This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Many people want to know their status without anyone else finding out. That is a reasonable thing to want, and St. Louis has options that help.

This guide explains the difference between anonymous and confidential testing. It also covers which local options fit each, how insurance statements can reveal a visit, and what Missouri reporting rules mean in plain words. Then it walks through the steps.

Anonymous vs. confidential: what is the difference?

People often use these words as if they mean the same thing. They do not.

Anonymous testing means the site does not connect the test to your name. You may get a number or code instead of a chart.
Confidential testing means the site knows who you are. Privacy laws and clinic policies limit who can see your information.

If you are wondering whether STD testing is confidential, the usual answer is yes, with limits. Clinics keep your records private under federal health privacy rules. Those rules still allow some sharing, such as billing your insurance or reporting certain infections to public health.

Fully anonymous testing is rarer. In practice, many people mainly want their name kept away from family, employers or an insurance mailing. A free, no-ID visit can do that, and so can a confidential visit where billing is handled carefully.

What St. Louis options offer

The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County are separate. The City of St. Louis Department of Health and the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health are different agencies with different clinics. Here is what each source says.

City of St. Louis Health Stop Testing and Referral Center

This is the closest fit for people who want a low-paper visit. The City of St. Louis Health Stop page says: "There is no cost for this service, and no ID is necessary to receive the service."

Address: 1520 Market St, Suite 1625 (first floor), St. Louis, MO 63103.
Phone: 314-657-1584, for scheduling, results help and linkage to care.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Fridays, from 12 to 1 p.m. and on city holidays.
Tests listed: HIV (finger-prick or blood draw), hepatitis C (finger-prick), gonorrhea and chlamydia (urine, mouth swab or rectal swab), and syphilis (blood or finger-prick).
Timing: The city page says rapid tests take about 15 minutes and STI results take 5 to 7 business days.

The city page says walk-ins are subject to availability. The CDC GetTested listing says an appointment is required. Call before you go.

The city page does not say whether testing there is formally anonymous. Ask when you call whether you can test without giving your name, and how results are given if you do.

Saint Louis County Sexual Health Clinic

A WashU Infectious Diseases listing describes this Saint Louis County Department of Public Health clinic at 4000 Jennings Station Road. It is walk-in only, with no appointments. The listing says, "Everyone is welcome, regardless of where you live or insurance status." Services listed are STI prevention, testing and treatment. Call 314-615-9736. The listing does not give hours or prices, so check with the clinic.

WashU Village Square Clinic in Hazelwood

A May 2024 WashU news article describes a CDC-funded expansion in north St. Louis County. The goal is walk-in testing "at no or low cost," with treatment for walk-in patients and their partners. The clinic is at 1 Village Square Shopping Center, Suite 1, Hazelwood, MO 63042. The phone is 314-362-9098. The article says service details were still being worked out, so confirm hours and costs by phone.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and CareSTL Health

These are confidential, appointment-based options. The CDC GetTested directory lists both as sliding scale and says appointments are required.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, Central West End: 4251 Forest Park Ave, 314-531-7526. GetTested lists HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing.
CareSTL Health, Dr. Martin Luther King Health Center: 5471 Dr Martin Luther King Dr, 314-367-5820. GetTested lists HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing.

For a broader comparison of costs and locations, see our guide to where to get tested in St. Louis and what it costs. You can also browse the local testing list.

What you need before you go

You do not need much. Here is a short list.

A phone number you are comfortable giving. If you want results by phone, choose one that only you check.
A list of the dates and types of sex you want to talk about (for example oral, vaginal or anal). A clinician can then suggest which tests make sense.
Your insurance card, only if you plan to use insurance. You can leave it at home for a free visit.
Any current symptoms or medicines you take, written down in case you forget.
About an hour of time. Rapid tests take about 15 minutes, per the city page, but waiting and paperwork add time.

Photo ID is not required at the city Health Stop, according to the city. Other sites may ask for ID, so ask when you call.

Step-by-step: getting tested privately in St. Louis

Step 1: Decide what kind of privacy you need

Ask yourself a few questions. Do you want your name kept out of any record? Or do you mainly want to keep a bill or letter from reaching someone in your household?

Your answers point you to a site. If the concern is a mailed statement, a free clinic often solves it. If you want a regular clinician, a confidential visit with careful billing settings may work better.

Step 2: Choose a site and call first

Pick from the options above. Then call and ask these plain questions:

Is the test free, or will I get a bill?
Do I need to give my name or show ID?
How will I get my results, and can I choose the method?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?

Staff hear these questions often. You do not have to explain why you are asking.

Step 3: Think about timing

Tests can miss a recent infection. For HIV, the CDC describes window periods that depend on the test type. A nucleic acid test can detect HIV about 10 to 33 days after exposure. An antigen/antibody test from a lab can take 18 to 45 days. A finger-prick antigen/antibody test can take 18 to 90 days. Antibody-only rapid and self-tests can take 23 to 90 days, according to the CDC.

For other infections, the right timing depends on the infection and the test. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, test later or do both. If you have symptoms, do not wait for a window to pass. Tell the clinician.

Step 4: Handle insurance before the visit

This step matters most for privacy. When you use health insurance, the insurer usually sends an explanation of benefits (EOB) to the main policyholder. It can list the date, the clinic and the type of service. A parent, spouse or partner who holds the policy may see it.

Here is how to lower that risk:

Use a free option. The City of St. Louis Health Stop says its testing costs nothing, so there is no claim and no statement.
Ask the clinic about sliding scale pricing. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and CareSTL are listed as sliding scale in CDC GetTested. Ask whether you can pay without using insurance.
Ask your insurer about confidential communications. Under the federal health privacy rule (HIPAA), you can ask your insurer to send statements to a different address or by a different method. Some insurers require you to say that a disclosure could put you in danger. Ask what your plan requires.
Check your online portal settings. Some portals show claims to everyone on a plan.

If you are not sure how a visit will be billed, ask the clinic before any samples are taken.

Step 5: Go to the visit

At the visit, expect a few questions about your recent sexual contact. These help the clinician choose tests. They are not a judgment. You can say you would rather not answer something.

Depending on the site, testing may involve a urine sample, a mouth, throat or rectal swab, a finger-prick or a blood draw. The city page lists all of these for its Health Stop.

You can also ask about HIV self-test kits. The city Health Stop gives out a free oral-swab HIV self-test kit. The city page says kits can also be ordered by mail through takemehome.org, which offers free kits after a short eligibility screen. Mailed kits can be a private choice, but a self-test is one result at one point in time. The CDC notes that a self-test also has window periods, and a positive result needs follow-up testing with a clinician.

Step 6: Plan how you will get results

Before you leave, confirm three things:

When results will be ready. The city page says STI results take 5 to 7 business days.
How you will receive them (phone, portal, in person).
Who to call if you do not hear back.

If you use a code instead of a name, keep the code somewhere safe. Without it, staff may not be able to look up your result.

Step 7: Follow up

If a result needs treatment, a clinician will explain the next steps. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV and herpes are treatable and manageable, though not curable.

Missouri law also helps with partner care. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. 191.648, as described by the CDC, expedited partner therapy is allowed for chlamydia and gonorrhea. It lets a clinician provide treatment for partners who have not been seen by the prescriber. Ask whether it applies to you.

Missouri rules, in plain words

Reporting to public health

Confidential does not mean nothing is ever reported. Public health agencies track certain infections so they can see trends and connect people to care. For HIV, a Missouri rule (19 CSR 20-26.040, "Physician HIV Test Consultation and Reporting") covers how physicians consult and report. The reporting deadlines were not confirmed in the sources used for this guide. Ask your clinic or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services what is reported and to whom. The state HIV, STI and Hepatitis program lists 888-252-8045 and [email protected].

A report to a health agency is not sent to your employer, your family or your insurer. Ask the clinic to explain what is reported in your case, so you know before you test.

Testing as a minor

Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. 431.061) says a minor may consent for themselves to treatment for venereal disease. The statute does not state a minimum age. The sources used here did not describe other limits, so ask the clinic how it handles minors, including billing and who is contacted.

Prenatal testing

If you are pregnant, Mo. Rev. Stat. 210.030 says a pregnant woman who consents should have a blood sample tested for syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV at the first prenatal visit or within 20 days after it. The timing of later tests may change, so ask your prenatal clinician what applies now.

Tips and common mistakes

Do not assume "free" means "anonymous." Free means no bill. Ask separately about names and ID.
Do not assume "confidential" means "invisible to the policyholder." An insurance claim can still produce an EOB.
Do not skip the call. City hours differ from other sites. The city page and CDC GetTested also differ on whether appointments are needed.
Do not test only once if you may have been exposed recently. Ask about retesting after the window period.
Do not give a phone number you do not control. A voicemail from a clinic can reveal more than you intend.
Do not rely on a single test type for every infection. Different infections need different tests. Ask what is and is not included.
Do not wait out of embarrassment. Clinic staff test people of every gender and orientation every day.

What to expect from your results

A negative result usually means the test did not find that infection at the time of testing. It may not rule out a recent exposure that is still inside the window period. A clinician can tell you whether to test again.

A positive result on a rapid or self-test usually needs a follow-up test to confirm. A clinician can explain what a result means for you and what comes next. Treatment, when needed, is whatever a clinician prescribes.

No test is perfect. Results depend on the test type, the timing and the sample.

Why this matters locally

The City of St. Louis Fast-Track Cities HIV data page reports 108 new HIV diagnoses in St. Louis City in 2021, or 36.0 per 100,000 people. St. Louis County had 143 (15.0 per 100,000), and Missouri had 633 (10.0 per 100,000). The City of St. Louis Department of Health also reported 56 congenital syphilis cases in the city and county combined from 2020 through 2022.

These numbers are why regular testing is part of routine care here. Testing is a normal step for sexually active adults, and private options make it easier to do.

Where to start

If cost and privacy are your main worries, start with the City of St. Louis Health Stop. Call 314-657-1584 and ask your questions. The CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov can also show other sites near you. If you prefer a county clinic, call the Saint Louis County Sexual Health Clinic at 314-615-9736 and ask about hours and costs.

Anonymous and Confidential STD Testing in St. Louis