Home STI Testing Made Easy

Common questions

• How much does STI testing with Nurx cost?

  Nurx is committed to making STI testing more affordable and accessible, regardless of whether you have health insurance.
  
  Consultation
  Anyone who requests STI testing will be charged a $30 consultation fee. This fee includes unlimited messaging access with the Nurx medical team for one year regarding your STI testing, results, and any follow-up care. Please note that at this time, we do not submit claims to insurance for the medical consult fee.
  
  Medication/Kits
  If you pay with insurance: each test kit is available with a $29.50 service fee and any applicable copays or deductibles.
  
  Your out-of pocket-expense will depend on whether our partner lab is in-network with your insurance and on your specific plan’s coverage. Once you’ve submitted your samples, our partner lab will then bill your insurance for the lab services – and you will only be responsible for any out of pocket costs.
  
  *INSURANCE PATIENTS PLEASE NOTE: We have processes in place to try to have claims processed as in-network for our patients, however coverage depends on your insurance plan. We encourage you to contact your insurer to confirm applicable coverage prior to proceeding with any services.
  
  If you do not use insurance: each test kit is available with a $14.50 service fee, plus the cost of the kit. Basics Covered costs $150; Healthy V costs $190, and Full Control costs $220. These prices include the kit, the lab testing, and shipping both ways.

• Does Nurx accept insurance for STI testing and treatment?

  Yes, we accept most forms of private health insurance for testing kits and medications. If you’d like to know if we accept your health insurance plan, please connect with our team at [email protected]. Please note that at this time, we do not submit claims to insurance for the medical consult fee.
  
  Nurx does not accept any federal or state government insurance plans, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or any of their affiliated managed care plans, nor can Nurx service such patients. We recommend that you find a local provider in your community that participates in your government payer program.

• What do the Nurx Home STI Test Kits look for?

  The Home STI Test Kits were thoughtfully created to look for many of the most common types of STIs. These include:

  • Full Control: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (3 Sites – Throat, Rectal, Urine), Syphilis, Hepatitis C
  • Basics Covered: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (Urine), Syphilis
  • Healthy V: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Throat, Urine), Trichomoniasis, Syphilis

  Please note: The syphilis test in our home test kits cannot differentiate between a new syphilis infection and a syphilis infection in the past that was treated. If you have had syphilis in the past you will require a different type of test to determine if you have a new syphilis infection.

• How do I use the Nurx Home STI Test Kit?

  The process is simple. You can start by downloading the Nurx app or visiting the Nurx website. You answer a few questions about your health history then select the home STI test kit that you are interested in. Our medical provider team will review your health history and help determine if the test kit you’ve selected is the best option.

  From there we will ship your home test kit, which will include everything you need plus a prepaid return envelope. We provide you with detailed instructions as to how to collect your own samples, in the privacy of your home. Place your samples in the prepaid envelope, and drop it in the mail. For each of the kits, collecting samples will take as little as 15 minutes.

  Our partner lab will analyze the samples and within 7 days Nurx’s medical team will reach out to go over your results. If an STI is detected we can prescribe oral treatment when appropriate, or we will help you access in-person care as needed. If no STIs are detected, then no additional testing is needed for 3 to 12 months.

• How often should I get tested for STIs?

  Depending on how sexually active you are, what type of sexual activity you engage in, and your number of partners, the CDC recommends regular testing every 3 to 12 months. Our Nurx medical team agrees that everyone should be getting tested at least once every 12 months as part of their regular annual health routine. Testing should take place every 3 to 6 months if you have unprotected sex with a new partner, or if you’re unsure of your regular partner’s STI status.

• What is the difference between a STD and STI?

  People often use these terms interchangeably, but we prefer to say “sexually transmitted infections” rather than “sexually transmitted diseases.” Any of the STIs we test for involve only minimal or mild symptoms that can be easily overlooked. Many people in the medical community have also started referring to “STIs” because the term is more expansive and demonstrates that not all such infections involve symptoms nor turn into a disease, especially when identified early through regular screening.

• Can I complete the Nurx Home STI Test Kit while I am on my period?

  We recommend you wait at least 2 days after your period to complete any test from your Home STI Test Kit. This is because blood from your period may interfere with the lab’s ability to detect STIs on certain samples.

• What happens if I test positive for a STI?

  If you test positive for an STI our medical team will work closely with you to determine the best next steps. We will offer to prescribe antibiotic treatment for most cases of chlamydia and trichomoniasis, and we will work closely with you to help you get in-person care for other STIs if needed.

• Can I have a copy of my Nurx STI Test Kit lab results?

  Absolutely. We will provide you with your lab results for your records.

• What does the service fee cover?

  We charge a service fee to cover direct operating costs including product and lab coordination, and administrative clinical support for evaluating and reporting results.

• Are Nurx’s services available in languages other than English?

  At this time, we only provide care in English. We are committed to creating an inclusive experience and are exploring options to expand language support in the future.