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STD Testing in Algona, IA: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

Chlamydia reports in Kossuth County are 72% below the US average. If you're considering STI testing after a possible exposure, or as routine care in Algona, Iowa, weigh the benefits of community clinics, generally lower-cost or free, versus private labs, which may return results more quickly and with flexible scheduling. See your 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

STD testing near Algona, IA

8 testing options are listed for Algona, IA. The nearest, Hancock County Health System, is about 12.1 miles away. Compare 5 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.

Closest to you 12.1 miles

Hancock County Health System

No ratings yet

Hancock County Health System in Wesley folds STI testing (rapid HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and TB) into a full county health system, so bacterial STIs treated same visit sit alongside family planning and hepatitis and HPV vaccination on a sliding-scale fee schedule. An appointment is required.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale
Address
103 East Main Street, Wesley, IA 50483
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Tuesday Closed
  • Wednesday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday Call to confirm
  • Friday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 13.5 miles

Palo Alto County Hospital

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google28
  • EasySTD3
Rated 3.8 out of 5 from 31 reviews

A community safety-net rural health clinic about 14 miles from Algona. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.

Address
107 West Division Street, West Bend, IA 50597
Website
Community health center 15.1 miles

Kossuth Regional Health Center

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google4
  • EasySTD1
Rated 3 out of 5 from 5 reviews

A community safety-net rural health clinic about 15 miles from Algona. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.

Address
122 West Ramsey Street, Bancroft, IA 50517
Website
Community health center 24.3 miles

UnityPoint Health

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google5
  • EasySTD1
Rated 3.8 out of 5 from 6 reviews

UnityPoint Health in Humboldt runs STI care by appointment, pairing gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing with same-visit bacterial treatment, HPV and hepatitis A/B vaccines, and fees scaled to income through sliding-scale and insurance including Medicaid and Medicare.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale PrEP
Address
1000 15th Street North, Suite A Humboldt, IA 50548
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 32.2 miles

Trinity Regional Medical Center

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google7
  • EasySTD1
Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 8 reviews

A community safety-net rural health clinic about 32 miles from Algona. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.

Address
608 Northwest 7th Street, Pocahontas, IA 50574
Website

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.

Detection windows for every STI
Infection Earliest reliable test Conclusive after
Chlamydia 7 days after exposure 14 days after exposure
Gonorrhea 7 days after exposure 14 days after exposure
Trichomoniasis 7 days after exposure 28 days after exposure
HIV (NAT / RNA) 10 days after exposure 33 days after exposure
HIV (4th-gen Ag/Ab) 18 days after exposure 45 days after exposure
HIV (antibody) 21 days after exposure 84 days after exposure
Syphilis 21 days after exposure 42 days after exposure
Hepatitis B 21 days after exposure 42 days after exposure
Hepatitis C 56 days after exposure 77 days after exposure
Herpes (HSV) 28 days after exposure 112 days after exposure

Guidance only, confirm timing with a clinician. A negative result before the conclusive date may need a repeat test.

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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

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Rate what mattered to you, no account needed. Reviews are moderated before publishing.

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Staff & comfort
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Every other option

More ways to get tested in Algona, IA

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.

At-home STD testing in Algona, IA

The nearest testing center is about 12 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Algona, 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 (opens in a new tab) 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.

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.

Other CLIA-certified labs near Algona, IA

Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Kossuth 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.

  • Kossuth Regional Health Center

    1515 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA 50511

    CMS-certified lab

    • STD testing

Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Algona. 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.

Clinicians near Algona, IA who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 25 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Algona. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 2 offer telehealth.

  • Christian Grindberg, DO

    Family medicine · 1519 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA

  • Allison Rausch, MD

    Family medicine · 1515 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA

  • Rachel Venteicher, DO

    Family medicine · 1519 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA

  • Timothy Mulholland, MD Telehealth

    Urology · 1515 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA

  • Donal Hill, DO

    Family medicine · 532 1st Street Northwest, Britt, IA

  • Kelsie Linderblood, DO

    Family medicine · 532 1st Street Northwest, Britt, IA

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.

Pharmacies near Algona, IA

No pharmacy near Algona, IA publishes an STD-related service or holds a current CLIA testing certificate, so these are simply the closest. Contact a location directly to confirm counter hours, services, prices, and availability before visiting.

  • Hy-Vee Pharmacy

    0.5 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Hy-Vee Pharmacy (1010)

    0.6 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • KRHC Family Pharmacy

    1.2 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Hughes Pharmacy Services

    13 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Bancroft Phcy and HM Health Care

    15 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Wagner Drug- Britt

    22 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC

Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Algona, IA.

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

PrEP, prevention & online treatment

Testing is one step. For residents of Algona, 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.

STDs & HIV in Kossuth County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Kossuth County, the county that includes Algona, compare with Iowa and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~22% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.

#88 of 99 Iowa counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 11% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Kossuth County vs Iowa vs U.S.

Kossuth County Iowa U.S. ▲▼ = Kossuth County vs the state average
Infection Kossuth County Iowa United States
Chlamydia
138.9 20 cases ▼ 67%
426.8 492.2
Gonorrhea
6.9 1 cases ▼ 94%
116.8 179.5
Syphilis (P&S) — no data 10.3 15.8
Syphilis (early) — no data 9.2 16
Syphilis (late/unknown) — no data 9.9 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 Kossuth County over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▲ 18% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 100 200 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Kossuth County, chlamydia has fallen from 141.6 to 138.9 per 100,000 (2%), gonorrhea has fallen from 67.4 to 6.9 per 100,000 (90%), and P&S syphilis has held roughly steady from 6.9 to 6.9 per 100,000.

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 Algona, IA

Adults uninsured
6.9%
No routine checkup
20%
No transportation
5.9%
Binge drinking
18.7%
Frequent mental distress
15.2%
Depression
19.6%
Below poverty line
6.5%
Primary-care ratio
2,076 : 1
Kossuth County
  • Primary-care shortage score 9 / 26
  • Medically Underserved Area · IMU 50.3
  • Social Vulnerability Index · 20th 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 Kossuth County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Kossuth County (2023)

New diagnoses (2023)
0cases countywide
PrEP users / 100k
58

Kossuth County HIV care continuum (2023)

Kossuth County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 5.1 statewide and 13.7 nationally. 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 Kossuth County tests for syphilis.

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

18 Sources

Data & references

About Algona, IA

Ambrose A Call State Park sits at the edge of town the way a lot of Algona feels: settled, unhurried, the kind of place where most people have put down roots rather than passed through. That impression holds up: with roughly two-thirds of households owning their homes and typical mortgages tracking well below what renters elsewhere pay, this reads as a town built around staying put, not cycling through. Family households average close to three people, and about half of adults here are married, so a lot of the day-to-day is organized around shared schedules, kids' activities, and one car doing more than one job.

That stability doesn't mean testing is simple to arrange. Getting to a clinic from Algona likely means a drive out along US 169, whether that's toward North Jones Street or south past Phillips Street, and with labor-force participation sitting under two-thirds, plenty of residents are working shifts that don't leave much daylight for a midday appointment. For people in their late teens and twenties still figuring out relationships and routines, a testing option that doesn't demand a half-day off matters more than it would somewhere denser.

Cost is where the local math gets tightest. With only a small slice of Kossuth County households clearing six figures, an uninsured visit priced for a bigger metro can eat into a week's grocery budget fast, so what actually helps here is a sliding-fee or flat-rate option that doesn't assume a $100k income to afford.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Algona, IA

Walkability 8.36 / 20 · Below average

At 8.36/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Algona generally mean driving: plan on a car or rideshare to reach a clinic, and check each listing's hours and phone before you go.

Source: EPA National Walkability Index 2021.

Map of 8 STD & STI testing locations in Algona, Iowa, EasySTD

ZIP 50511 snapshot

Residents
6,987
Median age
45.4
Median income
$60,256

ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 50511 area around Algona: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Algona alone.

Algona sits in Kossuth County, ZIP 50511. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • Ambrose A Call State Park
  • Veterans Park
  • Central Park
  • Kossuth County Historical Museum
  • Camp Algona POW Museum
  • Maple Park

Major routes

  • US 169 (North Jones Street)
  • US 18 (US Highway 18)

STD testing in Algona, IA: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in Kossuth County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Iowa 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.

GroupTestsHow 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 an Algona-area provider.

InfectionEarliest reliable testSample
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

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 Algona 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.

TestReference priceCPT / 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 Iowa

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

Two things that actually depend on Iowa 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 Iowa, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own; a parent may be notified only in the case of a positive HIV test result.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

Iowa 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 Iowa

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

STD testing FAQs for Algona, IA

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

Where can I get tested for STDs in Algona, IA?

The closest is Hancock County Health System (12.1 mi); 4 options are within 30 miles.

Does insurance cover STD testing near Algona, IA?

Most plans cover STD screening; a clinic or lab can bill insurance, or you can pay a flat self-pay price.

Is there free STD testing near Algona, IA?

Yes, public clinics in the area offer free or low-cost testing.

Which tests are offered near Algona, IA?

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 Kossuth County?

About 139 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the Iowa average.

Can I test at home near Algona, IA?

Yes, at-home kits ship to 50511; you collect a sample, mail it back, and get results in about 2–5 days.

Can I get PrEP near Algona, IA?

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

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

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

I tested positive, what are the next steps?

Start treatment, tell recent partners so they can test, avoid sex until cleared, and retest if advised, most STIs resolve with care.

I tested negative, am I fully in the clear?

Likely yes, if you were past the window period; otherwise retest, and keep up routine screening with new partners.

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