Yes. Maxem Health offers STD testing at its clinics, with no appointment needed. It is a routine part of what urgent care does, and staff handle it the same way they handle everything else.
What to expect
You walk in and check in like any other visit. A provider talks with you privately about symptoms, if you have any, and about what testing makes sense. Depending on what is being tested for, samples may include urine, a blood draw, or a swab.
Testing is confidential. Results go to you.
Ask one specific question at the clinic: which tests run in-house and which are sent to an outside laboratory. Maxem runs rapid on-site testing for a set of infections including COVID, flu, strep, RSV, H. pylori, mono and urinalysis, and sends other samples to off-site labs. That distinction determines both how quickly you get results and how the billing works, since outside lab work is excluded from the Maxem Health Discount Program and billed separately by that laboratory.
Timing changes accuracy
This is the part worth understanding before you go, because testing too early produces a negative result that means nothing.
Every infection has a window period between exposure and the point at which a test can reliably detect it. That period differs by infection and by the type of test used. Testing inside the window can return a negative result while an infection is present.
Tell the provider when the possible exposure was. They will advise whether to test now, test later, or test now and repeat. If you have symptoms, get seen regardless of timing.
Reasons to get tested
Symptoms are one reason, and they are not the most common one. Many sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms at all for long periods, which is exactly why routine testing exists.
Worth getting tested if you have symptoms such as unusual discharge, burning with urination, sores, unexplained pelvic or abdominal pain, or unusual bleeding. Also worth testing after a new partner, after a partner tells you they tested positive, after unprotected sex, or simply as part of routine health maintenance.
Some symptoms overlap with other conditions. Burning with urination is frequently a urinary tract infection, which Maxem confirms with on-site urinalysis during the same visit.
When to skip urgent care and go to the ER
Urgent care is for problems that are not life threatening. Go to the emergency room or call 9-1-1 if you have any of the following:
- Severe chest pain
- Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Suspected poisoning
- Severe abdominal pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Confusion or change in mental status
- Sudden fainting, dizziness, numbness or weakness
- Coughing or vomiting up blood
- Injury to head or neck
- Extreme high fever
If you are experiencing any of these, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself.
Also seek care urgently for severe pelvic or testicular pain, high fever with pelvic pain, or any symptom that is rapidly worsening.
If a result is positive
Most sexually transmitted infections are treatable, and many are curable. A positive result leads to a treatment plan, and where a bacterial infection is involved that usually means antibiotics.
You will also be advised about notifying partners, which matters both for their health and to prevent reinfection. Public health services in most areas can help with anonymous partner notification if you prefer.
Follow the treatment through to the end, including any advised retest.
Cost
Maxem Health accepts most major insurance plans. For self-pay patients, in-clinic services fall under the Discount Program’s flat per-visit co-pay of $60 for an individual after a $175 setup fee covering the first visit. Send-out laboratory work is excluded and billed by the laboratory, so ask which applies before testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is STD testing at urgent care confidential?
Yes. Medical information is protected and results go to you. Tell the provider directly if you have specific concerns about how results reach you.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Maxem Health clinics are walk-in seven days a week including holidays. You can save your spot online to shorten the wait.
How long do results take?
It depends on whether the test runs in-clinic or is sent to an outside laboratory. Ask at the visit, since the answer also determines how that test is billed.
Can I be tested without symptoms?
Yes, and many people should. A large share of sexually transmitted infections produce no symptoms for long periods, which is the main argument for routine testing.
Walk in at a Maxem Health clinic
Maxem Health Urgent Care has 15 clinics across Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon, open seven days a week including holidays. Most clinics run Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm, though hours vary by location. No appointment needed. Walk in, or save your spot online before you leave the house.
Save your spot at your nearest Maxem Health clinic, or find clinic addresses and hours.
For general information on testing and window periods, see the CDC’s guidance on STI testing.
This article is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed provider. If you are worried about your symptoms, get seen.