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STD Testing in Madison, WI: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

In Dane County, reported syphilis runs about 64% lower than the US average. If you've had a recent risk or simply test on a regular schedule in Madison, Wisconsin, you have two main options: visiting a clinic lets a provider answer questions and start treatment, while an at-home kit lets you collect a sample on your own schedule and mail it in. We list both options below.

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  • Clinics, labs & at-home kits compared
  • Free & low-cost options included
  • Backed by CDC, CMS & Census data
  • Editorially reviewed

Available testing centers

STD testing near Madison, WI

12 testing options are listed for Madison, WI. The nearest, UnityPoint Health, is about 0.8 miles away. Compare community and public clinics, private labs, and at-home kits below.

How to read these listings

Listings tagged Community health center are federally funded health centers and rural clinics that treat everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay: required to bill on a sliding fee scale and provide confidential care, and in many states minors may consent to their own STI testing. A Title X tag flags centers funded for confidential family-planning services; confirm current participation when you call.

Source: CMS FQHC & Rural Health Clinic enrollment files (data.cms.gov), refreshed quarterly. Title X status reflects the latest OPA grantee list.

Premium Partner
Labcorp

Labcorp

Most popular Results in 1–2 days
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Review sources

  • Google185
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 190 reviews

Address
2102 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704 4.4 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Premium Partner

ACL Laboratories

Results in 1–2 days
No ratings yet

Address
36500 Aurora Drive, Summit, WI 53066 46.7 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Closest to you 0.8 miles

UnityPoint Health

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Review sources

  • Google28
  • EasySTD3
Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 31 reviews

UnityPoint Health in Madison requires an appointment, so booking ahead unlocks the full visit: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing, same-visit treatment for bacterial infections, and HPV and hepatitis A and B vaccines: all on a sliding-scale fee accepted alongside Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale PrEP
Address
345 West Washington Avenue, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 1.0 miles

Vivent Health

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Review sources

  • Google40
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 45 reviews

Vivent Health in Madison runs entirely on a no-fee model: HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis A, B, and C testing are free, with sliding-scale fees and Medicaid and private insurance accepted for broader care; appointments are required, and bacterial STIs are treated the same visit.

Read full overview

Every Service Billed at Zero Dollars

Vivent Health's no-fee model is operationalized through a layered funding structure: Ryan White Program dollars, Title X-equivalent grants, and Medicaid reimbursement collectively absorb costs so that the billing desk never produces a balance for STI testing or HIV services. No means-testing interview stands between the door and the lab.

Spanish-Language Care Is Staffed, Not Sourced

Spanish-speaking staff at Vivent Health Madison handle intake, counseling, and treatment conversations directly: medication adherence education and PrEP counseling are conducted in Spanish by the same clinicians managing the care, so nothing is relayed through an intermediary layer between the patient and the person writing the prescription.

HIV Testing Here Leads to HIV Treatment Here

Most testing sites hand off a positive HIV result to a separate provider network, leaving patients to navigate specialty care on their own. Vivent Health, backed by Ryan White Program funding, carries that same patient from rapid test through viral load monitoring and ongoing antiretroviral management without a change of address.

Tests & treats Ryan White HIV care Sliding-scale PrEP
Address
600 Williamson Street, Suite H Madison, WI 53703
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
1.1 miles

Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin

No ratings yet

Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin in Madison requires appointments, which means scheduled time with a provider who can test, treat bacterial infections same-visit, and deliver the full panel (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis) with fees on a sliding scale. Care is available in Spanish.

Read full overview

Herpes and Hepatitis Alongside the Standard Four

The testing menu at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin extends to herpes simplex and both hepatitis B and C, infections that require distinct lab methods and, in the case of hepatitis C, carry treatment pathways separate from the bacterial STIs handled same-visit. One appointment spans the full diagnostic picture rather than requiring separate specialist referrals for viral testing.

PrEP Prescribed Here, Not Coordinated Elsewhere

Prevention programs at many clinics stop at education and route PrEP prescriptions out to primary care. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin prescribes and manages PrEP directly, alongside PEP, keeping ongoing prevention medication within the same clinical relationship as testing and treatment.

Spanish-Language Care as a Clinical Default

Spanish is a direct service language at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin: meaning clinical conversations about PrEP adherence, hepatitis management, and STI treatment happen in Spanish as a staffed capability, not a workaround. For patients whose medical vocabulary is in Spanish, that continuity affects how accurately a treatment plan is understood and followed.

Tests & treats PrEP
Address
675 West Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 2.0 miles

University of Wisconsin

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Review sources

  • Google5,030
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 5035 reviews

University of Wisconsin in Madison takes walk-in visits and covers the full bacterial and viral panel (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B and C, and HIV) with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections, sliding-scale fees, and direct care in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, and more.

Read full overview

Eight Languages Spoken Directly, No Relay

Clinics that rely solely on on-demand interpretation services create a lag between patient and provider that erodes nuance. University of Wisconsin staffs or arranges direct care in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, and Haitian Creole, among others, so the clinical conversation happens in full, not in summary.

Ryan White Funding Covers HIV Care End to End

Ryan White Program funding at University of Wisconsin means HIV care doesn't stop at a positive result: it extends through ongoing medical treatment and medication adherence counseling, with costs covered or reduced for eligible patients regardless of insurance status.

PrEP Available to Uninsured Patients Specifically

University of Wisconsin carries both PrEP and PEP, and maintains a dedicated funding stream for uninsured patients seeking PrEP. Meaning the preventive medication itself, not just the consultation, is financially reachable for people without coverage.

Tests & treats Ryan White HIV care Sliding-scale PrEP
Address
600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 2.0 miles

Wingra Family Medical Center

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Review sources

  • Google47
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.3 out of 5 from 52 reviews

Wingra Family Medical Center in Madison welcomes patients regardless of insurance status, with sliding-scale fees calibrated to income making STI screening genuinely reachable. Federally qualified and walk-in friendly, it covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia for anyone navigating gaps in coverage or simply paying out of pocket.

Sliding-scale
Address
1102 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53715
Website
Highest rated 2.7 miles

Public Health Madison and Dane County

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Review sources

  • Google20
  • EasySTD2
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 22 reviews

Public Health Madison and Dane County runs its STI clinic by appointment, covering gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, herpes, and rapid or conventional HIV testing. With same-visit treatment for bacterial infections. Every service, including testing and vaccines, carries no fee.

Read full overview

Zero-Fee Care Backed by Public Health Funding

The no-fee structure at Public Health Madison and Dane County isn't a waiver program with eligibility gatekeeping, it's operationally built into how the clinic is staffed and funded as a county public health department. Testing, treatment, vaccines, and DoxyPEP are all covered without a billing step.

Interpretation Services Staffed Into Every Appointment

Interpretation services for non-English languages are built into the appointment workflow at Public Health Madison and Dane County, meaning the clinic coordinates language access before you arrive rather than sourcing it on the spot. Care, including counseling and treatment decisions, is delivered through a prepared interpreter, not worked around one.

DoxyPEP Prescribed Directly at This Clinic

For anyone without a primary care provider or a clinician willing to prescribe DoxyPEP, Public Health Madison and Dane County holds that capability in-house. The antibiotic regimen used to reduce bacterial STI risk after potential exposure is prescribed and dispensed here, no outside referral needed.

Tests & treats DoxyPEP
Address
2705 East Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor Madison, WI 53704
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday Closed
  • Wednesday 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Friday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
2.8 miles

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

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Review sources

  • Google43
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 48 reviews

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in Madison operates on a sliding scale and accepts Medicaid and private insurance, with appointments required. The standard panel covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and rapid HIV testing, with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections and HPV vaccination on site.

Read full overview

Spanish and Interpreter Access Built Into Every Visit

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in Madison offers Spanish-language care directly and interpretation services for other languages, which means clinical conversations about symptoms, treatment plans, and prevention options happen without a language gap between patient and provider.

Title X Means Minors' Services Are Legally Confidential

As a Title X family planning provider, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in Madison extends legally confidential services to minors, so young patients can access testing, contraception, and STI care without a mandatory disclosure trail attached to their visit.

PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP Managed From One Clinic

Chasing down PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP through separate providers means gaps in coverage and repeated intake appointments. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in Madison prescribes all three from a single clinic, so the full arc of HIV and bacterial STI prevention is managed without splitting care across multiple offices.

Tests & treats Title X Sliding-scale PrEP DoxyPEP
Address
2222 South Park Street, Suite 210 Madison, WI 53713
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 2.8 miles

Joyce & Marshall Erdman Clinic

No ratings yet

Joyce & Marshall Erdman Clinic in Madison carries federally qualified health center standing, which means STI screening (syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia) is priced on a sliding scale tied directly to each patient's income, with no fixed sticker cost barring anyone from care.

Sliding-scale
Address
2202 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53713
Website
Premium Partner

ACL Laboratories

Results in 1–2 days
No ratings yet

Address
600 Walnut Ridge Drive, Hartland, WI 53029 52.0 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Premium Partner

ACL Laboratories

Results in 1–2 days
No ratings yet

Address
201 East Morrissy Drive, Elkhorn, WI 53121 52.6 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday Closed
  • Tuesday Closed
  • Wednesday Closed
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Free tool · not a clinic

When can I test? Exposure-window calculator

Testing too soon can miss an infection. Enter the date of possible exposure to see the earliest a test can reliably detect each STI.

Find your match in 10 seconds

What matters most to you?

What will it cost? Estimate your STD test

Typical out-of-pocket ranges by option, actual cost depends on which tests you need.

  • Public / community clinic

    Free HIV testing is common

    $0–$25
  • Private lab (self-pay)

    Never billed to insurance

    $24–$200
  • At-home kit

    Mailed to your door, private

    From $49
  • Doctor / urgent care

    Often $0 preventive with insurance

    $0–$50 copay

Every other option

More ways to get tested in Madison, WI

Beyond the dedicated testing centers above: at-home kits by mail, hospital labs certified for STI testing, local clinicians who can order a panel during a regular visit, pharmacies for self-test kits and prescriptions, and online PrEP & treatment.

Test from home

At-home STD testing in Madison, WI

The nearest testing center is less than a mile away, if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Madison, you collect the sample privately, and mail it back to a CLIA-certified lab. Results come online in days, with a clinician available if anything is positive. Same labs as a clinic, no waiting room, and you can read how accurate at-home STD tests are before you order.

Want a free option first? The CDC-supported TakeMeHome program mails free at-home HIV self-test kits, and, in many areas, free STI kits, to your door, with no insurance or payment needed. The paid kits below add broader panels and faster turnaround.

  • In-home collection

    Quest Diagnostics

    Quest Diagnostics

    $79 & up

    Panel:
    8-infection panel incl. chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis & herpes: single tests too
    Sample:
    Quest Mobile: a phlebotomist collects your sample at home
    Results:
    1–3 days, online: physician-reviewed
    • In-home sample collection
    • Nationwide Quest lab network
    • Physician-reviewed results
    • FSA/HSA eligible
  • Best range: couples & full panels

    myLAB Box

    myLAB Box

    $79 & up

    Panel:
    Up to 14 infections, incl. HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis & herpes
    Sample:
    Self-collect: swab, urine, finger-prick
    Results:
    2–5 days, online
    • Free phone consult if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • Couples & subscription options
    • Discreet packaging
  • Best value: single tests

    Everlywell

    Everlywell

    $49 & up

    Panel:
    Chlamydia & gonorrhea, up to a 6-test panel adding HIV, syphilis, trichomoniasis & hep C
    Sample:
    Finger-prick + swab
    Results:
    Days, online
    • Telehealth visit if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • HSA/FSA eligible
    • Subscription savings

Every kit uses CLIA-certified labs. At-home testing is for screening; a reactive result should be confirmed and treated by a clinician. Prices and panels shown are illustrative and change often, confirm current details on the provider's site.

Also in the area

Other CLIA-certified labs near Madison, WI

Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Dane County, each lab's town is shown on its card below. Many test through a doctor's order or by appointment rather than walk-in, so call ahead to confirm STD/STI testing and availability before visiting.

  • Eastpark Medical Center Laboratory

    4621 Eastpark Boulevard, Madison, WI 53718

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists

    • Full STD panel
  • Exact Sciences Laboratories

    145 East Badger Road, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53713

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists

    • Full STD panel
  • Exact Sciences Laboratories

    650 Forward Drive, Madison, WI 53711

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists

    • Full STD panel
  • Mendota Mental Health Institute Laboratory

    301 Troy Drive, Madison, WI 53704

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission

    • Full STD panel
  • Meriter Laboratories

    36 South Brooks Street, Madison, WI 53715

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists

    • Full STD panel
  • Promega Clinical Laboratory

    2800 South Fish Hatchery, Madison, WI 53711

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists

    • Full STD panel

Showing 6 of the CLIA-certified labs in Dane County.

Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Madison. A CLIA certificate records only that a laboratory is federally certified — it does not confirm the site performs STD testing, nor its hours, price or access. Inclusion is not an endorsement; always call to verify.

Local clinicians

Clinicians near Madison, WI who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 596 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Madison. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 276 offer telehealth.

  • Thomas Kerndt, MD Telehealth

    Family medicine · 4410 Regent Street, Madison

  • Mariah Quinn Telehealth

    Internal medicine · 3819 John Wall Drive, Madison

  • Dennis Maki Telehealth

    Infectious disease · 8501 Excelsior Drive, Madison

  • Michael Goldrosen, MD Telehealth

    Internal medicine · 4410 Regent Street, Madison

  • Alexandra Argento-Berrio

    Family medicine · 3113 East Washington Avenue, Madison

  • Eartha Taylor, DO

    Family medicine · 345 West Washington Avenue, Madison

These are registry-listed clinicians, not dedicated STD-testing clinics. CMS records do not independently verify current licensure, testing services, availability, price, or new-patient status. Confirm each detail before booking. Source: CMS Doctors & Clinicians.

Nearby pharmacies

Pharmacies near Madison, WI

Compare the pharmacies closest to Madison, WI. Contact a location directly to confirm pharmacy-counter hours, services, prices, and product availability before visiting.

  • Walgreens 0.8 mi
    Rx pickupOTC HIV self-testAt-home STI kitsPrEP/PEP fillsHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
  • Imagemovermd

    0.8 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • CVS Pharmacy 1.0 mi
    Rx pickupOTC HIV self-testAt-home STI kitsMinuteClinic STI careHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
  • Vivent Pharmacy

    1.0 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC

Showing the 4 closest pharmacies to Madison, WI.

Directory records identify nearby pharmacies. Service, stock, price, and hours information is shown only when supported by current location-specific evidence.

Prevention & treatment

PrEP, prevention & online treatment

Testing is one step. For residents of Madison, telehealth covers the rest: HIV-prevention medication (PrEP) and DoxyPEP to lower future risk, and discreet online treatment if a result comes back positive. All prescribed by licensed U.S. clinicians.

Pricing varies by insurance and changes often, confirm on the provider's site. These services are not a substitute for emergency care.

STD stats & rates

STDs & HIV in Dane County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Dane County, the county that includes Madison, compare with Wisconsin and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~42% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.

#6 of 72 Wisconsin counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 92% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Dane County vs Wisconsin vs U.S.

Dane County Wisconsin U.S. = Dane County vs the state average
Infection Dane County Wisconsin United States
Chlamydia
433.7 2,495 cases ▲ 3%
422.8 492.2
Gonorrhea
118 679 cases ≈ the state average
118.5 179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
5.7 33 cases ▼ 37%
9.1 15.8
Syphilis (early)
6.8 39 cases ▲ 10%
6.2 16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
15.5 89 cases ▲ 5%
14.7 29.5

Rates per 100,000 population, 2023. Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus (county, state & U.S., all-ages basis). Population figures: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. These figures are the latest available surveillance estimates. Bars are scaled to the highest rate shown.

Reading these numbers: reported case rates only count infections that were actually tested for and diagnosed, so they track local screening effort as much as true spread: a higher rate can reflect more testing, a lower one less. Either way, most STIs cause no symptoms, so treat the figures above as context rather than a verdict, and test on the CDC's schedule regardless of how your area looks.

Reported STD rates in Dane County over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▲ 0% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 275 550 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Dane County, chlamydia has fallen from 464.5 to 433.7 per 100,000 (7%), gonorrhea has fallen from 216.2 to 118 per 100,000 (45%), and P&S syphilis has fallen from 8 to 5.7 per 100,000 (29%).

The 2020 dip reflects reduced pandemic-era screening, not lower transmission. Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus (county, state & U.S., all-ages basis).

Community health context

What shapes testing access in and around Madison, WI

Adults uninsured
14.6%
No routine checkup
37.1%
No transportation
27.7%
Binge drinking
19.9%
Frequent mental distress
32.3%
Depression
36.6%
Primary-care ratio
781 : 1
Dane County

Primary-care shortage score 16 / 26

Medically Underserved Area

Social Vulnerability Index · 19th percentile nationally

Sources: CDC PLACES (ZIP), County Health Rankings, CDC/ATSDR SVI, HRSA HPSA, HRSA MUA/P, Neighborhood Atlas ADI. Lower insurance coverage, fewer routine checkups, and a thin primary-care ratio all raise the value of low-cost public clinics and at-home testing in Dane County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Dane County (2023)

People living with HIV
174 / 100k
New diagnoses (2023)
29cases countywide
On PrEP (coverage)
68.8%

Dane County HIV care continuum (2023)

Dane County recorded 5.8 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 5.1 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Dane County residents living with HIV, 88.2% are in care · 83.6% are virally suppressed. Early, routine testing is what moves these numbers: it is the entry point to PrEP, treatment, and viral suppression.

Sources: AIDSVu (Emory/Gilead) · CDC AHEAD · CDC AtlasPlus · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus (county care continuum). The CDC recommends everyone aged 13–64 test for HIV at least once: every lab and clinic listed above offers HIV testing, and free rapid HIV testing is available at a local health department.

Pregnant or planning to be? Congenital syphilis is the fastest-rising STI: what to test, and when

Congenital syphilis, passed from parent to baby in pregnancy, is the fastest-rising STI in the country. U.S. cases climbed from 2,163 in 2020 to 3,882 in 2023. It is almost entirely preventable: the CDC recommends a syphilis test at the first prenatal visit, and every clinic and lab listed for Dane County tests for syphilis.

Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).

Editorially Reviewed & Fact-Checked · Updated

Reviewed by EasySTD Editorial Team

Compiled and checked by EasySTD's editorial team against CDC and public-health sources. This is educational information, not a substitute for advice from a licensed clinician. Our editorial guidelines →

18 Sources

Local resources & officials

Data & references

Local context

About Madison, WI

State-Langdon sits close enough to campus that East Washington Avenue stays busy well into the evening, and for the young adults who fill its apartments and shared houses, fitting a health appointment into a packed week often comes down to whether a clinic's hours actually overlap with a life organized around shifts and class schedules. Madison skews heavily toward renters, with the majority of residents paying monthly rather than holding a mortgage, and a typical rent that leaves real money accounted for before anything discretionary comes up. That cost pressure matters when someone is weighing whether to pay out of pocket for a test or quietly put it off.

At the same time, the city's workforce participation is high, meaning most adults here are employed and time, not motivation, is often the real obstacle. The large share of the population in their late teens and twenties, many of them in the relationship-forming years when STI transmission runs highest, are concentrated in neighborhoods like Mansion Hill and along the North Park Street corridor, precisely where schedules are densest and least predictable. With more than half of households outside the six-figure income range, affordable and convenient options matter more than prestige.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Madison, WI

Walkability 16.8 / 20 · Most walkable

Madison scores 16.8/20 on the EPA walkability index, so many trips are walkable or a short ride, though a car still gives you the widest choice of testing centers.

Source: EPA National Walkability Index 2021.

Map of 12 STD & STI testing locations in Madison, Wisconsin, EasySTD

Madison sits in Dane County. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • James Madison Park
  • Madison Children's Museum
  • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Wisconsin Veterans Museum
  • Grimm Book Bindery
  • Chazen Museum of Art

Neighborhoods & communities

  • Mansion Hill
  • State-Langdon
  • Downtown
  • James Madison Park
  • Mifflin West
  • First Settlement
  • Bassett
  • South Campus

Major routes

  • CTH MS (University Avenue)
  • North Park Street
  • US 151 (South Blair Street)

Reference

STD testing in Madison, WI: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in Dane County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Wisconsin law. If you have symptoms right now, our confidential symptom checker maps them to the tests worth considering.

Who should test, and when CDC screening schedule + each infection's detection window

Who should get tested, and how often

Based on current CDC screening recommendations.

Group Tests How often
Everyone aged 13–64 HIV At least once
Sexually active women under 25 Chlamydia, gonorrhea Every year
Women 25+ with new or multiple partners Chlamydia, gonorrhea Every year
Pregnant people HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B & C, chlamydia Early in pregnancy
Gay & bisexual men (MSM) Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV Every 3–6 months
Anyone who shares injection equipment HIV, hepatitis B & C At least yearly
All adults at least once Hepatitis C At least once

When to test: STD detection windows

Testing too early can return a false negative, confirm timing with a Madison-area provider.

Infection Earliest reliable test Sample
Chlamydia 1–2 weeks Urine or swab
Gonorrhea 1–2 weeks Urine or swab
Trichomoniasis 1–4 weeks Urine or swab
HIV (NAT / RNA) 10–33 days Blood
HIV (4th-gen Ag/Ab) 18–45 days Blood
HIV (antibody) 3–12 weeks Blood / oral
Syphilis 3–6 weeks Blood
Hepatitis B 3–6 weeks Blood
Hepatitis C 8–11 weeks Blood
Herpes (HSV) 4–16 weeks (antibody); swab a sore Blood / swab
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What each STD test costs Medicare reference prices per lab test, a benchmark before you pay out of pocket

These are the federal Medicare reference prices for processing each lab test. Public clinics and the community health centers serving Madison often test free or on a sliding scale; private labs and at-home kits bundle several tests into one fee. Use this as a per-test benchmark before you pay out of pocket, or see the full guide to STD test costs for insurance, free, and at-home options.

Test Reference price CPT / HCPCS
Chlamydia (NAAT) $47.80 87491
Gonorrhea (NAAT) $47.80 87591
Trichomoniasis (NAAT) $47.76 87661
HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody $26.87 87389
HIV-1/2 antibody $22.44 86703
Syphilis (RPR/VDRL) $5.61 86592
Syphilis (treponemal antibody) $17.49 86780
Herpes (HSV NAAT) $47.76 87529
Hepatitis B surface antigen $15.33 87340
Hepatitis C antibody $29.16 86803

Source: Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, CMS, 2025 rates (data.cms.gov). Reference rate for the lab assay only: a clinic visit, sample collection, or a bundled multi-test panel may cost more. Medicaid and most insurers cover STD screening at no out-of-pocket cost.

Confidentiality & consent in Wisconsin Minor consent and partner treatment (EPT) under state law, plus how to test privately

Two things that actually depend on Wisconsin law: who can consent, and whether partners can be treated without their own visit. Everything else about testing privately is the same nationwide (see below).

Can a minor consent on their own?

In Wisconsin, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

Wisconsin permits Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT): if you test positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea, your provider can give you medication (or a prescription) to pass to your partner, no separate exam or appointment needed for them.

Keeping a test private works the same in every state. Whether an STD test shows on insurance (the EOB), how to test anonymously, and self-pay options that leave no insurance trail don’t change by location.

Learn more about confidential STD testing in Wisconsin

Source: Guttmacher Institute, Minors' Access to STI Services; CDC, Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy. General information, not legal advice.

Good to Know

STD testing FAQs for Madison, WI

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

Where can I get tested for STDs in Madison, WI?

The closest is UnityPoint Health (0.8 mi); 9 options are within 30 miles.

Does Medicaid cover STD testing?

Medicaid generally covers STD testing, and public clinics test for free regardless of coverage.

Can I get tested in Madison, WI without insurance?

Yes, community and public clinics test the uninsured, with sliding-scale fees.

Which tests are offered near Madison, WI?

Local options test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Rapid HIV, a full panel covers the common ones.

How common is chlamydia in Dane County?

About 434 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), above the Wisconsin average.

Can someone under 18 get tested in Wisconsin without a parent?

In Wisconsin, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.

Can I get PrEP near Madison, WI?

PrEP (HIV-prevention medicine for HIV-negative people) is available locally, any provider can prescribe it.

Can chlamydia have no symptoms?

Yes, most chlamydia infections cause no symptoms, so screening is the only reliable way to catch it.

Can I trust an at-home result?

Yes, from a reputable lab, confirm any positive with a clinician for treatment.

How is gonorrhea tested near Madison, WI?

A urine sample or a swab (genital, throat, or rectal) detects gonorrhea, often tested alongside chlamydia.

Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.