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Private STI screening in London, discreet, fast and confidential.

A confidential, non-judgmental sexual-health check - in a discreet clinic or by posted home kit - with results delivered securely and treatment arranged privately if needed.

A friendly doctor in conversation with a patient in a warmly lit consulting room

Indicative pricing

What private STI screening costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers and laboratories.

In short

£180–£350, with results in 24–72 hours.

Test or panel Indicative range
Chlamydia + gonorrhoea (NAAT) £80–£180
Core panel (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV) £180–£350
Full comprehensive screen (10+ pathogens) £300–£550
HIV-only rapid test £75–£150
Home STI test kit (posted, discreet) £120–£280
GUM consultant consultation + treatment £250–£500

Prices vary by which infections are included, sample types (swab, urine, blood), and whether treatment is prescribed on the day.

The problem

Sexual health should be simple, not shaming.

NHS GUM services are excellent but often busy. Some people want privacy, faster results, a quiet clinic or the option of a posted home kit - with a consultant on the other end of the phone if anything comes back positive.

  • Worried after an incident?

    Testing needs to be timed against the window period - and if HIV exposure was possible in the last 72 hours, PEP needs to be started urgently.

  • Want to be sure privately?

    A discreet clinic or posted home kit, with results by secure link and nothing on your NHS record unless you ask.

  • Have symptoms?

    A same-week consultant appointment, examination and treatment on the day where a diagnosis is clear.

When to test

Why people test.

Different reasons need different panels - and different timing. These are the most common situations.

  • New partner check

    A sensible baseline before a new relationship, or after one has ended.

  • After unprotected contact

    A confidential screen at the right interval, with clear guidance on window periods.

  • Any symptom

    Discharge, ulcers, itching, pain or bleeding - assessed properly rather than guessed at.

  • Home-kit convenience

    A posted kit for the same core pathogens, in unmarked packaging, on your own timing.

  • Discreet in-clinic

    A quiet consultant-led clinic, no waiting room, and nothing on your GP record.

  • PrEP monitoring

    Routine three-monthly STI, kidney and HIV monitoring for anyone on PrEP.

  • Contact tracing

    Partner-notification support - anonymous where possible, always led by you.

  • Red flags & PEP

    Recent HIV exposure?

Popular panels

What each option is actually for.

  • Chlamydia + gonorrhoea NAAT

    The two most common bacterial STIs, screened by highly sensitive nucleic-acid amplification.

  • Core STI panel

    Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV - the sensible baseline for most reasons.

  • Full comprehensive panel

    Adds trichomonas, mycoplasma, hepatitis B and C, herpes and more where indicated.

  • HIV-only rapid test

    A finger-prick test with a result in 15 minutes, for reassurance outside the window period.

  • Syphilis (blood)

    A single blood test - the standard screen following possible exposure or as part of a panel.

  • Hepatitis B & C

    Blood tests for both viruses, with vaccination advice for hepatitis B where relevant.

  • Home STI kit

    Posted in unmarked packaging: swabs, urine and finger-prick sample done at home and returned.

  • PrEP / PEP consultation

    Assessment, prescription and follow-up for HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.

What to know

The practical things worth knowing before you test.

Confidentiality, timing, and the difference between reassurance and a definitive result.

  • Confidential by default

    Results are shared with you only.

  • Window periods matter

    HIV RNA from 10 days, HIV antibody from 45 days, syphilis 12 weeks, hepatitis 12 weeks. Testing too early misses infection.

  • A negative early test

    A reassuring early result may need a repeat later - a repeat at the right time gives a definitive answer.

  • PEP within 72 hours

    If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, post-exposure prophylaxis can prevent infection.

  • PrEP is available

    HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis is prescribed on private assessment, with the routine monitoring included.

  • Partner notification

    Voluntary but strongly encouraged - anonymous notification services can help partners test and treat.

  • Children and safeguarding

    STIs in a child are a safeguarding matter and follow a different, specialist pathway - not this service.

  • Some infections are notifiable

    Certain infections must be reported to UKHSA in anonymised form - this is a public-health duty, not a breach of your confidentiality.

  • Pregnancy screening is separate

    Antenatal STI screening is arranged through maternity care and follows a different protocol.

Reading your report

A results sheet can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However many pathogens are screened for, the report follows the same four parts.

A UK consultant genitourinary medicine physician reviewing STI screening results

A quiet reminder

A negative result close to exposure may need a repeat - window periods are why.

If you want help understanding your report before deciding what to do next, ask the clinician or service that gave you the result.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and reason for screening

    Your details, which panel was run, and the reason behind it - new partner, symptoms, PrEP monitoring or contact.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which panel and sample types

    The pathogens tested, the sample types used (swab, urine, blood, finger-prick) and the laboratory methods.

  3. 03 Findings

    Each pathogen, with a clear result

    Every organism listed with a plain-English result - negative, positive or equivocal - and any repeat testing suggested.

  4. 04 Impression

    The plan: read this first

    What to do next - treatment where indicated, retest interval, partner-notification advice, and any onward referral.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about private STI screening.

Quick, plain answers on cost, referrals, confidentiality, home kits, HIV testing, PrEP and PEP.

  • What does a full STI screen actually test for?

    A comprehensive private screen typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, trichomonas, mycoplasma genitalium, and can add herpes serology where indicated. A core panel covers the first four.

  • How much does a private STI test cost in London?

    A chlamydia and gonorrhoea NAAT is typically £80–£180, a core four-infection panel £180–£350, and a full comprehensive screen £300–£550. A posted home kit is £120–£280.

  • Do I need a referral?

    No. Every private GUM service accepts self-referral, and this is the norm for sexual health - you do not need to see a GP first.

  • What is a "window period" and why does it matter?

    The window period is the time between exposure and when a test can reliably detect infection. HIV RNA is from around 10 days, HIV antibody testing from 45 days, syphilis and hepatitis around 12 weeks.

  • Home kit or in-clinic - which is better?

    A posted home kit is discreet and covers the core infections well. An in-clinic visit adds a clinical examination, immediate treatment where indicated, and is essential if you have symptoms.

  • How does HIV testing work?

    Options include a same-visit finger-prick rapid test (result in 15 minutes), a fourth-generation lab HIV test (antigen + antibody) from a blood draw, and HIV RNA testing for very early detection. Which is right depends on how long ago the possible exposure was.

  • Am I eligible for PrEP?

    PrEP is appropriate for anyone at higher ongoing risk of HIV - this is assessed on a private consultation, and includes baseline HIV, kidney function and STI screening plus three-monthly monitoring while on treatment.

  • Will my insurance cover STI screening?

    Most private medical insurance excludes routine sexual-health screening, so this is usually self-funded.

  • Does anything go on my NHS record?

    Sexual-health services (NHS and private) operate under enhanced confidentiality, and private results are shared only with you.

  • When do I need PEP, and how urgently?

    Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a 28-day course of HIV medication started after possible HIV exposure. It must be started within 72 hours - the sooner the better.

Related tests

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

The London pathway for STI screening

With STI screening, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The wait for STI screening on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.

Once you’re in the private system for STI screening, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. For STI screening specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.