This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Many people want testing without a lot of people knowing about it. That is a reasonable wish, and there are practical ways to protect your privacy in Salt Lake City.

This guide explains the difference between anonymous and confidential testing. It shows which local clinics publish what, how an insurance statement can reveal a visit, and what Utah's rules mean in plain words.

One honest note first. Pure anonymous testing, with no name attached at all, is uncommon in clinics. Confidential testing is the standard, and for most people it is enough.

Anonymous vs. confidential: what the words mean

The two words are often used as if they mean the same thing. They do not.

Anonymous testing means nobody records your name. You get a code or number, and you use it to get your result. Few clinics work this way.
Confidential testing means the clinic knows who you are and keeps your records private. Your results are not shared with employers, family or friends without your permission, apart from legal exceptions such as public health reporting.

So, is STD testing confidential? In general, health care providers handle test results as private medical information. The exceptions matter, though, and they are covered below. The details differ by clinic, so asking is always fine.

What you need before you start

A phone to call a clinic and ask about privacy and cost.
A list of questions (see step 2).
Payment you are comfortable using, such as cash, a debit card, or insurance if you choose to use it.
A private way to be reached, such as a personal phone number or email you trust.
Your insurance card, only if you plan to use insurance.
Time for the visit. Walk-in clinics can have a wait, and appointments often shorten it.

Step-by-step: getting private STD testing in Salt Lake City

Step 1: Decide how private you need to be

Ask yourself what you are protecting. Is it a result reaching a parent who is on your insurance plan? A partner who opens the mail? An employer who runs a workplace plan? Your answer shapes the rest of the steps.

If your main worry is a paper or online insurance statement, your best path is a clinic that does not bill insurance, or a clinic where you pay on your own. If your main worry is who sees your chart, confidential care at any licensed clinic is usually the right fit.

Step 2: Call the clinic and ask direct questions

Clinics will answer privacy questions. You do not have to give a reason. Useful questions include:

Do you offer anonymous testing, or is testing confidential only?
Do I have to give my full name and date of birth?
Will you bill my insurance, and can I pay on my own instead?
How will I get my results, and can you contact me only by a number I choose?
What is the total cost, including the visit fee and each test?

The Salt Lake County Health Department's STD and Infectious Disease Clinic can be reached at 385-468-4242. The clinic's page does not say whether anonymous testing is offered, so ask when you call.

Step 3: Compare the local options

The table below uses what each clinic or directory publishes. None of the pages we reviewed describe a fully anonymous option, so confirm by phone. You can also see the full list of local testing options.

Clinic	What is published	Privacy angle
Salt Lake County Health Department STD Clinic / Infectious Disease Clinic, 610 South 200 East	Testing for anyone 14 or older. Walk-ins accepted when possible. Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, closed until 1:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Phone 385-468-4242.	The county's page says the clinic cannot bill health insurance, so no insurance statement should be generated by this clinic.
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, Salt Lake Health Center, 654 S 900 E	Appointment required. Sliding scale. Insurance and Medicaid accepted. Phone (801) 322-5571, per the CDC GetTested directory.	Ask whether you can pay without using insurance.
Community Health Centers Inc., Oquirrh View (4745 S 3200 W) and Ellis R. Shipp Clinic (4535 S 5600 W)	Sliding scale. Insurance, Medicaid and Medicare accepted. Oquirrh View: (801) 964-6214. Ellis R. Shipp: (801) 676-4405. Per the CDC GetTested directory.	Ask about eligibility for the sliding scale and about billing.
University of Utah Health, Redwood Health Center, 1525 W 2100 S	Phone (801) 213-9900. Insurance accepted, with PrEP assistance for people without insurance, per the CDC GetTested directory.	Ask how billing and results work.
University of Utah Student Health Center, 555 Foothill Dr	Testing by appointment at 801-581-6431. Visit fee and lab charges apply. Its page does not say whether non-students can use the center.	Ask about billing and access before booking.
Utah Naloxone (Andy's Wellness Center), 525 East 100 South, Suite 4400	A directory listing shows STI testing and treatment. Open Mon, Thu, Fri 10:30am-4:30pm. Phone (385) 495-9050. Cost and walk-in policy are not stated.	Call to confirm services, cost and privacy practices.

The University of Utah's Campus Wellness mobile clinics also offer free HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for people without symptoms, according to the student health center's page. Ask the center about schedules and who can attend.

Step 4: Understand the cost before you go

Cost can decide which option works. The Salt Lake County Health Department's STD clinic publishes these fees:

Office visit: $60 for Salt Lake County residents, $80 for people outside the county.
No office visit fee if you are testing only for HIV.
HIV blood test: $50.
Syphilis test: $40.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea: $40 per site tested.
Rapid HIV testing: free to people at higher risk while grant funds last, per the county.

Fees can change, so confirm when you call. For other clinics, the pages we reviewed do not list a price. Ask each one for a total before you book.

Step 5: Plan around insurance statements

This is where privacy most often slips. When a clinic bills a health plan, the plan usually sends an explanation of benefits, often called an EOB, to the main policyholder. An EOB can list the date of service, the clinic and the type of service. If you are on a parent's, partner's or employer's plan, that person may see it.

You have several ways to reduce that risk:

Use a clinic that does not bill insurance. The county STD clinic says it cannot bill health insurance.
Pay on your own. Ask any clinic whether you can be a self-pay patient and skip billing your plan.
Ask for confidential communications. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains that under the HIPAA Privacy Rule you can ask providers and health plans to contact you at a different address or phone number. Plans must honor reasonable requests in some situations, such as when you state that disclosure could put you in danger. Ask your plan how to file the request.
Check your online portal settings. Some patient portals and insurance apps show visits to anyone with the login.

If you are unsure how your own plan handles this, call the member number on your card and ask how EOBs are sent.

Step 6: Know your age and consent rights

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services says that people 14 and older can consent to STI testing and treatment without a parent's consent, citing Utah Code 26B-7-214. The county STD clinic also lists testing for anyone 14 or older. If you are younger than 14, or you are not sure how the rule applies, call the health department and ask.

Step 7: Go to your visit and ask about results

At the visit, a staff member will ask about your health and any symptoms, and which tests make sense. Tell them which kinds of sex you have, with whom, and what protection you use. They need that to choose tests, and they hear it every day.

Before you leave, ask:

How and when will I get results?
What number or email will you use, and can I change it?
What happens if a result needs follow-up?

Step 8: Get your results and plan your next step

Follow the clinic's process for results. A clinician can explain what a result means for you. If a test finds an infection, a clinician can talk through treatment options. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and trichomoniasis, are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with care.

What Utah's reporting rules mean in plain words

Confidential does not always mean nothing is ever shared. The CDC explains that health care providers and laboratories report certain infections to state or local health departments. This is how public health teams track trends and connect people to care. It is a routine public health process and not a judgment about anyone.

The pages we reviewed do not list which infections Utah requires to be reported or exactly what information is sent. To get a clear answer, ask the clinic or the Salt Lake County Health Department before your test.

Public health reports are handled by health departments, not by employers or family members. If you are worried, ask who sees the information and how long it is kept.

Partner notification is related. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services says expedited partner therapy is available in Utah for chlamydia and gonorrhea. That means a clinician may be able to prescribe treatment for a patient's partner without seeing the partner first. A clinician can explain whether it applies to you. Your name does not have to be given to a partner for the clinic to help you talk through notification options, so ask what the clinic offers.

When and what to test for

Timing affects how reliable a result can be. For HIV, the CDC describes these windows after a possible exposure:

Nucleic acid tests: about 10 to 33 days.
Antigen/antibody lab tests on a blood draw: about 18 to 45 days.
Antigen/antibody rapid tests on a fingerstick: about 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests: about 23 to 90 days.

A test taken too early may not find an infection that is there. A clinician can tell you whether to test again later. For other infections, ask the clinic what timing it recommends.

Local numbers show why testing matters here. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH data reports a 2022 chlamydia rate of 479.7 per 100,000 people in Salt Lake County, compared with 328.7 per 100,000 statewide. Chlamydia often causes no symptoms, so testing can be the only way to learn anything.

Tips for protecting your privacy

Call before you go and ask your privacy questions. Clinic staff expect them.
Choose a pay-on-your-own path if an insurance statement is your main concern.
Give a phone number or email that only you can see.
Ask how long you should expect to wait for results.
Write down the clinic's number so you can call with follow-up questions.
Check hours before you go. Published hours can change, and the county clinic's morning hours differ on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a private clinic means a private bill. Billing your insurance can still produce an EOB, even when the visit itself was private.
Assuming "free" means anonymous. A free test can still be confidential and not anonymous. Ask how your name is used.
Using a shared patient portal. A family member with the login may see results or visit lists.
Testing too early after an exposure. Ask a clinician about timing so you do not rely on a result that came too soon.
Skipping the question about reporting. It is easier to ask first than to be surprised later.
Delaying because of embarrassment. Clinic staff care for people of every gender and orientation, and testing is an ordinary part of health care.

What to expect afterward

Results may arrive by phone, a patient portal or a follow-up visit, depending on the clinic. A negative result suggests that the tests used did not find those infections at the time of testing, though the timing of the test matters. A positive result is a reason to talk with a clinician about next steps, and many infections are treatable or curable. Only a clinician can interpret results for your situation.

If a test finds an infection, clinics can explain follow-up care, including what to tell partners and when to retest. Some clinics also offer prevention services. The county STD clinic lists PrEP and doxy-PEP among its services. A clinician can explain whether they fit your needs.

Take the next step

If you are ready, start with a phone call. The county's STD clinic (385-468-4242) is a low-cost option that does not bill insurance. You can also check the CDC's GetTested directory to find more Salt Lake City sites, and review the local testing list for clinic details.

Whichever option you choose, ask about privacy first. You are allowed to ask, and clinics expect it.

Anonymous and Confidential STD Testing in Salt Lake City