Methodology
Last updated: April 29, 2026
What this site is
STD Ally is an STI testing decision engine. We help you compare testing routes — cash-pay labs, at-home kits, free public clinics, and insurance-covered options — by cost, privacy, speed, and medical fit. We are not a clinic, not a telehealth provider, not a diagnosis tool. A licensed provider or lab handles the actual testing, results, and treatment.
How we rank
For any given user goal (lowest cost, most private, fastest results, at-home), we surface the option that best matches that goal — regardless of whether we earn a commission. Free public clinics and ACA-covered preventive screening always appear in the comparison even though we earn nothing from them.
Our ranking factors, in order of weight:
- Goal fit (matching your stated priority)
- Total out-of-pocket cost (cash-pay or copay)
- Privacy implications (insurance EOB, package trail, etc.)
- Result speed
- Clinical appropriateness for the stated context
- Provider reputation and accreditation
Affiliate payouts are not a ranking factor.
How we make money
When you click an outbound link marked aff and book a test through that provider, STD Ally may earn an affiliate commission. This costs you nothing extra.
We earn nothing from:
- ACA preventive screening recommendations
- Free public clinic referrals
- Direct visits to provider sites without our link
- Anyone reading our content without clicking a tracked link
Where our data comes from
We rely on primary sources only. Pricing and result-time figures are pulled from each provider’s public pages and verified on the date marked next to the figure. Clinical guidance comes from:
What we will not do
- Provide diagnosis, treatment, or personalized medical advice
- Promise that any test, payment route, or insurance step is “guaranteed” private or anonymous
- Collect or store test results, symptoms, or other PHI
- Run retargeting pixels on STI testing pages
- Generate AI city pages without manual review
- Recommend Doxy-PEP or PrEP outside the populations the CDC names in current guidance
When this changes
CDC guidance and provider pricing both change. We re-verify prices quarterly and update clinical pages whenever CDC or USPSTF publishes new guidance. The “Last verified” date next to each figure tells you when we last checked. If something looks off, email us at methodology@stdally.com.
Not medical advice
Nothing on this site is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for talking to a licensed clinician. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, see a healthcare provider.