This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Teens and parents often ask the same things. Can a minor get tested alone? Who finds out? Where do you go in Chicago?

The answers below come from Illinois law, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the clinics' own published pages. Where a detail is not published, we say so and point you to the people who can answer it.

Consent under Illinois law

Can minors get STD testing without parents in Illinois?

In many cases, yes. The Illinois Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act (410 ILCS 210/4) says a minor 12 years of age or older who may have come into contact with any sexually transmitted disease may consent to care related to prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. The Illinois General Assembly's statute states that parental consent is not necessary.

What does that consent cover?

The statute names prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Illinois Administrative Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693.130) restates the age-12 rule and adds vaccination against an STI. That can matter for vaccines such as HPV, which some Chicago clinics list as a service.

Does a teen have to be sure they were exposed?

No. The law's wording is that a minor "may have come into contact" with an STD. A teen does not need to be certain or to have a symptom to ask a clinician about testing.

What about children under 12?

The Illinois statute cited here sets the consent rule at age 12 and older. For a younger child, the sources we reviewed do not say how consent works. A parent or guardian can call CDPH or the child's pediatrician for guidance.

Does the law ever involve a minor's family?

Yes, in a limited way. The statute says providers shall, upon the minor's consent, make reasonable efforts to involve the family if they believe it will not be detrimental. A clinician may encourage a teen to bring in a trusted adult, but the law's wording ties that step to the teen's consent.

Confidentiality and what parents can see

Is STD testing confidential?

Clinics treat health information as private, but confidentiality has one legal limit. Illinois law (410 ILCS 210/4) requires each STD incident to be reported to public health. That report goes to the health department, which is a separate step from telling a family member.

Which infections are reported to the health department?

Under the Illinois Administrative Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693), AIDS, HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and chancroid are reportable. Health care professionals report within seven days of diagnosis or treatment. In Chicago, which has its own health department, reports go to CDPH.

Can parents see a teen's test results?

The Illinois statute says parental consent is not necessary, but the sources we reviewed do not spell out who can see records or results. Practices differ by clinic. Ask the clinic before the visit who can access the chart and how results are shared.

Could using a parent's insurance reveal the visit?

It can, because insurers may send statements to the person who holds the policy. None of the Illinois sources we reviewed address this, so ask both the clinic and the insurer before using a family plan. CDPH says it provides care regardless of ability to pay or insurance status, so you can ask about options that do not involve insurance.

How can a parent support a teen without prying?

Stay calm, and let the teen know that getting checked is a normal part of health care. Offer a ride or help finding a clinic, and let the teen decide how much to share. A teen who feels safe talking to you is more likely to get care.

Where teens can get tested in Chicago

Is there a clinic made for young people?

Yes. Broadway Youth Center, run by Howard Brown Health at 1023 W. Irving Park Road, is listed as a walk-in location, and Howard Brown's site describes youth services for ages 12 to 24. Howard Brown's walk-in page says no appointment is necessary and patients are seen first come, first served. The phone number is 773.388.1600.

What do the city's own clinics offer?

CDPH runs Sexual Health Specialty Clinics that list STI testing, HIV testing, PrEP, and treatment. They are at 2849 N. Clark St. (312.744.5507), 4909 W. Division St., Suite 411 (312.746.4871), and 200 E. 115th St. (312.747.1090). CDPH says to call for an appointment, that limited walk-ins are available, and that hours vary by site and should be verified by phone.

Is there a walk-in option on the West Side?

Cook County Health's Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, at 2020 W. Harrison St., has a walk-in STI Screening Clinic. Cook County Health says to call Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at 312-572-4700, and that same-day HIV and STI services are provided. Appointments go through the Access Line, 312-572-4500.

Does Planned Parenthood offer testing in Chicago?

CDC's GetTested locator lists the Planned Parenthood of Illinois Rogers Park Health Center at 5725 N Broadway, (773) 942-7193, for STI and HIV testing. The listing says an appointment is required and that hours may change, so confirm with the center.

What does testing cost for a minor?

Prices are not published for every site. Howard Brown describes its walk-in clinic as low-cost and offers a Sliding Fee Discount Program based on income and family size. CDC GetTested lists a sliding scale at the CORE Center. CDPH does not say its visits are free, only that care is provided regardless of ability to pay, so ask when you call. Our guide to testing in Chicago and what it costs compares more options.

Are there school-based clinics that test for STIs?

We could not confirm a school-based site in Chicago that offers STI testing, so this page does not list one. A school nurse or counselor may know what is available. CDPH's sexual health page is another place to check.

How else can a teen find a testing site?

The CDC's GetTested locator at gettested.cdc.gov lets you look up sites by ZIP code. The Illinois HIV/STD Hotline, 1-800-243-2437, is listed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Either one can help you find a site that fits your schedule.

Is a free home HIV test available to teens?

Erie Family Health Centers offers a free rapid HIV test kit by online request or by phone at 312-386-6344. It is for Illinois residents age 17 or older and tests for HIV only, not other STIs. The sources we reviewed list no state or city mail-order program for home STI tests.

Results, treatment, and next steps

What happens if a test comes back positive?

A clinician explains the result and the next steps. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes, and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with a clinician's care.

Can a teen's partner get treatment too?

Sometimes. CDC's Legal Status of EPT in Illinois page says expedited partner therapy is permissible for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. The state statute limits it to partners exposed within the previous 60 days. It does not cover syphilis, so a partner may need to see a clinician directly.

Do prevention options like PrEP and doxy-PEP exist locally?

Howard Brown lists PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP, with DoxyPEP offered by appointment. CDPH's sexual health clinics offer PrEP by appointment. Whether a particular minor qualifies is a clinician's call, so ask the clinic directly.

Are there special rules for pregnant teens?

Illinois law (410 ILCS 320/1) requires syphilis testing at the first prenatal exam and again in the third trimester, between 27 and 32 weeks. It does not apply to a woman who objects on religious grounds. Any pregnant person can ask their prenatal provider how this works.

Does Illinois have an HIV-specific criminal law?

The Illinois General Assembly repealed the state's HIV-specific criminal transmission statute (720 ILCS 5/12-5.01) through Public Act 102-168, effective July 27, 2021. Getting tested does not put a teen at legal risk from that former law. A clinician can explain the current rules.

STD Testing for Teens and Minors in Illinois: Consent and Confidentiality