Same-day and walk-in STI testing: what's actually available

Yes — you can get an STI test today. With Clinic365 you book online, have a quick phone consult with a Specialist GP, and then walk into any pathology lab to give your sample. No appointment at the lab, no fasting, and no clinic visit to book. Here's exactly how same-day and walk-in testing works, wherever you are in Australia.

Can you get an STI test the same day?

Yes. Same-day STI testing is straightforward in Australia, and with Clinic365 it usually looks like this: you book a consult online, a Specialist GP calls you the same day, and you're sent a pathology referral you can use straight away. You then walk into any pathology collection centre to give your sample — no appointment needed. For Medicare card holders, the consult and the tests are bulk-billed.

How same-day testing works with Clinic365

The whole thing is built to happen in a single day:

• Book online. It takes a minute, any day from 8am to 8pm.
• Phone consult. A Specialist GP calls you and works out exactly what to test for¹ — no waiting room, no in-person appointment.
• Referral by SMS. Your pathology referral is sent straight to your phone.
• Walk into any lab. Turn up at a pathology collection centre and give a urine sample or a quick blood test.³
• Results by SMS. Usually within 3 to 5 days — here's how long STI results take.

No appointment, no fasting — just turn up

Two things people always ask:

• Do I need to book the lab? No. Pathology collection centres take walk-ins — you simply turn up with your referral (on your phone is fine) during opening hours.
• Do I need to fast? No. STI testing doesn't require fasting, so you can go whenever suits — before or after work or study.

Clinic365 is registered with the major pathology networks, so your referral works at collection centres right across the country. That's what makes "walk-in" testing possible almost anywhere: you're not tied to one clinic's opening hours or location.

Walk-in testing in your city

Because you can use any pathology lab, walk-in STI testing is available wherever you are — there are collection centres in every capital city and most towns. If you're searching for a same-day or walk-in option in a particular city, start here:

• STI testing in Sydney — book in the morning and give your sample at a nearby collection centre the same day.
• STI testing in Melbourne
• STI testing in Brisbane
• STI testing in Perth

Wherever you are, the model is the same: a phone consult, then walk into the nearest lab.

Do I need a referral to walk in?

Pathology labs are walk-in for collection, but they do need a referral to run your tests — they can't test you without one. That's exactly what the quick phone consult is for: it gives you a valid pathology referral and makes sure you're testing for the right things. With Clinic365 that consult happens the same day by phone, so you can have your referral within the hour and walk straight into a lab. You don't need to see anyone in person to get one.

What to expect at the collection centre

Giving your sample is quick and low-key. At most pathology centres you take a number, hand over your referral, and are seen within a few minutes. Depending on what you're testing for, you'll provide a urine sample in a private bathroom, a self-collected swab, or a small blood sample — usually all done inside 10 minutes. Staff do this all day, every day; there's nothing to explain and no awkward questions. Then you head off, and your results come to you by SMS.

Results, and when not to wait

Once your sample is processed, your results come back by SMS, usually within 3 to 5 days, reviewed by a Specialist GP. If anything needs treating, we sort it — often with an eScript to your phone.

Same-day testing is ideal if you've had a possible exposure and want peace of mind.² But if you have severe pain, a fever, or you feel very unwell, don't wait for a routine test — see a doctor promptly, and in an emergency call 000.

Same-day STI testing FAQs

Can I get an STI test without an appointment?

Yes. You don't book the lab — you book a phone consult with Clinic365, get a referral, then walk into any collection centre during opening hours. The consult itself is same-day.

Do I need to fast before an STI test?

No. STI testing, including the blood tests for HIV and syphilis, doesn't require fasting. You can go any time that suits.

Is same-day testing bulk-billed?

For Medicare card holders, yes — the consult and the standard tests are bulk-billed, so there's no cost to you. Here's more on what STI testing costs.