4 Best At Home Gonorrhea Tests in 2024

29 Apr.,2024

 

4 Best At Home Gonorrhea Tests in 2024

Are you interested in learning more about instant gonorrhea test? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Read more about our vetting process.

Was this helpful?

Left untreated, gonorrhea can pose serious health risks. Testing is a smart first step to protect yourself and others.

Share on Pinterest

The best at-home gonorrhea tests

Best Overall

Nurx Healthy V STI Home Test Kit

  • Results in:

    a few days

  • Accepts insurance:

    yes

  • Price:

    $59.50 with insurance/$190 out-of-pocket

$59.50 AT NURX

*Price may vary.

Healthline's review

This test is our pick for best overall at-home gonorrhea test because of its comprehensiveness. It tests for gonorrhea in the vagina, as well as the throat, using a vaginal swab and a throat swab. That’s important because anyone who engages in oral sex is at risk of oral gonorrhea.

The Nurx Healthy V Kit also tests for:

  • vaginal chlamydia
  • throat chlamydia
  • trichomoniasis
  • syphilis
  • HIV

In addition to the swabs, the kit comes with a lancet so you can collect a blood sample to test for syphilis and HIV.

Nurx also provides you with access to medical professionals to help you better understand your test results. This service is included through a mandatory $30 consultation fee, bringing the total for this test with insurance to $59.50.

Recommended for people with a vagina who haven’t been tested for STIs in over a year — as well as those who have been experiencing symptoms — the Healthy V Kit is a great one-stop shop, especially if you have insurance.

Without insurance, this test costs $190 plus a $14.50 service fee.

 

  • tests for gonorrhea in the vagina and throat

  • tests for four other STIs in addition to gonorrhea

  • provides clear steps for sample collection

  • accepts insurance

  • results availabile within 7 business days

  • $30 consultation fee mandatory

  • Collection method :

    vaginal swab, throat swab, finger prick

  • Follow-up guidance :

    yes, after positive and negative test results

  • Tests for :

    gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomonoasis, HIV

Best on a budget

Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test

  • Results in:

    a few days

  • Insurance coverage:

    accepts HSA/FSA

  • Price:

    $69

Use code “HEALTHLINE25” for 25% off.

$69.00 AT EVERLYWELL

*Price may vary.

Healthline's review

This at-home test by well-known STI testing brand Everlywell tests for both chlamydia and genital gonorrhea using the same urine sample. Though insurance is not accepted, this test is the most affordable on the list at $69.

You order your test online, and you’ll be mailed a kit with all the instructions and materials you need for sample collection. This includes a urine cup, sample tube, pipette for transferring the sample into the biohazard bag, and a prepaid return shipping label.

You’ll receive your results within a few days through the Everlywell patient portal.

If you receive a positive test, you’ll have the opportunity to talk with a healthcare professional about next steps (like antibiotics) at no additional cost.

For a more comprehensive test, Everlywell also has a full at-home STD test available for $149 that tests for multiple STIs at once.

  • tests for both gonorrhea and chlamydia

  • uses express return shipping for faster results

  • option to discuss results with a healthcare professional

  • is less expensive than other kits on the list

  • more hands-on collection method than some

  • accepts HSA/FSA payments but does not take insurance

  • Collection method :

    urine sample

  • Tests for :

    chlamydia, gonorrhea

  • Follow-up guidance :

    access to independent physician network to discuss questions and treatment options if there is a positive result

Most comprehensive

myLab Box At-Home 3-Site Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Test

  • Results in:

    2–5 days

  • Accepts insurance:

    FSA/HSA only

  • Price:

    $179

$179.00 AT MYLAB BOX

*Price may vary.

Healthline's review

It’s possible to have gonorrhea of the genitals, rectum, or throat. The myLab Box 3-Site tests for both gonorrhea and chlamydia in all three locations, which is why it gets our pick as the most comprehensive test on our list.

Collection for the test has three parts — a urine sample, a throat swab, and an anal swab. From start to finish, it shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes.

Once you’ve collected your samples, you’ll send them to the laboratory using a pre-addressed and prepaid envelope. You’ll receive your secure results within 2–5 days.

If you test positive, you’ll receive info on how to obtain a free telemedicine consultation with a doctor in your state, who may be able to prescribe treatment.

You’ll also learn when you should be retested after treatment to confirm that the infection is gone.

For more hiv test stripsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

  • Tests in all three possible infections sites

  • includes test for chlamydia

  • free telemedicine consultation

  • accepts HSA/FSA payments, but does not take insurance

  • requires collection of three different samples

  • Collection method :

    anal swab, oral swab, urine sample

  • Follow-up guidance :

    yes, after positive test results

  • Tests for :

    chlamydia, gonorrhea

Best for combination STI testing

LetsGetChecked At-Home STD Tests

  • Results in:

    2–5 days

  • Accepts insurance:

    HSA/FSA only, offers itemized receipt for reimbursement

  • Price:

    $99/$149/$249

Use code “HEALTHLINE25" for 25% off

$99.00 AT LETSGETCHECKED

*Price may vary.

Healthline's review

LetsGetChecked offers a range of test options, allowing you to test for gonorrhea and other STIs of concern. It also offers the only at-home STI test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    • Simple 2: tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea via a urine sample ($99). This is the only at-home STI test approved by the FDA.

    • Standard 5: tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, and syphilis through urine and finger-prick blood sample ($149)

    • Complete 8: tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, trichomoniasis, Gardnerella, mycoplasma, and ureaplasma through urine and finger-prick blood sample ($249)

After activating your kit and collecting your samples in the morning, you’ll send them back for laboratory testing in an envelope with a prepaid label. Easy-to-read results will be sent to your secured online account within 2–5 days.

If any of your test results come back positive, you can request a virtual consultation with a healthcare professional who can prescribe medication for $39 per visit.

  • offers a wide range of testing options

  • low price point for Simple 2 test compared to others

  • accepts HSA/FSA, but does not accept insurance

  • consultation with healthcare professional not included in the test kit price

  • Collection method :

    finger prick, urine sample

  • Tests for :

    chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, HIV, syphilis, Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma

  • Follow-up guidance :

    $39 consultation with healthcare professionals to discuss positive results

At-home gonorrhea tests compared

PriceType of sampleResults inFollow-up care?

Nurx• $29.50 with insurance
• $190 without
• $30 consultation fee (mandatory)vaginal swab, throat swab, finger prick
up to 7 daysyes

Everlywell$69urinea few daysyes

myLAB Box$179swab and urine2–5 daysyes

LetsGetChecked$99/$149/$249urine and finger prick 2–5 daysyes, for an additional fee

How we chose

We carefully review products before we recommend them to ensure they meet high standards for medical credibility, good business practices, privacy practices and security, and social impact. Specific to at-home STI tests, we further consider:

  • Methods used for collection: Test collection methods may involve saliva, urine, or blood through a finger-prick.
  • Speed of results: You may need to wait longer than a week for some options. We prioritize tests that return results in a few days.
  • Lab certification: Opting for labs with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificationTrusted Source helps ensure reliable results.
  • Ease of purchasing: It’s important that navigating the website is easy, and buying tests is straightforward.
  • Cost: Testing kits shouldn’t break the bank. We include tests at a range of price points.
  • Reviews: We look at what users had to say about the tests and include options where most people were happy with their experience.

When to test for gonorrhea 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that in 2022, a total of 648,056 cases of gonorrhea were reported, but that because of disruptions to reporting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers may not reflect the true number of infections.

If left untreated, the infection can affect the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and urethra in people with vaginas. In those with a penis, it can also affect the urethra.

N. gonorrhoeae can infect other areas of the body as well, including the mouth, throat, eyes, and rectum.

Symptoms usually appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure. However, most cases of gonorrhea are asymptomatic.

When someone does experience symptoms, they usually include:

  • burning or pain while urinating
  • yellow, white, or green discharge
  • itching, soreness, or skin irritation
  • abdominal, pelvic, rectal, or genital pain

Regardless of whether someone has symptoms, a person can transmit the bacteria. That’s why it’s important to get tested regularly.

If untreated, gonorrhea can cause complications such as:

  • fever
  • abdominal and pelvic pain
  • testicular or penile swelling
  • pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • rare infections of the heart, lining of the brain, or spinal cord
  • arthritis
  • infertility
  • conjunctivitis or eye infection

Note that the incubation period for gonorrhea, or the amount of time it takes to test positive after exposure, ranges from 1–14 days. That’s why experts recommend getting tested for gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposure and then again several weeks later.

If you get tested before that, you might receive a negative result, even if you’re positive. Or if you receive a positive diagnosis, it could be because you came into contact prior to your last sexual encounter.

Getting treatment quickly

If you find out the person you had sex with has gonorrhea, talk with a healthcare professional right away. If it’s within 1–3 days after exposure, you may be able to get an antibiotic as a precaution against infection. You can also talk with your partner about expedited partner therapy, or EPT.

Was this helpful?

When to speak with a doctor

Getting test results can be potentially confusing or a source of anxiety. Every test on this list gives you the option of quickly connecting with a healthcare professional at no or low cost.

If there’s a healthcare professional you trust, you can also speak with them to discuss your results, treatment for a positive diagnosis, and next steps.

How to choose an at-home gonorrhea test

You may want to consider the following when choosing a test:

  • your kit will arrive in a discreet envelope
  • the test will be analyzed in a CLIA-certified laboratory
  • your online privacy and test results will be protected with up-to-date security features
  • your identity and information will not be sold, ever, to any third party
  • test results will be provided within 1 week or less
  • follow-up consultations with healthcare professionals are available

Frequently asked questions

Yes, testing for gonorrhea at home is a safe, accurate, and secure alternative. Most at-home STI testing brands use the same type of samples as an in-office collection.

In addition, most at-home testing companies send your samples to the same exact labs that in-person healthcare professionals use. This means the accuracy of the results is the same.

Finally, a ll the tests listed here are completely confidential and private — they have to be under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Even the packaging for these tests is discreet. The only indication of where the package is coming and going is the shipping label.

Instant tests for gonorrhea do exist at slightly higher price points. Though there are no instant STD tests on our list, the ones we do recommend return results quickly — anywhere from 2–7 days.

Instant gonorrhea tests are available at certain health facilities, and there are some companies that also make instant home kits.

Not all rapid STD tests have the same level of accuracy. For gonorrhea, vaginal swab sample tests are considered more accurate and preferable to urine tests.

The bottom line

Regularly testing for STIs is important for anyone who is sexually active, for your own health and to protect others. And at-home gonorrhea tests, like the ones on our list, make it easier to do so.

Note, if you’re looking for free or reduced-cost STI testing, there are programs and resources that can help.

You can also find at-home STI tests at some retail stores like Walmart or Walgreens.

Gonorrhea Test

What is a gonorrhea test?

Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It is a bacterial infection. Anyone can get gonorrhea if they have vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has the infection. The bacteria often infect the genitals, but it can infect the rectum, throat, eyes, and other parts of the body.

A gonorrhea test looks for signs of gonorrhea bacteria in a sample of fluid from your body. The fluid used depends on the type of gonorrhea test and where the infection may be. Samples may include:

  • Urine (pee)
  • Fluid that's swabbed from the part of your body that may be infected, including the:
    • Urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body in males and females)
    • Cervix (lower part of the uterus)
    • Vagina
    • Throat
    • Rectum (the last part of your intestine that connects to the anus)

Gonorrhea often has no symptoms, so you may spread it to others without even knowing you have the infection. If a pregnant person has gonorrhea, they can give the infection to the baby during childbirth. In babies, the disease usually affects the eyes.

Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. But if it's not treated, it can lead to serious health problems:

  • In the female reproductive system gonorrhea can cause:
    • Pelvic inflammatory disease
    • Infertility or ectopic pregnancy
    • Long-term pelvic pain
  • In the male reproductive system gonorrhea can cause:
    • Pain in the testicles
    • Infertility (uncommon)
  • Blood infection, which can be life-threatening
  • In babies, gonorrhea can cause blindness, joint infections, or life-threatening blood infections.

A gonorrhea test can help you catch the disease early so you can get treatment before you develop lasting health problems or spread it to others.

Other names: GC test, gonorrhea DNA probe test, gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), GC culture

The company is the world’s best saliva alcohol test strips supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.