STD Check and Blood Tests in Observatory, Cape Town | Epicentre
Walk-In LabCape Town

STI and blood tests in Observatory, Cape Town

24 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925

Walk-in STD checks, rapid HIV tests, blood tests, hormones and gut health testing. No doctor's referral. Tests from R50, and a rapid HIV result on the same visit.

Book Appointment Get Directions Call 021 201 1658
4.7/5 Google RatingNo doctor's referral15-minute visitWalk-ins welcome
Hours: Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 16:00WhatsApp: 072 843 7564Email: [email protected]

Tests available at Observatory

STI (STD) testing

PCR panels from R1,235. Results in 5 to 7 days

View packages

HIV testing

Rapid R150, result in 20 minutes. Lab test R168

Details

Hormones

Thyroid, fertility, PMOS. Panels from R664

View panels

Wellness panels

Full check-ups from R2,181

Browse

Gut health

PCR stool, 17 to 44 targets. From R2,500

Details

HPV screening

Basic R890. 27-strain typing R1,925

Details

Blood tests

Full blood count R206, vitamin D R300

All tests

Drug screening

10-panel urine screen R1,050

Details

Need a result quickly? A rapid HIV test gives a result in 15 to 20 minutes while you wait. For other tests, urgent turnaround is available on request, so ask at reception.

How a visit works

Walk in or book online

No appointment needed. Booking guarantees your slot. Near Observatory train station. Street parking on Lower Main Road.

Tell us what you need

Ask at reception or choose from 74 packages. Not sure? Our nurses can help. No doctor's referral needed.

Sample collection, about 15 minutes

Blood draw by a registered nurse, or self-collected swab/urine in a private room. Quick, professional, confidential.

Pay and go

Cash, card, EFT, medical aid or Payflex (4 interest-free instalments). 10% student discount. 10% pensioner discount.

Results by email

Blood: 2 to 5 working days. PCR: 5 to 7 working days. Blood panels come with two reports: a plain-language Functional Health Report and a standard lab report for your doctor. If positive, Test and Treat connects you to a GP.

Our promise

No doctor's referral

Walk in for any test. No prescription, no letter, no GP visit first.

100% confidential

Results sent only to you. Anonymous testing available under a pseudonym. No ID required.

LGBTQIA+ inclusive

Judgement-free, inclusive care. Anatomy-based testing, not gender-based.

International visitors welcome

No SA ID needed. Pay cash or card. Results emailed worldwide.

Research-grade accuracy

Same lab as 65+ published papers in The Lancet, JAMA, Nature.

Functional Health Report included

Blood panels are read against optimal ranges, not just "normal vs abnormal".

Observatory lab FAQs

Can I get an STD check today at Observatory?
Yes. Walk in Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:00, with no doctor's referral. A rapid HIV test gives a result in 15 to 20 minutes for R150. STI PCR panels start at R1,235 (Small, 4 targets), and the Medium panel at R1,580 (9 targets) is the one most people choose. You collect the swab or urine yourself in a private room, and PCR results take 5 to 7 working days. See all sexual health tests.
Do I need a doctor's referral to test at Observatory?
No. Walk in or book online for any test. No doctor's referral, no prescription and no appointment needed. There are 255 individual tests from R50. See every test and price.
Do I need to fast before testing?
Most tests do not require fasting. For glucose or cholesterol (lipogram) tests and some packages, avoid eating for 8 to 12 hours before your visit. Water is fine.
How long do results take?
Blood tests take 2 to 5 working days. STI and other PCR swab tests take 5 to 7 working days, and gut panels 14 working days. Lab HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B antibody tests take 2 to 3 working days. Urgent turnaround is available on request, so ask at reception. Results come by email.
What payment methods are accepted?
Cash, card, EFT, medical aid and Payflex (4 interest-free instalments). Students get 10% off via Varsity Vibe (5% on gut panels) and pensioners get 10% off most packages. All prices include VAT.
Is parking available at Observatory?
Street parking is available on Lower Main Road. The lab is also near Observatory train station for public transport users.
Can I test anonymously?
Yes. No ID is required, and you can book under a pseudonym; just remember which name you used when your results arrive. Results go only to you. Anonymous testing guide.
Do you test international visitors?
Yes. No South African ID is needed. Pay cash or card, and results are emailed anywhere in the world.
How do I get my results?
By email, sent only to the address you give us. If you do not have email, you can collect your results at the branch.

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082 065 2172 · Details

Cannot reach a branch? Home test kits delivered anywhere in South Africa for PCR swab tests. Or have a nurse come to you.

Walk in. No doctor's referral. About 15 minutes.

24 Lower Main Road, Observatory. Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 16:00.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Samantha Naidoo
MB ChB, FCP (SA) · Medical Director, Epicentre Laboratories

Epicentre Walk-In Labs does not provide medical diagnoses. For diagnoses and advice, consult your healthcare practitioner. Practice #1117394.

Book at Observatory, no doctor's referral