Same-Day STD Tests: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Waiting days for STI results is not something anyone enjoys. The anxiety between the test and the result is often the worst part. Our FAST Screen service was designed to eliminate that wait: blood, urine, and swab samples processed the same day, with results returned within 6 hours.

If you need to know today, we can make that happen.

"Waiting days for results adds unnecessary anxiety. Our same-day and next-day pathways are designed to give patients answers quickly, because the waiting is often the hardest part."

Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar, Sexual Health Physician, GMC 4694470

How our same-day testing works

You walk into our clinic at 117a Harley Street (or book a time slot in advance). A sexual health doctor conducts a consultation, takes a history, and determines the right tests for your situation. Samples are taken on-site and sent to our UKAS-accredited laboratory for FAST-track processing. Results are returned to your doctor within 6 hours, and you are contacted the same day.

No GP referral. No multi-week NHS wait. No postal kit followed by days of silence.

What we test in 6 hours

We offer two FAST Screen packages and individual FAST tests:

FAST Screen Simple - £350

Covers the four most common infections:

• HIV (antigen/antibody, 4th generation)
• Syphilis (IgG/IgM)
• Chlamydia (PCR)
• Gonorrhoea (PCR)

All results returned within 6 hours. Accurate from 28 days after potential exposure for HIV and syphilis. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be detected from 2 weeks post-exposure (earlier if symptomatic).

This package is designed for patients who want core STI coverage with same-day certainty. It covers the infections most people are worried about.

FAST Screen Complex - £450

Broader coverage for patients who want more comprehensive screening:

• HIV (antigen/antibody, 4th generation)
• Syphilis (IgG/IgM)
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Chlamydia (PCR)
• Gonorrhoea (PCR)

All results returned within 6 hours. This package adds hepatitis B and C, which are recommended if you have had unprotected sex abroad, have new or multiple partners, or have any history of injecting drug use.

Individual FAST tests

If you do not need a full screen, individual tests are available with 6-hour turnaround:

Test	Cost	What it detects
FAST Chlamydia (urine or swab)	£75	Chlamydia by PCR
FAST Gonorrhoea (urine or swab)	£75	Gonorrhoea by PCR
FAST CT/GC combined (urine or swab)	£75	Chlamydia and gonorrhoea by PCR
FAST CT/GC Throat (swab)	£75	Pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhoea
FAST CT/GC Rectal (swab)	£75	Rectal chlamydia and gonorrhoea
FAST Screen SHORT with swab	£125	Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, additional swab site

All FAST tests use the same PCR methodology as our standard tests. The difference is laboratory processing priority, not testing accuracy.

FAST Screen vs standard screening packages

The main question patients ask: should I pay more for same-day results, or save money with a standard package?

Feature	FAST Screen Simple	Bronze Screen	Gold Screen
Price	£350	£250	£475 (M) / £490 (F)
Results turnaround	6 hours	Bloods 24 hrs, urine up to 3 days	Bloods 24 hrs, urine/swab up to 3 days
HIV	Yes	Yes	Yes
Syphilis	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea	Yes	Yes	Yes
Herpes I & II	No	No	Yes
Hepatitis B & C	No	No	Yes
Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella, Trichomoniasis	No	No	Yes
HPV	No	No	No (Platinum only)
Consultation included	Yes	Yes	Yes
Examination included	Yes	Yes	Yes
Prescription included	Yes	Yes	Yes

Choose the FAST Screen if: you need results today. Perhaps you are travelling tomorrow, have a medical procedure scheduled, need clearance for a new relationship, or simply cannot tolerate the anxiety of waiting.

Choose the Bronze Screen if: you can wait 24 hours for blood results and up to 3 days for urine results, and you want to save £100 while covering the same four infections.

Choose the Gold or Platinum Screen if: you want the most comprehensive testing available, covering 11+ infections. Blood results come back within 24 hours; urine and swab results take up to 3 days. The Gold Screen is the best value for broad coverage.

All packages include a doctor consultation, physical examination, and prescription if needed. See our full screening packages for details.

Why same-day matters: the NHS alternative

NHS sexual health clinics provide free STI testing, and for many people this is the right choice. But the practical reality in 2026 is that demand outstrips capacity. Wait times for a GUM clinic appointment in London range from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the borough and the time of year. Walk-in services have limited slots and long queues, particularly in central London. Results typically take 7 to 14 days after testing.

If you are anxious about a recent exposure, two weeks of waiting for an appointment followed by two more weeks for results is a month of uncertainty. Our FAST Screen compresses that into a single morning.

This is not a criticism of the NHS. Their clinicians are excellent. It is a statement about capacity. We exist to fill the gap for patients who cannot wait.

Who is same-day testing for?

We see a range of patients for FAST testing. Common reasons include:

Recent exposure with high anxiety. You had unprotected sex, a condom broke, or a partner has disclosed an STI. The waiting is unbearable. Knowing your status in 6 hours rather than 3 days makes a measurable difference to your wellbeing.

Pre-relationship screening. You and a new partner want to know your status before becoming intimate. Same-day results make this practical rather than disruptive.

Travel. You are leaving the country and need results before you go. We see patients heading to destinations where accessing healthcare would be difficult or costly.

Workplace or medical requirements. Some employers, insurance providers, or medical procedures require recent STI clearance.

Post-travel check. You had sexual contact while abroad and want rapid confirmation of your status before resuming normal life.

Second opinion after unclear results. If a home testing kit produced an equivocal or inconclusive result, a FAST Screen at our clinic provides definitive answers with a doctor consultation to interpret results in context.

The limitations of home testing kits

We are not against home testing. It has its place, and it is better than no testing at all. But if you are reading a page about same-day STD results, you probably want more than a postal kit can offer.

Home kits do not include a doctor consultation. If you have symptoms (discharge, sores, burning, itching), a kit cannot examine you, correlate your symptoms with results, or make a clinical judgement about what is causing them.

Most home kits do not offer same-day results. Turnaround is typically 2 to 5 days after the lab receives your sample.

Home kits test a limited range of infections. Many do not include syphilis, herpes, or hepatitis.

If the result is positive, a home kit does not prescribe treatment. You then need to arrange a GP or GUM clinic appointment, which can take days or weeks.

We offer a one-stop service: consultation, examination, testing, results, diagnosis, and prescription under one roof. For syphilis treatment, we even administer the injection on-site.

Accuracy and methodology

Our FAST tests use the same methodologies as standard testing:

HIV is detected using a 4th generation antigen/antibody assay, which identifies both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen. This is the test recommended by BASHH and is accurate from 28 days post-exposure.

Syphilis is detected using IgG/IgM serology, accurate from approximately 3 to 4 weeks after exposure.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are detected using PCR (nucleic acid amplification testing, BASHH 2024), the most sensitive method available. PCR can detect both infections from approximately 2 weeks post-exposure.

All testing is performed by UKAS-accredited laboratories. UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation is the same standard applied to NHS laboratories and means the laboratory meets ISO 15189 requirements for quality and competence.

For patients who need even earlier HIV detection, our HIV RNA PCR test detects the virus from 10 days post-exposure (£238.75, standard 1-day turnaround - not available as a FAST test).

What happens after results

If all results are negative: your doctor will discuss the results with you, confirm the window periods for your specific tests, and advise on whether repeat testing is recommended based on the timing of your exposure.

If a result is positive: treatment begins immediately. For bacterial infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, you receive a prescription the same day. Medication is available from a pharmacy two minutes from our clinic. For syphilis, we administer the penicillin injection on-site. For HIV, we arrange confirmatory testing and specialist referral, with full clinical support throughout.

You are not left with a positive result and a "good luck" message. The doctor who ordered your tests manages the next steps personally.

Booking and practicalities

Our clinic is at 117a Harley Street, London. We are open six days a week.

You can walk in without an appointment, though booking ensures you are seen at your preferred time. Book online here or call the clinic.

You can register under a pseudonym if privacy is important to you. We accept cash as well as card payments.

FAST Screen results are returned within 6 hours of sample collection. If you arrive in the morning, you will typically have results by mid-afternoon.

The consultation fee (£150) is included in all screening packages. If you want a standalone FAST test (not a package), the consultation fee applies in addition to the test cost.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate are same-day STI tests?

They are identical in accuracy to standard tests. The difference is laboratory processing speed, not methodology. The HIV test is a 4th generation assay (sensitivity >99.5% at 28 days). Chlamydia and gonorrhoea use PCR (sensitivity >95%). Syphilis uses IgG/IgM serology (sensitivity >95% at 4 weeks). All processing is by UKAS-accredited laboratories.

Can I get same-day results for herpes?

The herpes IgG blood test returns results in 24 hours, not 6 hours. If you have active sores, a herpes PCR swab takes 3 to 5 days. Herpes is included in the Silver Screen and above, but not in the FAST Screen packages. If herpes is your primary concern, a standalone blood test (£103.75, 24-hour turnaround) is the fastest option.

Do I need to fast or prepare before testing?

No fasting required. For urine tests, try not to urinate for at least 1 to 2 hours before your appointment, as this increases the concentration of bacteria and improves detection sensitivity. For blood tests, no preparation is needed.

What if I need results faster than 6 hours?

6 hours is our fastest turnaround. If you have a genuine emergency (e.g. suspected PEP requirement after high-risk exposure), please call our clinic to discuss. For PEP specifically, we do not offer this service; go directly to A&E or an NHS sexual health clinic within 72 hours of exposure.

Can I add extra tests to a FAST Screen?

Yes. You can add individual tests to any package. For example, adding a herpes blood test to a FAST Screen Simple would cost £350 + £103.75. Your doctor can advise on which additional tests are appropriate for your situation during the consultation.

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Need STI results today? Walk in to our Harley Street clinic for FAST screening with 6-hour results, or book an appointment online. Consultation, examination, and prescription included in all packages.

References

• BASHH (2024). Standards for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
• BASHH (2024). Recommendations for Testing for STIs.
• NICE CKS (2024). Sexually transmitted infections — Overview of testing.