STD Testing in Amherst, WI: Free, Same-Day & Confidential
Reported syphilis in Portage County runs about 91% lower than the US average. In Amherst, Wisconsin, for a one-time concern or regular check-ups, weigh clinics that may bill insurance or offer sliding-scale fees against private labs that may let you pay a flat self-pay price. Review the options below.
7 testing options are listed for Amherst, WI. The nearest, ThedaCare, is about 8.6 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.
Location unavailable — enter a ZIP code or city instead.
Closest to you 8.6 miles
ThedaCare
No ratings yet
ThedaCare in Iola requires an appointment and covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, rapid and conventional HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and TB in a single visit: bacterial infections treated same day, with HPV, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines also available on a fee or insurance basis.
A community safety-net rural health clinic about 13 miles from Amherst. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services
2.0(4)?Where these reviews come from
Review sources
Google3
EasySTD1
Rated 2 out of 5 from 4 reviews
Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services, Waupaca's public health department clinic, provides all services at no fee while also accepting Medicaid and insurance, and testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV, with STI treatment, family planning, and hepatitis A, B, and HPV vaccines, by appointment.
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Every Service Here Carries Zero Cost
A cost that lingers mid-visit (the copay, the lab fee, the treatment charge) can quietly become a reason someone skips the follow-through. At Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services, no individual service carries a separate charge: testing, treatment, counseling, and vaccines all land at zero, regardless of the visit's scope.
Interpretation Services Extend Across Every Appointment
For anyone whose primary language isn't English, Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services builds interpretation into the appointment itself: covering counseling, treatment decisions, and prevention education in the same conversation, without separating the clinical and the communicative.
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.
The nearest testing center is about 9 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Amherst, 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.
In-home collection
$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
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 Amherst, WI
Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Portage 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.
Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital
900 Illinois Avenue, Stevens Point, WI 54481
CMS-certified labAccredited · College of American Pathologists
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Amherst. 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 Amherst, WI who may help arrange STD testing
Beyond dedicated clinics, 141 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Amherst. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 35 offer telehealth.
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 Amherst, WI
No pharmacy near Amherst, WI 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.
11 mi
Rx pickupOTC HIV self-testAt-home STI kitsPrEP/PEP fillsHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
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 Amherst, 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.
PrEP & DoxyPEP
From $0 insured
Telehealth PrEP & DoxyPEP with at-home testing and ongoing monitoring
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 Portage County: the local picture
How reported STI rates in Portage County, the county that includes Amherst, compare with Wisconsin and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~25% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#19
#19 of 72 Wisconsin counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 74% of the state
Reported STD rates per 100,000, Portage County vs Wisconsin vs U.S.
Portage CountyWisconsinU.S.▲▼ = Portage County vs the state average
Infection
Portage County
Wisconsin
United States
Chlamydia
256.3182 cases▼ 39%
422.8
492.2
Gonorrhea
32.423 cases▼ 73%
118.5
179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
1.41 cases▼ 85%
9.1
15.8
Syphilis (early)
— no data
6.2
16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
1.41 cases▼ 90%
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 Portage County over time (per 100,000)
Chlamydia ▼ 28% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
Between 2020 and 2023 in Portage County, chlamydia has fallen from 348.1 to 256.3 per 100,000 (26%), gonorrhea has fallen from 48.3 to 32.4 per 100,000 (33%), and P&S syphilis has fallen from 2.8 to 1.4 per 100,000 (50%).
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 Amherst, WI
Adults uninsured
7%
No routine checkup
21%
No transportation
5.7%
Binge drinking
19.4%
Frequent mental distress
15.4%
Depression
24.2%
Below poverty line
5.4%
Primary-care ratio
2,202 : 1
Portage County
Primary-care shortage score 9 / 26
Medically Underserved Area · IMU 60.95
Social Vulnerability Index · 11th 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 Portage County.
Local HIV snapshot
HIV in Portage County (2023)
People living with HIV
57 / 100k
New diagnoses (2023)
0cases countywide
PrEP users / 100k
42
Portage County HIV care continuum (2023)
Portage County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 5.1 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Portage County residents living with HIV, 60% are in care · 54.3% 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 Portage County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
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 → (opens in a new tab)
The dairy farms and grain operations that anchor Amherst's economy run on schedules that leave little room for delay, and the same applies to health routines that keep working people functioning. Routine STI screening fits into that practical mindset: it's a straightforward step, not a luxury, and it belongs alongside the other maintenance tasks that matter. Testing in and around Amherst is designed for people with limited time and tight budgets, reflecting the affordability that defines life here. Young adults in their late teens through thirties make up a substantial part of the community, and many of them know that confidential screening is easier to arrange than it used to be.
The clinics and providers listed on this page understand that discretion isn't negotiable: what you discuss with a nurse or counselor stays between you and that provider, and your results don't appear in shared family records or workplace systems. That separation between your health visit and the rest of your life is built into how these services work. Amherst's location in Portage County means residents can access testing without traveling far, and the modest cost of living here extends to healthcare itself. Whether you're managing a seasonal job, raising kids, or juggling multiple roles, getting screened doesn't have to strain your finances or your schedule.
Getting there
How residents reach STD testing in Amherst, WI
Walkability4.79 / 20 · Least walkable
At 4.79/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Amherst 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.
ZIP 54406 snapshot
Residents
4,008
Median age
46.4
Median income
$76,445
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 54406 area around Amherst: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Amherst alone.
Amherst sits in Portage County, ZIP 54406. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Scout Hall
Nelson Park
Amherst Fairgrounds
Cate Park
Meyers Lake Boat Landing
Amherst Junction Park
Major routes
US 10 (US Highway 10)
Nearby cities & towns
Nearby cities and towns near Amherst, WI
Just outside Amherst? These nearby communities have their own testing guides: clinics, at-home kits, and free screening close to home.
STD testing in Amherst, WI: screening, costs & privacy
Everything to know before you test in Portage 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 an Amherst-area provider.
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 Amherst 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.
