STI Testing

STI Questions?

• How much do the Nurx Home Test Kits cost?

  Nurx is committed to making STI testing more affordable and accessible, regardless of whether you have health insurance.

  With health insurance, each test kit costs $75 plus the $15 consultation fee and any applicable copays or deductibles. The consultation fee provides patients with unlimited access to the Nurx medical team regarding their STI results. 

  Without health insurance, Basics Covered costs $150; Healthy Woman costs $190, and Full Control costs $220. These prices include the kit, the lab testing, and shipping both ways. Patients will also pay a $15 medical consultation fee, which includes unlimited access to a Nurx medical provider regarding their STI testing, results, and any follow-up care. 

  If you pay with insurance, your out-of pocket-expense will depend on whether our partner lab, Molecular Testing Labs, is in-network with your insurance and on your specific plan’s coverage. Once you’ve submitted your samples, MTL will then bill your insurance for the lab services – and you will only be responsible for any out of pocket costs. Please check here to see if your insurance is in-network: What insurance plans have Molecular Testing Labs in-network?

  If your insurance is out-of-network with Molecular Testings Labs then you will be billed a negotiated rate of $99 for lab testing and the lab will bill you directly.

   

  *BLUECROSS OF CALIFORNIA OR COVERED CALIFORNIA PATIENTS PLEASE NOTE: Though these plans are in-network with the Molecular Testing Labs, we’ve found that some of our patients have had these plans deny the testing and leave the bill to the patient. We encourage you to contact your insurance to ask if Molecular Testing Labs is an acceptable lab with your insurance plan, and that they will have no issues with the lab testing being processed in Oregon which is where the lab is located.

• 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, HIV, Hepatitis C
  • Covered with the Basics: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (Urine), Syphilis, HIV
  • Healthy Women’s: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Throat, Urine), Trichomoniasis, Syphilis, HIV

• 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.

• Where is the lab that processes the tests?

  We partner with Molecular Testing Labs (MTL) for our home testing services. They are responsible for producing the physical take-home kit (including shipping and fulfillment of the kit to the patient), processing the samples, transmitting those results back to Nurx, and notifying local health departments as needed per state laws. MTL is a CLIA-certified lab and has extensive experience testing for infectious diseases.

• 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.