, repealed HIV-specific felonies and replaced the old willful-exposure misdemeanor with a section that covers all infectious and communicable diseases. The CDPH Office of AIDS fact sheet says taking practical steps to prevent transmission, such as using condoms or following treatment in good faith, counts against a finding of intent. If you have questions about how this applies to you, a legal aid organization can give specific guidance.

After testing: treatment, partners and prevention

What treatment looks like

Treatment is something a clinician prescribes after reviewing your results and history. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe what is recommended for each infection, and a clinician chooses the right option for you.

Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician.
Trichomoniasis is also curable with treatment from a clinician.
HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. Modern HIV care helps people stay healthy, and clinicians can discuss options for managing herpes and HPV-related conditions.

Follow your clinician's instructions about finishing treatment, avoiding sex until cleared, and retesting. Retesting is often part of the plan, and a clinician will tell you when.

Talking with partners

Telling partners can feel hard. It is also one of the kindest things you can do. Clinics can help you plan the conversation, and DPH offers support through its sexual health clinics.

California also allows expedited partner therapy (EPT). Under Health and Safety Code section 120582, a clinician may provide treatment for partners of a person diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea or other qualifying infections without seeing the partner first. The CDC's Legal Status of EPT in California page describes the law, and the CDC says EPT is permissible in 49 states. Ask your clinician if EPT is appropriate in your situation.

Prevention tools

PrEP is medication that helps prevent HIV. DPH Sexual Health Clinics provide PrEP as pills (daily or on-demand) or a monthly injection at no patient charge. The California PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP), run by the CDPH Office of AIDS, covers PrEP for eligible California residents, including minors 12 to 17, regardless of immigration status. Its Immediate Access option gives anyone one month of PrEP free. Check the CDPH page for current eligibility. The county's PrEP warmline is (213) 351-7699, and GetPrEPLA lists providers.
PEP is medication taken after a possible HIV exposure. It is time-sensitive, so contact a clinic quickly. DPH clinics, the Los Angeles LGBT Center and APLA Health list PEP services.
DoxyPEP is an option the CDC addressed in its 2024 guidance. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with 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. DPH clinics, the LGBT Center and APLA list DoxyPEP services.
Vaccines protect against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. A clinician can tell you which apply to you. DPH says a fee may be charged for immunizations.
Condoms and other barriers lower the chance of many infections, though they do not cover every one.

Next steps

You do not need to have everything worked out before you get tested. A simple plan is enough.

Pick a route. For a no-charge option, call DPH scheduling at (213) 449-7009. For a community health center, call the clinic and ask about cost and walk-ins.
Write down any symptoms, recent partners and medications you want to mention.
Ask which infections will be tested, and which body sites.
Ask how and when you will get results, and what happens if something is found.
If you cannot find a time that works, use the CDC's testing locator or call the county line at 800-758-0880.

If a clinic's page does not list a price or walk-in policy, that is a reason to call, not a reason to skip the visit. Public health clinics exist so that cost does not stand in the way. Taking this step is a normal, responsible part of caring for your health.

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