The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) launched the Self-Collect Testing program in 2026 as a way for Texans to test for HIV and STDs without going to a clinic. The program allows people to place orders for test kits through testfortexas.org and have kits delivered to an address of their choosing.

From there, clients can test for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis from the comfort of their own home. Once they have collected a sample, clients can mail the sample back to our lab via USPS. Both the inbound and outbound packages are discreet, so clients do not have to worry about potentially disclosing their status.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announces Pfizer’s recently updated estimated recovery of the Bicillin® L-A shortage to the 4th quarter of 2026. DSHS anticipates the next delivery of Bicillin® L-A 1.2 MU and 2.4 MU prefilled syringes in July 2026. Visit the Bicillin® L‑A shortage webpage for the latest updates and additional resources: dshs.texas.gov/hivstd/healthcare/bicillin.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is proud to announce the release of the Texas Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan, a statewide strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public-health threat. This new plan outlines a coordinated approach to reduce new infections by 90 percent and reduce hepatitis-related deaths by 65 percent. Guided by a vision of a hepatitis-free Texas, the plan focuses on prevention, testing, treatment, and education.