How Often Should You Actually Be Screened?
Medically reviewed by our MD Laboratory Director (a role required by CLIA; the director's name is on file in the CMS CLIA database, #45D2048957, and can be verified independently) · Editorial policy
Annual for most sexually active people under 25 and for higher-risk adults; every 3–6 months for some.CLIA #45D2048957 · CAP #8722734 · Same-day results · Walk-ins welcome
Screening is not a moral judgment; it is an interval. CDC recommends annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and for older women with risk factors; annual HIV screening at minimum for people at ongoing risk, with every 3–6 months for sexually active gay and bisexual men and others at higher risk. USPSTF supports routine screening on similar lines.
Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome
Guideline-based intervals
| Who | What | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Sexually active women < 25 | Chlamydia, gonorrhea | Annually |
| Women ≥ 25 with risk factors | Chlamydia, gonorrhea | Annually |
| Sexually active gay and bisexual men | Chlamydia, gonorrhea (all exposed sites), syphilis, HIV | At least annually; every 3–6 months at higher risk |
| Anyone with a new or multiple partners | Full panel | With each change in partners |
| Pregnancy | Syphilis, HIV, others per obstetric guidance | Per prenatal schedule |
| Everyone 13–64 | HIV | At least once, per CDC |
Screening intervals exist because most infections are silent. The interval is doing the work that your symptoms are not.
Same day, start to finish. Sample by 1:00 PM → results at 4:30 PM → if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician in our partner network sees you between 4:30 and 6:00 PM, a few minutes away. That window is reserved for patients tested here, and your slot is held the moment we take your sample — the slot is held, not hunted. On your own, a same-day appointment is nearly impossible; at an urgent care, you wait in the queue. STAT: ~2 hours, sample in by 3:00 PM.
FAQ
- I only have one partner. Do I need annual screening?
- A baseline is reasonable; frequency depends on your circumstances. Guidelines are a floor, not a ceiling.
- Does screening include the throat and rectum?
- It should, if those were sites of exposure — see the site guide.
- Is HIV screening really for everyone?
- CDC recommends at least one HIV test for everyone aged 13–64, regardless of perceived risk.
- Do I need a referral?
- No. Walk in.
Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808
3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome