STI Testing Services

Piedmont Urgent Care understands our patients’ time and privacy is important. With these three steps we can provide easy and convenient STI testing in an accurate and timely manner.

Confidential STI Testing

When it comes to your sexual health, we understand privacy is a top priority. When using Piedmont Urgent Care, you can rest easy knowing that your private health information is completely confidential, including any individual identifiable information about your health, treatment plan, or payment for services rendered.

Privacy Promise

Piedmont Urgent Care complies with all rules and regulations to keep your information confidential and secure. In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are required to protect the privacy of your medical information.

Convenience & Ease

We understand that most medical events aren’t planned. Our neighborhood locations offer convenient, walk-in service every day of the year with extended hours to fit your busy schedule. WellStreet is here to make sure your testing goes smoothly and that your results are delivered quickly.

Here are a few things you’ll need to bring to your visit.
A valid form of identification
Insurance card (most insurance accepted, but not required)
Method of payment

Payment Options – Self Pay or Insurance

If you choose to pay by credit card, debit card, or health savings account (HSA) the charge will appear on your monthly statement as simply “WellStreet Urgent Care,” your test purchase will not be identifiable.

We accept most private insurances, Medicaid, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. No insurance? No problem! We offer competitive self-pay rates for those patients without insurance.

What is an STD?

An STI (sexually transmitted infection) is an infection that is mainly transmitted from person to person by sexual contact. They are very common are difficult to self-diagnose as they often have few or even any symptoms. STIs can be transmitted via any type of sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal), and can spread even when using protection such as condoms. Many STIs are treatable and some infections are curable. If you are sexually active, it’s important to routinely test for STIs to protect yourself and others.

What does STI testing involve?

STI testing can involve one of 4 different methods, depending on what is being tested for:

Urine specimen
Swab of area
Blood sample
Clinical/Visual diagnosis by a Physician

These tests are usually collected and sent to a lab for processing.

Typical Timeframe for Results of Tests:

Urine – 1-3 days
Swab – Sameday -7 days
Blood – 1-5 days
Clinical / Visual Diagnosis by a Physician – Sameday

Though it doesn’t require a sample, Clinical / Visual diagnosis by a Physician is a very powerful tool and can often diagnose certain STDs without testing or in conjunction with testing.

Some swabs (such as those for Bacterial Vaginosis or Trichomoniasis) can produce results the sameday.

Results of Tests:

When we receive the results of your tests, a healthcare provider will contact you via telephone at your preferred contact number to review these results in confidence.

DISEASE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Methods – Swab, Blood, and Clinical/Visual Diagnosis

Timeframe – Sameday - 7 days

Facts about Herpes

Herpes is very common
Most people who have Herpes don’t know it. Often the disease has no symptoms.
You can pass Herpes to others without knowing it.

If you have symptoms, the most common are painful blisters and sores. These often cluster around the vagina, penis, or mouth. These outbreaks can last up to 2-3 weeks without treatment.
There are treatments for the symptoms of Genital Herpes which work better the earlier you start. It is best to begin treatment within 24-48 hours from when your symptoms start.
There are treatments which can reduce the risk of transmission to your partner.
If you are pregnant, you can pass Herpes to your baby
You can get herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the disease.
You can still get herpes even if your partner does not ejaculate
You can also get herpes from an infected sex partner who does not have visible blisters or who may not know he or she is infected

Methods – Urine. Swab, and Clinical/Visual Diagnosis

Timeframe – As soon as 30 minutes* up to 3 days

Facts about Chlamydia

Chlamydia is very common
Young, sexually active females need testing every year
Most people who have Chlamydia don’t know it. Often the disease has no symptoms
You can pass Chlamydia to others without knowing it.
It is easy to treat and cure
If you do not treat Chlamydia, it can lead to serious health problems, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even death
Common symptoms include vaginal discharge, burning with urination, discomfort or bleeding during sex, penile discharge, burning or itching around the opening of the penis.
Symptoms can appear within 2 weeks of infection, but symptoms sometimes never appear or may appear many months to years later.
Signs that Chlamydia may have spread include abdominal pain, fever, chills, or nausea.
If you are pregnant, you can pass Chlamydia to your baby
You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia.
You can still get chlamydia even if your partner does not ejaculate
If you’ve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

*Rapid PCR testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis is FDA approved for use in females only

Methods – Urine. Swab, and Clinical/Visual Diagnosis

Timeframe – As soon as 30 minutes* up to 3 days

Facts about Gonorrhea

Many people who have Gonorrhea don’t know it. Often the disease has no symptoms, especially in women.
You can pass Gonorrhea to others without knowing it.
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment
If you do not treat Gonorrhea, it can lead to serious health problems, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even death
You can get Gonorrhea in the vagina, anus, uterus, penis, eyes, mouth, and throat
Symptoms depend on what body part is infected but can include vaginal discharge, burning with urination, discomfort or bleeding during sex, greenish or yellowish penile discharge, burning or itching around the opening of the penis, pain in the anus, painful bowel movements, discharge or bleeding from the anus, sore throat, painful eyes, and discharge from the eyes
Symptoms can appear within 2 weeks of infection, but symptoms sometimes never appear or may appear many months to years later.
Signs that Gonorrhea may have spread include abdominal pain, fever, chills, or nausea.
If you are pregnant, you can pass Gonorrhea to your baby
You can get Gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has Gonorrhea.
You can still get Gonorrhea even if your partner does not ejaculate
If you’ve had Gonorrhea and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with someone who has Gonorrhea.

*Rapid PCR testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis is FDA approved for use in females only

Methods – Blood and Clinical/Visual Diagnosis

Timeframe – 1-5 days

Facts about Syphilis

Many people who have Syphilis don’t know it. You can have Syphilis even if you don’t notice any symptoms
You can pass Syphilis to others without knowing it.
The first symptom of Syphilis is a painless, round, red sore that can appear on the penis, vaginal area, or rectum, called a chancre. This is called the Primary Stage of Syphilis. The chancre does not appear in all individuals. Next, a rash may appear on one or more areas of the body. It may be faint and may not itch. Other symptoms including fatigue, fever, swollen glands, and muscle aches may appear. This called the Secondary Stage of Syphilis. Finally, untreated Syphilis may spread to the brain, eyes, and other internal organs, causing blindness, dementia, loss of muscle coordination, and even death.
Syphilis can appear a few weeks to a months after infection
Syphilis can be treated and cured
If you are pregnant, you can pass Syphilis to your baby
You can get Syphilis by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has Syphilis.
You can still get Syphilis even if your partner does not ejaculate
If you’ve had Syphilis and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with someone who has Syphilis.

Methods – Blood

Timeframe – 2-4 days

Facts about HIV

The CDC recommends that all adults get tested at least once for HIV and also as a routine part of medical care
CDC recommends those at high risk for HIV be tested more frequently. If you have ever been diagnosed with or sought treatment for an STD, you are high risk for HIV.
Many people who have HIV don’t know it.
You can pass HIV to others without knowing it.
Initial HIV symptoms can be a flu like illness 2-4 weeks after HIV infection. Some people may not have these symptoms. Even if not symptomatic, a patient at this stage is highly infectious and it is very important to get tested.
There are treatments for HIV, but currently no cure for HIV.
There are medicines that can reduce the spread of HIV to sexual partners
HIV can lead to AIDs, other serious causes of illness, and even death.
You can get HIV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has HIV.
You can still get HIV even if your partner does not ejaculate

Methods – Clinical/Visual Diagnosis

Timeframe – Sameday

Facts about Genital Warts

Genital HPV (Human Papillovavirus) is the virus that causes Genital Warts and is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States.
Most sexually active people will have genital HPV at some point in their lives
Most people who have HPV don’t know it.
You can pass HPV to others without knowing it.
There are treatments for Genital Warts, but currently no cure for HPV.
Symptoms of genital warts include small flesh colored or grey swelling/rash in your genital area, itching or discomfort, or bleeding from intercourse.
Genital Warts are usually diagnosed by visual inspection / clinical diagnosis by a physician
You can get Genital Warts and/or HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has Genital Warts or HPV.
You can still get Genital Warts and/or HPV even if your partner does not ejaculate

Methods – Blood

Timeframe – 2-4 days

Hepatitis B & C can be transmitted through sexual activity.
Sexual contact is the most common way Hepatitis B is spread in the United States
According to the CDC, among adults seeking treatment in STD clinics, 10-40% have evidence of past or current Hepatitis B infections
Symptoms may appear within a few weeks to several months from infection and may include fatigue, fever, nausea, yellowing of the skin, dark urine, abdominal pain,and loss of appetite.
CDC recommends Hepatitis B vaccination for:
- People seeking evaluation or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease
- Sexually active people who are not in a long term, mutually monogamous relationship
You can get Hepatitis by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has Hepatitis.
You can still get Hepatitis even if your partner does not ejaculate

Methods – Swab

Timeframe – As soon as 30 minutes* - 3 days

Facts about Trichomoniasis

There are tests which for Bacterial Vaginosis that can be run sameday
Both men and women can get Trichomoniasis

Most people who have Trichomoniasis don’t know it. Often the disease has no symptoms. Women are more likely than men to have symptoms.
About 70% of infected people do not have any signs or symptoms. When trichomoniasis does cause symptoms, they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people with symptoms get them within 5 to 28 days after being infected, but others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go.
Men with Trichomoniasis may feel itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from the penis
Women with trichomoniasis may notice itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge with an unusual smell that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish.
Having trichomoniasis can make it feel unpleasant to have sex. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.
You can pass Trichomoniasis to others without knowing it.
It is easy to treat and cure
You can get Trichomoniasis by having vaginal sex with someone who has Trichomoniasis.
You can still get Trichomoniasis even if your partner does not ejaculate

*Rapid PCR testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis is FDA approved for use in females only

Methods – Swab

Timeframe – Sameday - 3 days

Facts about Bacterial Vaginosis

There are tests which for Bacterial Vaginosis that can be run sameday
Douching, recent antibiotic use, and a new sexual partner can all increase the risk of Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis can cause vaginal discharge, odor, and itching. It is more common in women than men. Men with Bacterial Vaginosis often have no symptoms. When men do have symptoms, they are usually burning with urination or penile irritation. Bacterial Vaginosis infections in men should be considered when their partner has recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis infections.
There are treatments to cure Bacterial Vaginosis
Though not necessarily related to sexual activity, Bacterial Vaginosis can increase your risk of getting another STD such as HIV, Chlamydia, or Gonorrhea
Pregnancy and Bacterial Vaginosis can increase your risk of premature birth and poor weight gain for the baby