STI testing in South Africa: the complete guide

No. Every test on this page can be booked and paid for directly. Walk into any of our three branches, or order a home kit. You only need a doctor afterwards if something is detected and needs treating, because Epicentre does not prescribe or treat.

PCR swab panels run from R1,235 for 4 targets to R3,305 for 34. The most-chosen panel is the Medium at R1,580 for 9 targets. Blood tests are separate: HIV rapid R150, the combined HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B add-on R524, and the blood-based Sexual Health Express R1,078. All prices include VAT. Students get 10% off with a Varsity Vibe ID, pensioners get 10%, and Payflex splits anything over R1,200 into 4 interest-free instalments.

No, and this is the single most important thing to understand about STI testing. HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B are antibody tests done on blood. They are not part of any PCR swab panel. If you want them, add the Combined HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B Add-On at R524, or take the blood-based Sexual Health Express at R1,078. A PCR panel alone, however large, does not cover these three.

PCR panels take 5 to 7 working days. Blood antibody tests take 2 to 3 working days. The HIV rapid test gives a result in 15 to 20 minutes while you wait. Results are emailed to you, to nobody else.

PCR is most accurate from around 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure you are worried about. The HIV antibody test is reliable from around 2 weeks, and syphilis antibodies take a similar time. Testing the next morning is usually too early to be meaningful. If you are worried about an exposure in the last 72 hours, see a doctor or clinic today rather than waiting to test, because some things are time-critical.

Yes for anything that uses a swab or urine, which is every PCR panel. The kit is couriered to you in discreet packaging, you take the sample yourself, and a free courier collects it. No for anything that needs blood, which means HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B have to be done at a branch. You can also collect a kit from one of our pickup points instead of having it posted.

Yes. Results are released to the person tested and to nobody else, not to a partner, not to an employer, not to a medical aid unless you submit the claim yourself. You do not need to give a reason for testing.

Most schemes do not cover sexual health PCR as a routine benefit, so do not assume yours will. Some cover HIV testing under preventative care. Your scheme may pay with a doctor's referral and the right ICD-10 code, but you need to check with them directly. We give you a tax invoice with the codes on it; the claim itself is yours to submit.

You get a YourGenes report that says plainly what was found and what it means, written so that both you and a doctor can read it. Epicentre does not diagnose, prescribe or treat. You take that report to your own doctor or clinic, or to the independent doctor we work with, who can consult online or in person. Your partner should be tested too.

Yes, and this is worth knowing: a genital swab does not detect a throat or rectal infection. We add a throat swab, an anal swab, or both, to any sexual health panel at no extra charge. There are also two dedicated oral panels, at R1,580 for 9 targets and R1,925 for 16.

If you have no symptoms and want a sensible baseline, the Medium at R1,580 plus the R524 blood add-on is the usual answer. If you have symptoms, the 17-target panel matching your anatomy gives you the flora as well as the STIs. If you want everything in one go, the Extra Large at R3,305 is the most thorough panel we run. If you only want HIV today, the rapid test is R150 and takes 20 minutes.

No. Epicentre is a laboratory. We collect samples, run tests and report results. We do not diagnose, prescribe medication or provide treatment, anywhere, including on WhatsApp. If a result needs treating, you take it to a doctor or clinic. We can point you to one.