At-Home STI/STD Testing in Australia: What You Need to Know

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical guidelines are reviewed and updated over time — always confirm current advice with a qualified health provider. If you're experiencing severe pain, fever, or other urgent symptoms, seek immediate medical attention rather than relying on this article or at-home testing.

At-home STI (STD) testing lets you collect your own sample at home and post it to a pathology laboratory, without visiting a GP clinic or collection centre. Here's how it works in Australia, what you can test for, and what happens with your results.

How Does At-Home STI/STD Testing Work in Australia?

With a lab-processed at-home test, your sample is analysed by a pathology laboratory rather than read by you at home. TestSmart's samples are processed by a NATA-accredited laboratory using NAAT (nucleic acid amplification testing), the testing method recommended in the Australian STI Management Guidelines.

With TestSmart, the process looks like this:

1. Order a test kit online and answer a short health questionnaire
2. A doctor reviews your responses and issues a pathology referral
3. Your kit is sent to your home in discreet packaging
4. Collect your sample (urine or swab) and return it to the lab using the prepaid mailer
5. A doctor reviews your results and you receive them securely online. If follow-up is needed, a doctor consultation is included

What STIs/STDs Can Be Tested at Home?

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Chlamydia is the most commonly notified STI in Australia, with 94,184 diagnoses in 2025. There were 42,393 gonorrhoea diagnoses in the same year (Kirby Institute, 2026). Both can be tested with a urine sample or swab.

HPV (cervical screening). Under the National Cervical Screening Program, you can choose to collect your own vaginal sample for your Cervical Screening Test instead of having a clinician collect it with a speculum.

Throat and rectal swabs. A urine test won't detect an infection in the throat or anus. If you've had oral or anal sex, these sites need to be tested separately with a swab. The Australian STI Management Guidelines note that people without symptoms can collect most samples themselves, including throat and anal swabs.

HIV and syphilis are tested using blood and aren't included in TestSmart's kits. Read more about HIV and syphilis testing at home.

Is At-Home STI/STD Testing Accurate?

The Australian STI Management Guidelines list self-collected samples, such as first-pass urine and self-collected vaginal swabs, as specimen types for chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing. TestSmart's samples are processed by a NATA-accredited laboratory using NAAT, the same testing method used for samples collected in a clinic.

Collecting your sample correctly matters, so follow the instructions included in your kit.

Who Is At-Home STI/STD Testing For?

At-home testing lets you:

• Test without visiting a GP clinic, collection centre or sexual health clinic
• Collect your sample at home, at a time that suits you
• Receive your kit in discreet packaging
• Test throat and rectal sites as well as genital, with the Comprehensive STI Kit

If you have symptoms such as discharge, pain or sores, seeing a GP or sexual health clinic is usually best, as you may need an examination. You can still order a TestSmart kit, but you'll have a short telehealth consult with a doctor before your kit is sent.

What Happens If My Result Is Positive?

With TestSmart, a doctor will contact you directly to explain your result, discuss treatment options and prescribe treatment if needed. Read more about what happens if your STI test comes back positive.

How Often Should You Test?

The Department of Health recommends that anyone who is sexually active has an STI test every 6 to 12 months, and gets tested when they have a new partner. Read more about how often to get an STI test.

TestSmart offers at-home STI testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and at-home HPV cervical screening, with postage both ways included and discreet packaging.

TestSmart's testing and treatment pathways are reviewed by Australian-registered GPs and follow current Australian clinical guidelines. This article is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice — your circumstances, symptoms, and test results should always be discussed with your reviewing doctor.