Condom Broke or Possible Exposure — When to Get STD Tested
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
First 72 hours: act on HIV risk. After that: time the test correctly.CLIA #45D2048957 · CAP #8722734 · Same-day results · Walk-ins welcome
Two clocks are running. The 72-hour clock — if HIV exposure is possible, PEP must start within 72 hours (details). The window-period clock — chlamydia and gonorrhea become detectable at roughly 1–2 weeks, syphilis at 3–6 weeks, HIV at 18–45 days. Testing tonight tells you about your past, not about last night.
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
A workable timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (0–72 h) | PEP evaluation if HIV exposure is possible. Baseline testing. |
| 1–2 weeks | PCR for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, M. genitalium — at every site of exposure |
| 3–6 weeks | Syphilis serology |
| 18–45 days | 4th-generation HIV test |
| 3 months | Definitive HIV; repeat syphilis if the exposure was high-risk |
If you develop symptoms at any point, stop waiting. Symptomatic infection is tested and treated today.
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
- Should I take antibiotics preventively?
- No. It suppresses the organism enough to ruin your test without reliably curing anything — see why not to self-medicate.
- Can I test now and again later?
- Yes, and for anxiety that is often the right plan: a baseline now, a proper test at the correct interval.
- Which sites?
- Every site of exposure — see the site guide.
- Should my partner test too?
- Yes. Testing one person and not the other guarantees a rebound.
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