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.

Getting tested is one step. Getting the result is the next, and it works differently at each clinic. If you are wondering how long it takes to get STD test results in Orlando, the honest answer is that it depends on the test and on where you go.

This guide walks you through how to set up the result part of your visit. It covers what to bring, what to ask, and what to do while you wait. For the full list of clinics and costs, see our guide to STD testing in Orlando, where to get tested and what it costs.

What you need before your visit

A picture ID. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County says its STD clinic requires one.
A phone number you can use privately. Some clinics send results by coded text. Choose a number only you can see.
A plan for how you want to hear. Decide whether you prefer a text, a call or a face-to-face talk.
Your insurance card, if you have one. Some Orlando clinics accept insurance. Others use a sliding scale or offer free testing.
A short list of questions. Use the ones in Step 2 below.

The three ways results reach you

Most clinics use one or more of these. Which ones apply depends on the clinic, so confirm before you leave.

Portal

A portal is a secure online account where results are posted. None of the Orlando clinics we reviewed publish portal details on their testing pages. That does not mean a portal is unavailable. It means you should ask the clinic directly whether one exists and how to sign up.

Phone or text

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County says results can be given by coded text with signed consent. A coded text lets you get the result without the message naming the test. Other clinics may call you. Ask which number they will use and whether they leave voicemails.

In person

The Orange County health department says results are given in person or by coded text. Some people prefer to hear a result face to face, because a clinician can answer questions right away.

Step 1: Choose a clinic with your results in mind

Pick a clinic based on how and when you want the results, as well as cost and location. Here is what is published for several Orlando options.

Clinic	What is published about results
Florida Department of Health in Orange County STD Clinic, 832 West Central Blvd (407-858-1400)	The county page says results take about one week. They are given in person or by coded text with signed consent.
Florida Department of Health in Orange County, Lila Mitchell Health Center, 5151 Raleigh St, Ste B (407-723-5004)	The CDC GetTested listing shows appointments are required. Result delivery is not listed, so ask.
Miracle of Love, 1301 W Colonial Dr, Ste 201 (407-843-1760)	The CDC GetTested listing says appointments are required. It lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing. Result timing is not listed.
The Center Orlando, 942 N Mills Ave	The Center says all sexual health testing is walk-in only. Its testing page does not list how results are delivered.
Hope & Help Center, 4122 Metric Dr, #800, Winter Park (407-645-2577)	The testing page says no appointment is necessary. It does not list how results are delivered. It serves the Orlando area from Winter Park.

For more options, the local clinic list shows each site in one place.

Step 2: Ask these questions at check-in

Staff are used to these questions. Asking them is routine, and it saves you stress later.

How long will results take for the tests I am getting? Different tests have different timelines.
How will you share them: portal, text, call or in person?
Which number or email will you use? Confirm it is the right one and that it is private.
What happens if a result needs follow-up? Ask who will contact you and how.
Do I need to sign a consent form to get results by text or phone? The county clinic says text results need signed consent.

Write the answers down or save them in your phone before you leave.

Step 3: Understand the timing

The county STD clinic says its results take about one week. Other Orlando clinics do not publish a turnaround time. If a page does not list one, that is a reason to ask, not a sign of a problem.

Rapid HIV tests are the exception. The CDC says rapid HIV tests can return a result in about 30 minutes or less, but some results need a follow-up test. Miracle of Love, the county STD clinic and Planned Parenthood East Orlando are listed as offering rapid HIV testing. Confirm that a rapid test is offered on the day you plan to go.

Tests that are sent to a lab usually take longer than tests read in the clinic. Ask the clinic how it handles each one.

Step 4: Wait without guessing

Waiting is the hardest part for many people. A few things can help.

Keep your phone nearby and turned on, and check any voicemail.
Know the date you were told. If it passes, call the clinic instead of assuming.
Do not read meaning into silence. A delay can come from lab timing or a missed message.
Ask a clinician about testing too soon. The CDC publishes window periods for each infection. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test would be useful.

Step 5: Receive and use your results

When you hear back, ask the person to explain the result in plain words. A result tells you what a test found at that time. A clinician can explain what it means for you.

If a test is positive, a clinician can talk through next steps. The CDC says chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. Treatment is always something a clinician prescribes.

If a test is negative, ask whether any test should be repeated and when. Do not assume a single negative covers every exposure.

Florida law also requires licensed practitioners and certified laboratories to report certain diseases to the Department of Health. This is under Fla. Stat. s. 381.0031(2) and Rule 64D-3.029, which lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Your clinician can explain what that means for your case.

Tips for a smoother experience

Go early at walk-in clinics. The county page says numbers are assigned quickly after opening.
Call before you go. Hours differ across some county pages. The county STD page lists Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch closure from 12 to 1 p.m. Call 407-858-1400 to confirm.
Ask about cost when you ask about results. The county clinic says fees start at $20 and up, with a sliding scale. The Center Orlando publishes prices on its testing page. Miracle of Love and Hope & Help list free testing.
Know your privacy rights if you are a minor. Under Fla. Stat. s. 384.30, a parent's consent is not required for STD examination or treatment. The fact of a minor's visit is confidential, and it may not be shared, for example by sending a bill to a parent or guardian.
Save the clinic's number. You will want it if you do not hear back.

Common mistakes to avoid

Giving a number you do not check. Missed texts and calls cause most delays.
Skipping the consent form. Without signed consent, the county clinic cannot send coded text results.
Treating no news as a result. Always confirm directly with the clinic.
Assuming every clinic offers every test. Miracle of Love's Test and Treat page says it does not perform gonorrhea or chlamydia swabs and points those tests to the Department of Health. Confirm which tests are done on site.
Going without ID. The county clinic requires a picture ID.
Waiting to ask questions until you are upset. Ask them at check-in.

What to expect

Many people hear back within about a week for lab-based tests, although timing may vary by clinic and by test. Rapid HIV tests may give a result during the same visit. Some people find that results arrive sooner or later than they were told, and a call to the clinic usually clears it up.

Whatever the result, you can ask the clinic about the next step. The county health department, Miracle of Love, Hope & Help and AHF Healthcare Center all list treatment or prevention services. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County also links to a PrEP and PEP locator through its Area 7 HIV/AIDS Program page.

Quick recap

Choose a clinic with your result method in mind.
Ask how and when results will reach you.
Give a private number and sign any consent needed.
Know the date, and call if it passes.
Ask for the result to be explained, and ask about repeat testing.

Wondering how long it takes to get STD test results in Orlando? Ask at the visit. The question is common, and clinic staff can answer it.

How Orlando Clinics Deliver STD Test Results: Portal, Phone or In Person