Request A Test review
Request A Test is one of the longer-running direct-to-consumer lab services. You order STD tests online with no doctor's appointment, then give your sample at either a Quest or Labcorp center, and view results in your secure account. Its appeal is straightforward: a broad à la carte catalog at low prices, with the flexibility to use whichever national lab is closer. It's testing-only — there's no treatment on a positive. Here's our full review.
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- Our rating
- 3.8/5
- established; lab choice
- Results
- 1–3 days
- secure online account
- Lab network
- Quest + Labcorp
- thousands of sites
- Ordering
- No doctor
- self-pay
Our verdict
Is Request A Test worth it?
Request A Test is a dependable, no-frills lab-ordering service that's been around since the early 2000s. Like its peers, it issues the physician order for you, lets you choose between Quest and Labcorp, and posts results to a secure account in 1–3 days — with self-pay keeping everything off your insurance. Its draw is a broad à la carte catalog at competitive prices. The limits mirror the category: it's testing-only (no consult or treatment on a positive), and because its site doesn't expose pricing to public tools, you should confirm the current price on its site before ordering. A solid, low-cost option, though better-documented services like Walk-In Lab and HealthLabs are easier to compare.
Check prices at Request A TestThe full review
Request A Test in depth
Our hands-on take on what Request A Test gets right, where it falls short, and how it stacks up.
Two national labs, one low-cost catalog
Request A Test has been a direct-to-consumer lab service since the early 2000s, and that longevity shows in the basics: it issues the physician order for you, lets you pick between Quest and Labcorp at checkout, and posts confidential results to a secure account in 1–3 business days. Running through those two networks means the same CLIA-certified labs hospitals use, plus thousands of nearby collection sites. Its real draw is a broad à la carte catalog at competitive, self-pay prices that keep everything off your insurance record. For the wider category context, our cost guide shows where these direct-access labs sit.
Why it lands at 3.8, not higher
The limits here mirror the whole direct-access category. It's testing-only — there's no consult or prescription on a positive, so you'd take a result to your own provider or a telehealth service. And because its site doesn't expose pricing to comparison tools, you have to confirm the current price on the site before ordering, with thinner third-party review documentation than category leaders. If you want the same Quest/Labcorp flexibility with prices clearly published, Walk-In Lab lists everything, and Walk-In Lab vs HealthLabs compares the two best-documented alternatives head to head.
How it scores
Request A Test 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 — the same clinical labs hospitals use.
Lab choice
4.6/5Use whichever of the two national networks is closer to you.
Speed
4.3/5Results typically post in 1–3 business days.
Track record
4.2/5An established, long-running direct-to-consumer lab service.
Value
4.0/5Competitive à la carte pricing — but confirm current prices on the site.
Care on positive
3.2/5Testing only — no consult or prescription on a positive.
Is it right for you?
Who Request A Test is — and isn't — for
Choose Request A Test if…
- You want to choose between Quest and Labcorp
- You want straightforward à la carte test ordering
- You want fast results without a doctor's appointment
- You prefer an established, long-running service
- You're comfortable seeking treatment elsewhere if positive
Look elsewhere if…
- You want a consult or treatment bundled in
- You want extensive recent reviews and published prices before ordering
- You'd rather test at home
- You want to bill insurance (it's self-pay)
The honest take
Request A Test pros & cons
Pros
- Choice of Quest or Labcorp — thousands of locations between them
- Broad à la carte catalog at competitive prices
- No doctor's appointment — the physician order is provided for you
- Fast results (1–3 days) to a secure online account
- Self-pay keeps results off your insurance record
Cons
- Testing only — no consult or prescription on a positive
- Pricing isn't exposed to comparison tools — confirm current prices on the site
- Self-pay only — no insurance billing
- Less third-party review documentation than category leaders
- Likely the same state-access limits as other direct-access lab services
Step by step
How Request A Test works
-
1
Order online
Choose individual tests or a panel — no doctor or insurance needed; the requisition is issued for you.
-
2
Pick a lab
Select a nearby Quest or Labcorp center at checkout.
-
3
Give your sample
Walk in for a quick blood draw and/or urine sample.
-
4
View results
Confidential results post to your secure account, typically in 1–3 days; take a positive to your own provider.
What it costs
Request A Test pricing
Self-pay; HSA/FSA generally accepted. Request A Test is known for low à la carte pricing, but confirm the current price for each test or panel on its site before ordering.
Screens for
- HIV
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Herpes HSV-1
- Herpes HSV-2
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Trichomoniasis
Before you buy
Request A Test: the fine print
- Sample collection
- Blood draw and/or urine at a Quest or Labcorp center
- Insurance & payment
- Self-pay; HSA/FSA generally accepted
- Doctor consult
- Testing only — no consult or prescription on a positive
- Privacy
- Self-pay keeps results off insurance; results in a private account
Good to Know
Request A Test review FAQs
Common questions about Request A Test — cost, accuracy, results and how it works.
Is Request A Test legitimate?
Yes. Request A Test is a long-running direct-to-consumer lab service that routes tests through Quest and Labcorp — the same CLIA-certified labs clinics use — and issues the physician order on your behalf.
How much does Request A Test cost?
It's known for low à la carte pricing, but because its site doesn't expose prices to comparison tools, you should confirm the current cost for the specific test or panel on its website. It's self-pay, with HSA/FSA generally accepted.
Can I choose Quest or Labcorp?
Yes — you select the lab network at checkout, so you can use whichever of the thousands of Quest or Labcorp locations is closest.
How fast are results?
Results typically post to your secure online account within 1–3 business days.
Does Request A Test treat positives?
No — it's a testing service. There's no bundled consult or prescription, so you'd take a positive result to your own provider or a telehealth service.
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.
2 Sources
Provider
- Request A Test — official site https://www.requestatest.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 Request A Test compares
Request A Test versus the other STD testing services we've reviewed, side by side.
| Service | Our rating | Type | Results | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Request A TestThis review | 3.8 | Lab visit | Typically 1–3 business days via a secure online account | Established low-cost lab ordering | 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 |
| Private MD Labs | 3.9 | Lab visit | First results next day; complete results up to 7 business days | Low upfront cost & money-back | 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 |
Request A TestThis review
3.8- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- Typically 1–3 business days via a secure online account
- Best for
- Established low-cost lab ordering
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
Private MD Labs
3.9- Type
- Lab visit
- Results
- First results next day; complete results up to 7 business days
- Best for
- Low upfront cost & money-back
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 Request A Test
If Request A Test isn't quite right, these are the closest options we'd point you to instead.
Want the same Quest/Labcorp flexibility with clearly published prices? Walk-In Lab lists everything.
Want both networks plus a 110% price match and fast results? HealthLabs is a strong pick.