In South Carolina's Charleston, reported chlamydia runs about 17% higher than the US average. Whether it's your first STI test or a routine screening in Awendaw, South Carolina, you can choose between immediate testing at a clinic or the flexibility of labs or at-home kits.
Available testing centers
7 testing options are listed for Awendaw, SC. The nearest, Saint James Health and Wellness, is about 10.4 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.
Saint James Health and Wellness in McClellanville covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections confirmed on-site. Fees run on a sliding scale, with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance all accepted. Appointments are required.
Many clinics handling non-English speakers route conversations through a secondary channel, which compresses what a patient can actually say and hear back. Saint James Health and Wellness serves Spanish speakers, and other non-English languages through interpretation, with the kind of direct communication that keeps clinical details intact rather than summarized.
Saint James Health and Wellness holds active substance-use treatment capacity alongside its STI services, meaning someone managing both concerns doesn't have to build a separate care relationship elsewhere to get either addressed. That standing capability makes it a practical single stop for people whose medical picture doesn't split neatly along clinic specialty lines.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Jan 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
South Carolina Department of Public Health in Mount Pleasant requires an appointment, so scheduling ahead is the move, but that visit covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, herpes, hepatitis B and C testing, same-visit bacterial treatment, and DoxyPEP for prevention, on a sliding-scale fee.
Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis sits outside the scope of most STI clinics, which leave patients to chase a prescription through a separate provider. South Carolina Department of Public Health in Mount Pleasant writes DoxyPEP on-site, keeping bacterial STI prevention in the same hands as testing and treatment.
South Carolina Department of Public Health in Mount Pleasant carries hepatitis C treatment as a standing clinical service, meaning antiviral therapy is initiated and managed at the same location that runs the confirmatory testing, without sending patients to a separate specialist.
Beyond gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV, South Carolina Department of Public Health in Mount Pleasant tests for herpes, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in a single appointment. Meaning clinicians can cross-reference co-infections that a narrower four-infection panel would miss entirely.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Mar 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
Palmetto Primary Care Physicians in Mount Pleasant accepts Medicaid and private insurance, with fees for those paying directly, and runs the full panel (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, hepatitis A, B, and C, plus TB) with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections and appointments required.
Plenty of testing sites hand back a hepatitis C result and leave patients to navigate treatment elsewhere. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians carries the full arc, diagnosis through antiviral treatment, on-site, so a confirmed infection moves into a management plan without the patient having to start over somewhere new.
Palmetto Primary Care Physicians prescribes both PrEP and PEP directly, with the clinical infrastructure (labs, follow-up visits, adherence counseling) to monitor them over time. PrEP requires the regular HIV and kidney-function testing that keeps the prescription valid; that monitoring loop runs entirely within the practice.
Many STI practices field non-English speakers through external interpretation workarounds that sit outside the clinical conversation. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians makes interpretation services available as part of the visit itself, so the exchange between patient and provider (symptoms, history, treatment instructions) moves through a direct channel rather than around one.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Nov 2025 · 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 10 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Awendaw, 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 for simplicity & support
$89 & 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 Charleston 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.
1280 Hospital Drive, Unit 300, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
CMS-certified lab
325 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
1625 Hospital Drive, Suite E330, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Awendaw. 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, 651 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Awendaw. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 229 offer telehealth.
Susan Datta, MD Telehealth
Internal medicine · 3510 North Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant
Eleanor Oakman, MD Telehealth
OB-GYN · 3510 Hwy 17 Byp North, Mt Pleasant
Emily Spann, MD Telehealth
OB-GYN · 3510 Hwy 17 North, Mt Pleasant
David Heinemann, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 3510 North Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant
Jason Gunn, MD Telehealth
Internal medicine · 3500 North Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant
Christopher Cauto
Internal medicine · 3500 North Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant
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 Awendaw, SC 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.
Sweetgrass Pharmacy Carolina Park
10 miSweetgrass Pharmacy & Compounding
10 mi
10 mi 
11 mi Harris Teeter
12 mi
12 mi Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Awendaw, SC.
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 Awendaw, 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 $39
Online STI treatment & DoxyPEP: same-day prescriptions 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 $0 insured
Telehealth STI treatment and sexual-health care, delivered or 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 Charleston County, the county that includes Awendaw, compare with South Carolina and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~16% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#26 of 46 South Carolina counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 43% of the state
| Infection | Charleston County | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 577.3 2,450 cases ▼ 6% | 612.1 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 192.8 818 cases ▼ 13% | 222.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 18.9 80 cases ▲ 9% | 17.3 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 16.5 70 cases ▼ 12% | 18.8 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 14.4 61 cases ▲ 23% | 11.7 | 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.
Between 2020 and 2023 in Charleston County, chlamydia has fallen from 695.9 to 577.3 per 100,000 (17%), gonorrhea has fallen from 330.9 to 192.8 per 100,000 (42%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 18.6 to 18.9 per 100,000 (2%).
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 Charleston County.
Local HIV snapshot
Federal priority area: South Carolina is one of the U.S. jurisdictions prioritized under the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative: targeted federal funding to expand local HIV testing, PrEP, and prevention.
Charleston County HIV care continuum (2023)
Charleston County recorded 21.3 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 18.3 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Charleston County residents living with HIV, 76.8% are in care · 50.8% 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 Charleston County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Awendaw's rhythm runs on the work of people who stay, families that build here, households that span generations, hands in construction, fishing, service trades, the land itself. That continuity means neighbors know each other, and it also means that health decisions don't always feel private in a place where roots run deep. STI screening in and around Awendaw addresses exactly that tension: the clinics and providers listed on this page offer confidential testing without the assumption that results will drift through the community. Young adults in their late teens and twenties and thirties form a significant presence here, a life stage when routine screening fits naturally into health care.
Whether someone works seasonally, holds a steady job, or manages a household schedule that spans multiple generations, testing availability matters most when it doesn't require a long drive or a day away from work. The Sewee Shell Ring and the waterways that define this area are part of what keeps people rooted in Awendaw. That same commitment to place, and to the privacy that allows people to look after themselves without exposure, shapes how testing services function here. Confidentiality isn't negotiable; it's the foundation on which people can actually use what's available.
Getting there
At 8.33/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Awendaw 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 29429 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 29429 area around Awendaw: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Awendaw alone.
Awendaw sits in Charleston County, ZIP 29429. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Awendaw? 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 Charleston County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under South Carolina 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 Awendaw-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 Awendaw 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
South Carolina 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 South CarolinaSource: 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.
Saint James Health and Wellness, about 10.4 mi away, with 7 options within 30 miles.
Free at public clinics. Private labs run about $24 for one test and $139 for a full panel; at-home kits are $49+.
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.
Charleston County reported ~577 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the South Carolina average.
Yes, PrEP, a daily pill that helps prevent HIV in HIV-negative people, is available in the area.
In South Carolina, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
A kit ships to your address; you collect a urine, swab, or finger-stick sample, mail it to the lab, and get results online in a few days.
Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems, caught early, it's cured with antibiotics.
A urine test or swab finds trichomoniasis, one of the most treatable STIs.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.