Reports of syphilis in Natchitoches Parish run about 13% lower than the US average. If you're in Ashland, Louisiana for a one-time concern or regular check-ups, weighing the convenience of at-home kits against the personalized care of a clinic can help guide your STI testing choice. Check out your options below.
Available testing centers
6 testing options are listed for Ashland, LA. The nearest, Christus Health Central Louisiana, is about 14.8 miles away. Compare community and public clinics, private labs, and at-home kits below.
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.
A community safety-net rural health clinic about 15 miles from Ashland. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
Louisiana Department of Health in Coushatta operates under the public health department model, where gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and herpes testing sit alongside TB screening, family planning, and STI treatment: appointment required, sliding scale applied, and all services provided at no fee.
Every test, treatment, and vaccine at this clinic is provided at no cost: meaning the sliding-scale floor here is zero, and patients leave without a bill regardless of what care they received.
Spanish is available across services at this clinic, so counseling, treatment decisions, and follow-up instructions happen in the same language the conversation starts in. Nothing condensed or filtered through a secondary step.
Beyond gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV, this clinic tests for herpes, a fifth infection rarely included at comparable public health sites, giving providers a more complete picture of a patient's status in a single visit.
Languages
English, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Mar 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
Free tool · not a clinic
Testing too soon can miss an infection. Enter the date of possible exposure to see the earliest a test can reliably detect each 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.
Typical out-of-pocket ranges by option, actual cost depends on which tests you need.
Public / community clinic
Free HIV testing is common
Private lab (self-pay)
Never billed to insurance
At-home kit
Mailed to your door, private
Doctor / urgent care
Often $0 preventive with insurance
No centers match those filters. Clear the service-type filter or the opening-hours filters to see every center.
Every other option
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
The nearest testing center is about 15 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Ashland, 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
Best value: single tests
$49 & up
Best range: couples & full panels
$79 & up
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
Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Natchitoches Parish, 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.
5045 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457
CMS-certified lab Accredited · COLA
501 Keyser Avenue, Natchitoches, LA 71457
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
1055 Parkway Drive Suite A, Natchitoches, LA 71457
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Ashland. 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
Beyond dedicated clinics, 30 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Ashland. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 3 offer telehealth.
Gavin Chico, MD
Internal medicine · 1110 Ringgold Avenue, Coushatta
Joshua Cason, MD
Family medicine · 1633 Marvel Street, Coushatta
Don Bell, MD
Family medicine · 1633 Marvel Street, Coushatta
Sarah Herbel, MD
Family medicine · 1635 Marvel Street, Coushatta
Harlan Guidry, MD
Family medicine · 1640 Breazeale Springs Street, Nachitoches
Martin Aviles, MD
OB-GYN · 412 Williams Avenue, Natchitoches
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
No pharmacy near Ashland, LA 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.
J and J Drugs
15 miFreds Stores of Tennessee
15 miMabiles Corner Pharmacy
15 miBartley Enterprises
15 miRinggold Pharmacy & Wellness
18 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Ashland, LA.
Directory records identify nearby pharmacies. Service, stock, price, and hours information is shown only when supported by current location-specific evidence.
Prevention & treatment
Testing is one step. For residents of Ashland, 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.
Visit from $0 insured
Telehealth STI treatment and sexual-health care, delivered or to your pharmacy
From $0 insured
Telehealth PrEP & DoxyPEP with at-home testing and ongoing monitoring
$0 with most insurance
Free online PrEP & DoxyPEP: HIV prevention, home lab kits, no in-person visit
Visit from $39
Online STI treatment & DoxyPEP: same-day prescriptions to your pharmacy
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
How reported STI rates in Natchitoches Parish, the parish that includes Ashland, compare with Louisiana and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~19% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#5 of 64 Louisiana counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 92% of the state
| Infection | Natchitoches Parish | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 1234.5 448 cases ▲ 56% | 792.4 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 438.1 159 cases ▲ 52% | 288.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 13.8 5 cases ▼ 47% | 26.1 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 24.8 9 cases ▲ 27% | 19.6 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 33.1 12 cases ▼ 37% | 52.6 | 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.
Between 2020 and 2023 in Natchitoches Parish, chlamydia has risen from 1122.2 to 1234.5 per 100,000 (10%), gonorrhea has fallen from 447.8 to 438.1 per 100,000 (2%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 13.3 to 13.8 per 100,000 (4%).
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
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 Natchitoches Parish.
Local HIV snapshot
Natchitoches Parish HIV care continuum (2023)
Natchitoches Parish recorded 19.6 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 22.5 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Natchitoches Parish residents living with HIV, 69.6% are in care · 60.8% 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.
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 Natchitoches Parish tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Ashland sits where piney woods open onto fields that shift from green to gold across the seasons, a place where neighbors cross paths at the market and church socials still draw crowds. That closeness, the very thing that makes community life here steady and rooted, is exactly why confidential STI screening belongs in routine health habits. Young adults in Ashland, from late teens through their thirties, often weigh the reality of a small town against their own privacy needs, and testing in and around Ashland gives them a straightforward way to handle their sexual health without the weight of visibility. The clinics and providers listed on this page understand that screening here isn't about judgment; it's about facts.
A simple conversation with a healthcare provider, a quick test, and results that stay confidential: these are ordinary parts of staying healthy, no different than a checkup or a vaccination. Ashland residents can access testing that fits into their lives without fanfare or delay. Whether someone is newly partnered, between relationships, or simply making routine care a habit, the testing available in and around Ashland removes one barrier to peace of mind. Shell Hill and the wider Ashland area have the resources to make this straightforward and private.
Getting there
At 3/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Ashland 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 71070 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 71070 area around Ashland: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Ashland alone.
Ashland sits in Natchitoches Parish, ZIP 71070. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Ashland? These nearby communities have their own testing guides: clinics, at-home kits, and free screening close to home.
Reference
Everything to know before you test in Natchitoches Parish: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Louisiana law. If you have symptoms right now, our confidential symptom checker maps them to the tests worth considering.
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 |
Testing too early can return a false negative, confirm timing with an Ashland-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 |
These are the federal Medicare reference prices for processing each lab test. Public clinics and the community health centers serving Ashland 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.
Two things that actually depend on Louisiana 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).
In Louisiana, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Louisiana 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 LouisianaSource: Guttmacher Institute, Minors' Access to STI Services; CDC, Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy. General information, not legal advice.
Good to Know
Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.
Christus Health Central Louisiana, about 14.8 mi away, with 3 options within 30 miles.
Yes, Medicaid typically covers it, and public clinics are free either way.
Yes, free HIV testing is available at public clinics in the area.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Natchitoches Parish reported ~1,235 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, above the Louisiana average.
In Louisiana, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Negative is good news, just retest later if the test was soon after a possible exposure.
Your results are part of your HIPAA-protected medical record; you can ask any clinic about its own privacy practices.
Yes, a body or genital rash can be a sign of syphilis or HIV, so get tested and evaluated.
Use condoms, test regularly, get the HPV and hep B vaccines, and ask about PrEP for HIV.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.