Private MD Labs review
Private MD Labs has offered direct-to-consumer testing since 2005 — one of the oldest in the category. You order online (paying just $1 upfront as a first-timer, with the balance charged when results post), then test at a Quest or Labcorp center. Its STD checkups bundle in a CBC and metabolic panel for extra health context, and it's one of the few with a 90-day money-back guarantee. The trade-offs are slower full results and a pricier top panel. Here's our full review.
Check prices at Private MD LabsEasySTD may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rating, the cons we list, or which services we recommend.
- Our rating
- 3.9/5
- $1 upfront; money-back guarantee
- Results
- 1–7 days
- next-day first results
- Lab network
- ~4,000
- Quest & Labcorp
- Essential checkup
- $273
- Full checkup $444
Our verdict
Is Private MD Labs worth it?
Private MD Labs is a veteran direct-to-consumer lab service with two genuinely unusual perks: first-timers pay just $1 upfront (the balance is charged when results post), and it offers a 90-day money-back guarantee that's rare in this space. It uses both Quest and Labcorp, and its STD checkups throw in a CBC and metabolic panel for broader health context. The downsides: complete results can take up to 7 business days, the Full STD Checkup ($444) is the priciest panel among the lab resellers and requires 12-hour fasting, and there's no consult or treatment on a positive. A solid choice for low-commitment, comprehensive testing.
Check prices at Private MD Labs$1 upfront for first-time customers; 90-day money-back guarantee
The full review
Private MD Labs in depth
Our hands-on take on what Private MD Labs gets right, where it falls short, and how it stacks up.
The $1-upfront model, explained
Two perks set Private MD Labs apart from the other Quest-and-Labcorp resellers. First-time customers pay just $1 to place an order, with the balance charged automatically once results post — so you're not fronting the full cost before you've seen anything. Second, it backs orders with a 90-day money-back guarantee that's genuinely rare in this category. Together they make it a low-commitment entry point, especially for a first-time direct-to-consumer buyer testing the waters. Returning customers pay the full price upfront.
Comprehensive, but slower and pricier
The STD checkups bundle in a CBC and metabolic panel at no extra charge, giving broader health context than a bare STD screen. That breadth has costs, though: complete results can take up to 7 business days, the Full STD Checkup runs $444 — the priciest panel among the lab resellers — and it requires a 12-hour fast. If you want the same Quest-or-Labcorp choice but faster turnaround and a price match, the HealthLabs review is worth comparing; Walk-In Lab covers cheaper à la carte testing.
Who should pick it (and who shouldn't)
Pick Private MD Labs for low upfront commitment, a money-back guarantee, and a checkup that doubles as a broader bloodwork snapshot. Skip it if you need fast complete results, want the cheapest full panel, can't fast for 12 hours, or need treatment on a positive — there's no consult, so you'd see your own provider. Our provider reviews place it against the rest of the field.
How it scores
Private MD Labs rated by category
We score every service on the things that actually matter, then weight them into one overall rating.
Overall · out of 5
Accuracy
4.8/5Runs through Quest and Labcorp — clinical-grade assays.
Low commitment
4.5/5$1 upfront for first-timers, plus a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Lab choice
4.5/5Both Quest and Labcorp, ~4,000 locations.
Extra context
4.2/5STD checkups bundle in a CBC and metabolic panel at no extra charge.
Speed
3.4/5First results next day, but complete results can take up to 7 business days.
Value & care
3.4/5Full checkup ($444) is the priciest reseller panel and requires fasting; no consult on a positive.
Is it right for you?
Who Private MD Labs is — and isn't — for
Choose Private MD Labs if…
- You want minimal upfront commitment ($1 to start as a first-timer)
- You want a money-back guarantee
- You want both Quest and Labcorp options
- You'd value extra health context (CBC + metabolic panel) with your STD test
- You're a first-time direct-to-consumer lab buyer
Look elsewhere if…
- You need fast complete results (the full panel can take 7 days)
- You want the cheapest full panel — its Full Checkup is $444
- You can't fast for 12 hours (required for the Full Checkup)
- You want treatment or a consult on a positive
The honest take
Private MD Labs pros & cons
Pros
- $1-upfront model for first-timers — pay the balance only when results post
- 90-day money-back guarantee (rare in this category)
- Both Quest and Labcorp — ~4,000 locations
- STD checkups include a CBC and metabolic panel for extra health context
- Established since 2005 — the longest track record of the lab resellers
Cons
- Complete results can take up to 7 business days
- The Full STD Checkup ($444) is the priciest reseller panel and needs 12-hour fasting
- $1 intro pricing is first-time only — returning customers pay full price
- No consult or prescription on a positive — see your own provider
- Self-pay only — no insurance billing
Step by step
How Private MD Labs works
-
1
Order online
Pick a checkup; first-time customers pay just $1 now, with the balance charged when your first results are ready.
-
2
Visit a lab
Book a Quest or Labcorp visit (under 10 minutes) for a blood draw and/or urine sample. Fast 12 hours before the Full Checkup.
-
3
First results next day
Initial results can post as soon as the next day; the complete set follows within about 7 business days.
-
4
Review & follow up
View results in your secure dashboard (email/SMS alerts); take any positive to your own provider for treatment.
What it costs
Private MD Labs pricing
Self-pay; HSA/FSA accepted. First-timers pay $1 upfront with the balance charged when results post; 90-day money-back guarantee.
Essential STD Checkup
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV (4th-gen), syphilis and HSV-2, plus a CBC and urinalysis
Full STD Checkup
Adds herpes HSV-1, hepatitis B & C and a comprehensive metabolic panel (12-hour fast required)
Screens for
- HIV
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Herpes HSV-1
- Herpes HSV-2
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
Before you buy
Private MD Labs: the fine print
- Sample collection
- Blood draw and/or urine at a Quest or Labcorp lab
- Insurance & payment
- Self-pay; HSA/FSA accepted
- Doctor consult
- No bundled consult or prescription — take a positive to your own provider
- Privacy
- HIPAA-compliant; secure portal; results not shared with insurers
Good to Know
Private MD Labs review FAQs
Common questions about Private MD Labs — cost, accuracy, results and how it works.
How does the $1 upfront pricing work?
First-time customers pay $1 when they order; the remaining balance is automatically charged once your first results are ready. Returning customers pay the full price upfront.
How much does Private MD Labs cost?
The Essential STD Checkup is $273 and the Full STD Checkup is $444 (which adds hepatitis, HSV-1 and a metabolic panel). Both bundle in extra bloodwork. It's self-pay, with HSA/FSA accepted and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Do I need to fast?
The Essential Checkup doesn't require fasting. The Full STD Checkup needs a 12-hour fast (and no biotin for 72 hours) because it includes a comprehensive metabolic panel.
How fast are results?
First results can appear as soon as the next day, but the complete set — especially for the Full Checkup — can take up to 7 business days.
Does Private MD Labs treat positives?
No — it's a testing service only. There's no consult or prescription, so you'd take a positive result to your own provider or a telehealth service for treatment.
Which labs can I use?
Both Quest and Labcorp — roughly 4,000 locations combined. You choose at checkout.
Editorial standards
Medically reviewed · Updated
Reviewed by Jordan Vance, Lead Reviews Editor · Independent testing & product reviews
Evaluates at-home and lab STD-testing services hands-on against a fixed rubric — accuracy & lab credentials, price, privacy, turnaround and support — and discloses every affiliate relationship. Reviews are editorial, not medical advice; clinical claims are checked by our medical team.
3 Sources
Provider
- Private MD Labs — STD testing https://www.privatemdlabs.com/lab_tests.php?view=category&category=12
- Private MD Labs — official site https://www.privatemdlabs.com/
Clinical guidance
- CDC — STI screening recommendations https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm
See how we review STD testing services — the categories we score, how we verify pricing, and why our affiliate links never change a rating.
Compare
How Private MD Labs compares
Private MD Labs versus the other STD testing services we've reviewed, side by side.
| Service | Our rating | Type | Results | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private MD LabsThis review | 3.9 | Lab visit | First results next day; complete results up to 7 business days | Low upfront cost & money-back | You're here |
| MISTR | 4.5 | Clinic & treat | Provider-coordinated; medication ships after labs clear | Free PrEP & DoxyPEP, no in-person visit | Read review |
| LetsGetChecked | 4.3 | At-home kit | 2–5 days after the lab receives your sample | Best overall at-home kit | Read review |
| STDcheck | 4.3 | Lab visit | 1–2 days (secure online portal) | Fastest results & widest lab network | Read review |
| Priority STD Testing | 4.2 | Lab visit | 24–72 hours via secure online portal | Same-day testing with treatment | Read review |
| Q Care Plus | 4.2 | Clinic & treat | Provider-coordinated; first scripts/kits shipped after the visit | PrEP with built-in STI testing & treatment | Read review |
| Visby Medical | 4.2 | At-home kit | About 30 minutes, read in the app | Fastest at-home result (30 min) | Read review |
| Walk-In Lab | 4.2 | Lab visit | 1–2 days (single tests); 3–5 days (panels) | Widest test catalog & lab choice | Read review |
| HealthLabs | 4.1 | Lab visit | 1–3 days (HIV RNA early detection 2–4 days) | Price match & broadest panels | Read review |
| Labcorp | 4.1 | Lab + at-home | 1–4 days (lab) or 15–30 minutes (at-home rapid kits) | Big-lab testing, in person or at home | Read review |
| CVS MinuteClinic | 4.0 | Clinic & treat | Rapid for some tests in-clinic; send-out lab results typically a few days | In-person evaluate & treat | Read review |
| FOLX Health | 4.0 | Clinic & treat | Up to about 5 business days for Quest lab results | LGBTQ+-affirming sexual health | Read review |
| myLAB Box | 4.0 | At-home kit | 2–5 days after the lab receives your sample | Widest at-home panel & couples kits | Read review |
| Personalabs | 4.0 | Lab visit | 24–48 hours via secure online portal | Physician-backed ordering | Read review |
| Quest Diagnostics | 4.0 | Lab + at-home | 2–5 days via the MyQuest app/portal | The national lab itself | Read review |
| Sesame | 4.0 | Lab visit | Often under 24 hours from collection | Transparent cash-pay labs | Read review |
| Ulta Lab Tests | 4.0 | Lab visit | 24–48 hours via secure online portal | Quest catalog breadth | Read review |
| Wisp | 4.0 | At-home kit | 3–5 days after the lab receives your sample | Test and treat in one place | Read review |
| Any Lab Test Now | 3.9 | Lab visit | 3–5 business days after collection | Walk-in storefront testing | Read review |
| PlushCare | 3.9 | Clinic & treat | 1–5 business days, with doctor follow-up | Virtual doctor visit + treatment | Read review |
| Request A Test | 3.8 | Lab visit | Typically 1–3 business days via a secure online account | Established low-cost lab ordering | Read review |
| Rapid STD Testing | 3.7 | Lab visit | 1–2 business days via secure online portal | Concierge testing with treatment | Read review |
| DirectLabs | 3.6 | Lab visit | 24–48 business hours via the MyDLS portal | Cheap individual tests | Read review |
| Everlywell | 3.6 | At-home kit | About 5–7 days after the lab receives your sample | Retail pickup & wellness range | Read review |
| Nurx | 3.5 | At-home kit | About 7 business days after the lab receives your sample | Billing insurance for an at-home kit | Read review |
Private MD LabsThis review
3.9- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- First results next day; complete results up to 7 business days
- Best for
- Low upfront cost & money-back
MISTR
4.5- Type
- Clinic & treat
- Results
- Provider-coordinated; medication ships after labs clear
- Best for
- Free PrEP & DoxyPEP, no in-person visit
LetsGetChecked
4.3- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- 2–5 days after the lab receives your sample
- Best for
- Best overall at-home kit
STDcheck
4.3- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 1–2 days (secure online portal)
- Best for
- Fastest results & widest lab network
Priority STD Testing
4.2- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 24–72 hours via secure online portal
- Best for
- Same-day testing with treatment
Q Care Plus
4.2- Type
- Clinic & treat
- Results
- Provider-coordinated; first scripts/kits shipped after the visit
- Best for
- PrEP with built-in STI testing & treatment
Visby Medical
4.2- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- About 30 minutes, read in the app
- Best for
- Fastest at-home result (30 min)
Walk-In Lab
4.2- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 1–2 days (single tests); 3–5 days (panels)
- Best for
- Widest test catalog & lab choice
HealthLabs
4.1- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 1–3 days (HIV RNA early detection 2–4 days)
- Best for
- Price match & broadest panels
Labcorp
4.1- Type
- Lab + at-home
- Results
- 1–4 days (lab) or 15–30 minutes (at-home rapid kits)
- Best for
- Big-lab testing, in person or at home
CVS MinuteClinic
4.0- Type
- Clinic & treat
- Results
- Rapid for some tests in-clinic; send-out lab results typically a few days
- Best for
- In-person evaluate & treat
FOLX Health
4.0- Type
- Clinic & treat
- Results
- Up to about 5 business days for Quest lab results
- Best for
- LGBTQ+-affirming sexual health
myLAB Box
4.0- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- 2–5 days after the lab receives your sample
- Best for
- Widest at-home panel & couples kits
Personalabs
4.0- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 24–48 hours via secure online portal
- Best for
- Physician-backed ordering
Quest Diagnostics
4.0- Type
- Lab + at-home
- Results
- 2–5 days via the MyQuest app/portal
- Best for
- The national lab itself
Sesame
4.0- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- Often under 24 hours from collection
- Best for
- Transparent cash-pay labs
Ulta Lab Tests
4.0- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 24–48 hours via secure online portal
- Best for
- Quest catalog breadth
Wisp
4.0- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- 3–5 days after the lab receives your sample
- Best for
- Test and treat in one place
Any Lab Test Now
3.9- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 3–5 business days after collection
- Best for
- Walk-in storefront testing
PlushCare
3.9- Type
- Clinic & treat
- Results
- 1–5 business days, with doctor follow-up
- Best for
- Virtual doctor visit + treatment
Request A Test
3.8- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- Typically 1–3 business days via a secure online account
- Best for
- Established low-cost lab ordering
Rapid STD Testing
3.7- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 1–2 business days via secure online portal
- Best for
- Concierge testing with treatment
DirectLabs
3.6- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- 24–48 business hours via the MyDLS portal
- Best for
- Cheap individual tests
Everlywell
3.6- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- About 5–7 days after the lab receives your sample
- Best for
- Retail pickup & wellness range
Nurx
3.5- Type
- At-home kit
- Results
- About 7 business days after the lab receives your sample
- Best for
- Billing insurance for an at-home kit
Top alternatives to Private MD Labs
If Private MD Labs isn't quite right, these are the closest options we'd point you to instead.
Want faster results and a price match on the same labs? HealthLabs returns results in 1–3 days.
Want cheaper à la carte tests? Walk-In Lab also offers both Quest and Labcorp.