How to Get an STI/ STD Test Online in Australia

When you need an STI/ STD test, using an online provider can be both easier and feel more confidential. Whether it’s your first time and you’re unsure how the process works or you’re looking for the best, most affordable or fastest provider, this guide is for you. For more in-depth information on each provider, consult our MediCompare reviews.

Once you’ve picked the right provider from the list below, you’ll need to register on their platform and fill in a quick questionnaire before a doctor’s review or a virtual consult. These are often available as phone or video calls using either the provider’s website, an app or simply your phone number.

The pre-screening speeds up the process because the consulting doctor or nurse already has your symptoms, sexual history and any relevant medical information on hand.

I’ve listed providers offering STI/STD testing via online booking in a comparison table below, as a quick reference guide. They include most comprehensive providers, such as  Hola Health, Prime Medic, Healthy Life, InstantScripts, Qoctor, My Telehealth Clinic, HelloGP, Next Clinic, Simple Online Doctor, Instant Consult, Updoc and some specialised ones.

If an online consult is required, the AHPRAregistered doctor, which includes nurse practitioners and GPs, will ask follow-up questions to help them decide whether you need a test, a prescription or perhaps even both. The clinician may:

• Issue an eScript for medication (e.g., antibiotics for chlamydia).
• Arrange a pathology referral for a urine or blood test.
• Send an at-home STI test kit to your door.

Having the doctor’s appointment from the privacy of your home can help you feel more in control and less exposed. It guarantees a calm environment of your choice and keeps your visit entirely confidential.

Australian telehealth providers typically offer two main test formats, depending on your needs and symptoms and their telehealth model:

Some platforms (e.g., Instant Consult, Instant Scripts) may provide both urine and blood panels in a single referral, meaning you only need to pay for one doctor’s consult. Others (e.g., Stigma Health, Hey Fella) let you order a specific panel for the infections you need, sometimes without a need for telehealth consults.

Mailed test kits available from some providers, such as Instant Consult, Hey Fella, SISTR and Stigma Health, may be one of the most convenient and discreet ways to get tested. They typically include urine containers, swabs for genital, oral or anal sites and a prepaid return envelope. Delivery usually takes a few days, and the kit arrives in unmarked packaging, ensuring confidentiality. After you’ve collected the necessary samples, you send them back in the prepaid envelope for laboratory analysis.

Result times vary, depending on your chosen provider and whether the test is processed privately or through bulkbilling labs. You can expect wait times of about 2 – 5 business days for private referrals and between 3 days and around one week for bulk-billed labs, especially if there’s a need for confirmatory tests.

The results are often uploaded directly to your patient portal, and you should receive a notification or a courtesy call to arrange a follow-up consult, if necessary. You can also check My Health Record for your results.

*Bulkbilling status may change due to recent legislative updates.

Note: For many services, the initial telehealth consult may lead to low- to mid-range out-of-pocket costs, but for most providers, subsequent pathology referrals, eScripts and follow-ups can be bulkbilled for Medicare-eligible patients.

What happens once the lab uploads your results depends on the results and can include everything from a follow-up consult to treatment and assistance with how to inform your partner.

Follow-up consults may be conducted by the same clinician or their colleague. Some providers prompt you to book, others require you to take charge of the process. The consult can be via video, phone or secure messaging to explain the findings.

If an infection is detected, the consulting health professional will start you on a treatment plan. An eScript is generated instantly and can be sent to a pharmacy of your choice or delivered by the provider. You can also fill it through online pharmacy apps such as Hola Meds.

If the result is inconclusive or additional screening is needed, the clinician can issue another referral.

Some specialised providers offer guidance on informing sexual partners and may supply partner-notification letters.

There are many obvious upsides to using telehealth providers to get tested for an STI at home. You can conveniently schedule at any time that suits you, often with minimal wait times and a reduced need to travel (especially if you get the STD kit delivered to your home). No travel – You avoid commuting to a clinic, saving time and reducing exposure to stigma.

Beyond the confidentiality of an online STI consult and discreet delivery, you can also expect generic descriptions on billing statements and secure data storage. Communications are end-to-end encrypted, and records are stored on My Health Record. Some providers also allow you to use a pseudonym.

Depending on your needs, I’d recommend considering 13SICK (free, fully bulkbilled), Abby Health or SISTR (free consult, bulkbilled labs) to keep costs low. The most comprehensive telehealth providers advertising sexualhealth clinics with repeat prescriptions are Instant Consult, Instant Scripts, or Updoc. For providers also offering PrEP, contraception and LGBTQfocused care, Hey Fella or PrEP Health (both with bulkbilled pathology) may be your best pick. Finally, the best afterhours access and a broad range of services can be found at Hola Health, Prime Medic and Healthy Life (all 24/7 providers).

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is no substitute for professional medical advice. Please choose your provider with care. Always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional regarding any healthrelated questions.