How much does an STI test cost in Cairns?

$39 covers consultation and referral. Pathology tests are bulk-billed with Medicare at QML or Sullivan Nicolaides labs in Cairns.

Do I need an appointment at a Cairns pathology lab?

No. Walk in with your SMS referral. Most QML or Sullivan Nicolaides locations open Monday to Saturday.

Is STI testing confidential in Cairns?

Yes. Results sent directly by SMS. We do not notify your GP, employer, or insurer.

Is online STI testing cheaper than a Cairns GP?

Typically yes. A GP visit costs $40-$80. Clinic365 covers 5 infections for $39 with a Specialist GP review.

What if my STI test is positive in Cairns?

A Specialist GP arranges treatment by telehealth ($59). Prescriptions sent to your nearest Cairns pharmacy.

Is there a free sexual health clinic in Cairns?

The Cairns Sexual Health offers free testing but with limited hours. Clinic365 is an immediate alternative.

How long after sex should I wait to get tested?

Chlamydia/gonorrhoea: 2 weeks. Syphilis: 4 weeks. HIV: 2-6 weeks.

Can you have an STI without symptoms?

Yes. 75% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia are symptom-free. Routine screening is recommended in Queensland.

Online STI screen — full 5-infection test from $39

STI Test Cairns

Q: What does a full STI screen test for?

Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B from a single blood test and urine sample at QML or Sullivan Nicolaides labs.

$39 no additional costs for the tests themselves with Medicare

Get your full STI/STD screen in Cairns — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis from a single pathology visit. Walk into any local pathology lab across Cairns. No appointment, no referral from your GP needed.

Any pathology lab across Cairns

No appointment needed — walk in

Most results within 24 hours

Specialist GP reviews every referral and result

Completely confidential

Collection Urine sample (chlamydia + gonorrhoea PCR) + blood test (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis) at any pathology clinic. Optional self-collect throat, vaginal, and rectal swabs.

Get Tested — $39 →

You will receive a pathology referral by SMS. Take it to any pathology clinic.

How it works in Cairns. Three simple steps from your phone.

Easier than ordering coffee. 2 minutes to order. 10 minutes at a Cairns pathology lab. Done.

Order online

Order your Cairns STI test online — complete a short 2-minute questionnaire from your phone. Your pathology referral is sent straight to you by SMS. No appointment needed at any Cairns lab.

Australia-wide pathology collection locations across Australia

Visit any pathology clinic

Walk into any pathology lab across Cairns or Far North Queensland. Blood test, urine sample, and optional self-collect swabs. No appointment needed.

Find your nearest clinic →

Phone showing STI test results from your Specialist GP

Results by SMS

Most results within 24 hours by SMS. Occasionally up to 3 days. No results after 3 days? Use our results enquiry form and we will chase them up urgently. Tested positive? Our Specialist GP will contact you to arrange treatment over the phone.

STI testing in Cairns — what you need to know

Looking for an STI test in Cairns? Clinic365 offers online STI/STD screening from $39 — order from your phone and walk into any pathology collection centre across Cairns. No GP appointment needed. Your nearest options include labs in the CBD, Edge Hill, Smithfield, Earlville, Mooroobool, and surrounding Far North Queensland areas including Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands. Most results are sent by SMS within 24 hours and reviewed by a Specialist GP.

Far North Queensland — including the Cairns region — records some of the highest STI rates in Australia. The combination of a transient tourist population, remote communities, and tropical climate contributes to elevated notification rates for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis.

Cairns pathology providers — you can use your Clinic365 referral at any of the major pathology networks in Cairns. The largest providers include QML Pathology (with collection centres in Cairns and surrounding areas), Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (with centres in central Cairns), and Cairns Hospital pathology. Most centres accept walk-ins Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings — no appointment needed.

Cairns serves as the pathology hub for Far North Queensland, with labs in the CBD and surrounding suburbs. You complete a 2-minute online questionnaire, receive a pathology referral by SMS, then walk into any Cairns collection centre. The visit takes about 10–20 minutes: a blood test for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis, plus a urine sample for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Optional self-collect throat, vaginal, and rectal swabs are also available at most labs.

If you are unsure where to go, use the Clinic365 pathology finder to locate your nearest collection centre in Cairns.

Most results are sent directly to you by SMS within 24 hours. If everything is negative, you receive a clear result message. If any test is positive, a Specialist GP contacts you directly to arrange treatment by telehealth — $59, no in-person visit needed. Most STIs are easily treated with a short course of antibiotics prescribed to your nearest Cairns pharmacy.

Author: Dr Ed Skinner

MBBS, FRACGP · Specialist GP · AHPRA · MED0001674680

Last reviewed: April 2026

Frequently asked questions

Walk into any QML or Sullivan Nicolaides collection centre in the CBD, Edge Hill, Smithfield, and Earlville with your Clinic365 SMS referral. No appointment needed. Most labs are open Monday to Saturday.

The Clinic365 online STI screen costs $39, which covers the consultation and referral. If you have a Medicare card, pathology tests are bulk-billed at no additional cost at any QML or Sullivan Nicolaides lab in Cairns.

No. Walk into any QML or Sullivan Nicolaides location in the CBD, Edge Hill, Smithfield, and Earlville with your SMS referral. No booking needed at most locations.

Yes. Results go directly to you by SMS. We do not notify your GP, employer, or insurer. At the pathology lab, STI tests are processed like any other blood test — staff don't know which tests are ordered.

Typically yes. A GP visit in Cairns costs $40–$80 and may not include all five infections. The $39 Clinic365 screen covers chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis — reviewed by a Specialist GP.

Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B — from a single blood test and urine sample. Optional self-collect throat, vaginal, and rectal swabs are also available at QML or Sullivan Nicolaides labs.

A Specialist GP contacts you directly to arrange treatment by telehealth ($59). Prescriptions are sent to your nearest Cairns pharmacy. Most STIs are treated with a short course of antibiotics.

The Cairns Sexual Health offers free testing but often has limited hours and wait times. Clinic365 is an immediate alternative — order online, walk into any lab, most results within 24 hours.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: 2 weeks. Syphilis: 4 weeks. HIV: 2–6 weeks. Testing too early may give a false negative — your Specialist GP can advise on retesting.

Yes. Around 75% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. Routine screening is recommended in Queensland for all sexually active people — don't rely on symptoms alone.