Fast, convenient, and confidential testing
for the most common STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause serious health problems, including infertility, and may increase your chances of contracting other life-threatening diseases. If you think you've been exposed to an STI or exhibit symptoms of infection, you need to be tested.

Valley Medical and Wellness offers fast and convenient urine testing for the most common microbial STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Testing takes just a few minutes and results are available within 1 to 2 business days. We perform all STI testing at our in-house laboratory and results are completely confidential. And, if you test positive, we offer convenient telemedicine appointments to provide the necessary treatment.

Confidential on-premises testing

We perform all STI testing in our own on-premises laboratory, so results never leave our clinic. If you self-pay, no results get sent to your insurance company and any charges to your credit card show up generically as "Valley Medical and Wellness." All communications are through our secure private messaging portal—no one but you will see your results.

Rapid test results

Because we have our own laboratory, we can provide extremely fast STI testing and results. You will receive notification of your results within 1 to 2 business days—and if you test positive, it's easy to schedule a convenient telemedicine appointment for treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Is an STI the same as an STD?
When most people talk about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they're talking about the same thing. Technically, an infection, if treated promptly and correctly, doesn't progress to the disease stage. You want to treat your STI before it becomes an STD.

How long should I wait to get tested?
Different STIs have different incubation periods. This means you may need to wait a short period after you think you've been infected for the infection to appear in test results, but then as soon as possible afterward. For best results, you should wait to get tested as follows:
• Chlamydia, wait 24 hours to get tested
• Gonorrhea, wait 2 days to get tested
• Trichomoniasis, wait 5 days to get tested

Should I get tested for an STI even if I don't have any symptoms?
Many STIs may not show symptoms or have symptoms similar to other illnesses or diseases. If you think you may have been infected, the only way to be sure is to get tested.

I tested positive for an STI. Should my partner get tested?
Yes. STIs are highly transmissible, so it's possible you either got the STI from your partner or your partner could get it from you. You should inform all your recent sexual partners that they may have been exposed to an STI and should be tested immediately, even if they're not exhibiting any obvious symptoms.

I've been treated for an STI. Do I need to get retested?
Yes, but you need to wait for the treatment to take effect and the infection to clear your system. Retesting is advised to ensure that the treatment worked and that you didn't get reinfected from the same or another partner. The CDC recommends that you get retested three months after being treated for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis. (Pregnant women with chlamydia should be retested within 4 weeks to ensure eradication of the bacteria.) In all cases, you should consult your healthcare provider if you have an exposure to a new partner or a suspected or known STI-positive individual after treatment, or if systems persist.

Are STIs curable?
Most STIs are curable, especially if caught early.

What do I have to do before the test?
Since you will be providing a urine sample, you should refrain from urinating for an hour before your appointment. No other preparation is necessary.

What can I expect from the test?
This test requires the submission of a small urine sample. Because of this, you should refrain from urinating for about an hour before your appointment. When you enter our clinic, you will be asked for your name and date of birth, to verify your appointment. You will then be handed a collection cup and directed to a private room to provide a sample of your urine. When you're done providing the sample, you can leave. The process is completely private and takes just a few minutes.

Will everyone at the clinic know what I'm being tested for?
No. Our clinics perform many different tests for our patients in addition to STIs, so no one will know what you are being tested for.

Are my results confidential?
Your results always remain completely confidential and will never be shared with anyone without your express written permission. If you choose to pay out-of-pocket for the test, your insurance will not be notified that you were tested. However, if you choose to use your insurance for a treatment appointment, according to the insurance company's coding rules your appointment may be visible to others who have access to your account information. We store all patient records according to HIPAA and state regulations for the utmost privacy. All results are communicated only to the person being tested via our private and secure messaging system; we'll never leave voicemails or other public messages that others could access. Note, however, that if you test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea, we are required by state law to confidentially report your results to the Minnesota Department of Health. (Read MDH's reporting requirements here.)

How long does it take to get results?
If you test at one of our Twin Cities locations, you will receive your test results within one business day. If you test at our Rochester clinic, test results are available within two business days. (STI testing is not currently available at our Bemidji clinic. Some samples may require additional confirmational testing.)

What happens next?
You will be notified of your results via private email or our private messaging system that only you can access. If you test negative, that's good news. If you test positive, you can schedule a convenient telemedicine visit with one of our providers to discuss treatment options and next steps. We are also required to report positive chlamydia and gonorrhea results to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Do you offer treatment for STIs?
Yes, we do. If you receive notification of positive test results, you'll be offered the opportunity to schedule a convenient telemedicine appointment to discuss treatment and other options. Our providers can prescribe the medications you need to cure your specific condition.

Do you test for syphilis, HIV, or hepatitis?
Syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis all require blood testing. At present, we only offer urine testing for microbial infections. If you think you may have been exposed to syphilis, HIV, or hepatitis, we can recommend other testing options for you.

Do you test for monkeypox?
While monkeypox is not technically an STI, it is known to spread through close and sustained physical contact. While our laboratory is set up to perform monkeypox testing for other clinics, at present we do not offer monkeypox testing to the general public. We can recommend other testing options for you.