How Much Does an STI Test Cost in Australia? Bulk Billing with Medicare Explained

If you’re wondering whether an STI test will cost you anything, the short answer for most people in Australia is no. If you have a Medicare card, a sexual health consult and your standard STI tests can usually be bulk-billed, which means nothing out of pocket. If you don’t have Medicare, there are still free and low-cost options.

This guide explains what an STI test costs in Australia, what “bulk billed” really means, and how to keep costs down.

Is STI testing bulk billed in Australia?

For eligible Medicare card holders, STI testing is usually bulk billed, with nothing to pay. Two things need to be covered:

• The doctor’s consult. Many GPs, sexual health clinics and telehealth services bulk-bill, so you pay nothing for the appointment. STI testing online through STI Doctor is bulk-billed for eligible Medicare card holders.
• The pathology tests. Standard STI tests ordered by a doctor are usually bulk-billed by the pathology lab when you show your Medicare card at the collection centre.

Bulk billed means the doctor or lab accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so there’s no out-of-pocket cost. If you’re not eligible for Medicare, costs apply, but there are still options (see below).

What does a standard STI test include?

A routine STI check in Australia usually includes:

• a urine test or self-collected swab for chlamydia and gonorrhoea
• a blood test for HIV and syphilis
• hepatitis B and C tests, depending on your risk and vaccination history
• throat or anal swabs, if relevant to the type of sex you’ve had

Your doctor will suggest the tests that suit you. You don’t need to explain more than you’re comfortable with, but the more your doctor knows, the better they can tailor your tests.

How much does an STI test cost without Medicare?

If you don’t have a Medicare card (for example, international students and some visitors), you’ll usually pay for the consult and the lab tests separately.

• STI Doctor consult: $55 on weekdays and $75 on weekends and public holidays. See our fees.
• Pathology: the lab charges its own fees, which vary by lab and by which tests you need. Ask the collection centre for a quote before your sample is taken.
• Overseas student health cover (OSHC): many policies cover some GP and pathology costs. Check with your insurer.

STI testing without Medicare

Public sexual health clinics are run by state and territory health services. Many offer free, confidential testing, and some don’t need a Medicare card. For example, NSW public sexual health clinics are free and don’t need a Medicare card or GP referral. Eligibility, wait times and walk-in options vary by clinic, so check before you go.

There are also free self-testing programs for HIV. Anyone in Australia aged 18 or over can order free HIV self-test kits, delivered discreetly. Read more in our guide to at-home STI tests in Australia.

What about treatment costs?

If a test comes back positive, the follow-up consult is also bulk-billed for eligible Medicare card holders. Most common STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, are cured with antibiotics. Prescriptions are paid for at the pharmacy, and many common STI medicines are PBS-listed, which keeps the cost down. See STI treatment online.

How to get a bulk-billed STI test online

1. Book a consult. Speak to an Australian doctor by phone or video, usually the same day, 7 days a week.
2. Get tested locally. Your doctor sends an electronic pathology request. Take it and your Medicare card to any collection centre.
3. Get your results. You’ll get a text when your results are in, then a follow-up consult to go through them and arrange treatment if you need it.

Frequently asked questions

Is an STI test bulk billed with Medicare?

Usually, yes. When your doctor bulk-bills the consult and the lab bulk-bills your standard STI tests, there’s nothing to pay. Some specialised tests may attract a fee, and your doctor or the lab can tell you before testing.

Do I need a referral for an STI test?

You need a pathology request from a doctor for your tests to be bulk-billed. A telehealth consult is the quickest way to get one without visiting a clinic in person.

Will an STI test show up on my Medicare history?

Medicare claims appear in your Medicare account. If you share an account with a parent, you can apply for your own Medicare card from age 15. Public sexual health clinics can also advise on confidential options.

How often should I get tested?

If you’re sexually active with new or multiple partners, a check every 3 to 12 months is common, depending on your risk. See how long after unprotected sex you can test.

Book a bulk-billed STI test

Speak to an Australian doctor today, get your pathology request sent to your phone, and test at a collection centre near you. Start your online STI test.

Sources: NSW Health: sexual health services; Services Australia: bulk billing; PBS: fees and patient contributions. This article is general information, not personal medical advice.