At-Home STI Tests in Australia: What’s Available and When to See a Doctor
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Knowing you want an STI test is the easy part. Working out where to go can be harder, especially if you want something quick, private and bulk-billed. In Australia you have four main options, and the right one depends on your situation.
Where can I get an STI test in Australia?
- An online (telehealth) doctor. You speak to a doctor by phone or video and get a pathology request to take to any collection centre.
- Your GP. Any GP can do an STI check, often as part of a regular appointment.
- A public sexual health clinic. Specialist clinics run by state and territory health services, usually free and confidential.
- Community and peer-led services. Some organisations offer testing aimed at particular communities, such as gay, bisexual and trans people.
Option 1: online STI testing
This is usually the fastest option and works anywhere in Australia, including regional areas.
- Book a consult and speak to an Australian doctor, usually the same day, 7 days a week.
- Your doctor sends an electronic pathology request to your phone.
- Visit any collection centre near you. Many tests use self-collected swabs or a urine sample.
- You get a text when results are in, and a follow-up consult to go through them.
Online STI testing through STI Doctor is bulk-billed for eligible Medicare card holders, and standard lab tests are usually bulk-billed too.
Good for: speed, privacy, weekends, people who’d rather not see their regular GP, and regional patients.
Option 2: your GP
Your regular GP can do a full STI check and knows your history. Wait times and bulk-billing vary between clinics, so ask when you book.
Good for: people who already have a GP they’re comfortable with.
Option 3: public sexual health clinics
Every state and territory has public sexual health clinics. They’re staffed by specialist doctors and nurses and are usually free. 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.
Clinics often prioritise people at higher risk, so appointments can book out and walk-in times may be limited. Call ahead or check the clinic’s website.
Good for: people without Medicare, complex symptoms, or anyone who prefers a specialist clinic.
Option 4: community testing services
Some community organisations run peer-led testing, rapid HIV testing or outreach clinics, often free. Anyone in Australia aged 18 or over can also order free HIV self-test kits. See at-home STI tests in Australia.
STI testing in your city
Wherever you are, you can book online and test at a nearby collection centre. Our local guides list pathology options and local services:
- STI testing in Sydney and North Sydney
- STI testing in Melbourne
- STI testing in Brisbane
- STI testing in Perth
- STI testing in Adelaide
- Canberra, Hobart and Darwin
See all locations, including regional centres.
If you might have been exposed to HIV
If the sex was in the last 72 hours and there’s a chance of HIV, don’t wait for a routine test. PEP must be started within 72 hours, and the sooner the better. Speak to a doctor or go to a hospital emergency department straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an STI test the same day?
Often, yes. With an online consult you can usually speak to a doctor and visit a collection centre on the same day. Results usually take a few days.
Can I get tested without anyone knowing?
STI testing is confidential. Online consults let you test without visiting a clinic, and you can choose to get your results by text and phone.
Do I need symptoms to get tested?
No. Many STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, often cause no symptoms. Regular testing is the only way to know.
How soon after sex should I test?
It depends on the infection. See how long after unprotected sex you can test for an STI.
Get tested this week
Book a bulk-billed telehealth consult, get your pathology request on your phone and test locally. Start your online STI test.
Sources: NSW Health: sexual health services; healthdirect: service finder; HIV Self-Testing Australia. This article is general information, not personal medical advice.
