What Are At-Home STI Tests?

At-home testing is nothing new. You can get at-home medical tests for everything from Covid-19 to drug testing to hormone levels or food sensitivities. You can examine your gut, your blood, or even your DNA. At-home STI tests use samples of your blood, urine, and/or samples collected from the vagina or rectum to detect whether or not you have a sexually transmitted infection. You'll collect these samples with swabs, finger lances, and/or cups. Depending on the test, you'll either send in your samples by mail to await results from the lab, or you'll process them at home in a dedicated device. These tests typically cost between $100 and $400.

"At-home STI tests can be just as accurate as those performed in a doctor's office when used correctly, since they often use the same laboratory testing methods," says Dr. Shannon Chatham, Medical Director at online ...