Gonorrhea reports in Marshall County run about 89% lower than the US average. If you're seeking STI testing in Benton, Kentucky, whether for a one-time concern or regular check-ups, you'll find community clinics often provide low-cost or free care. Private labs may offer faster results and more flexible scheduling. To compare local clinics and private labs, see the list below.
Available testing centers
9 testing options are listed for Benton, KY. The nearest, Hope Clinic, is about 0.6 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.
HOPE Clinic in Benton runs entirely on donations, charging nothing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, or herpes testing. Appointments required. Same-visit treatment is available for bacterial infections, and HPV vaccination rounds out the visit.
Sliding-scale models still ask you to name a number. HOPE Clinic skips that entirely: no fee schedule exists because the clinic runs on donations, making every test and service free regardless of circumstance.
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV cover the usual ground, but herpes testing rarely appears on a standard clinic menu. HOPE Clinic includes it, so you leave with a clearer picture than most single-visit panels allow.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified May 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
A community safety-net rural health clinic in Benton. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
A community safety-net rural health clinic about 1 mile from Benton. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
A community safety-net rural health clinic about 1 mile from Benton. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
Marshall County Health Department in Benton requires an appointment, so scheduling is the only step before a visit covers rapid HIV testing, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis C, and TB (plus same-visit bacterial treatment, HPV, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines) all at no fee.
All services at Marshall County Health Department run at no charge, which means the scope of what you address in a single appointment (testing, treatment, vaccination) is never trimmed by what you can afford to pay that day.
Marshall County Health Department operates under Title X, which legally requires that family planning services provided to minors be kept confidential. Meaning the clinic cannot disclose those services to a parent or guardian without the minor's consent, a protection built into federal statute, not clinic policy.
The clinic runs herpes and hepatitis C testing in the same appointment as the four-pathogen bacterial and HIV panel: each ordered, collected, and processed through the health department's own workflow, so results return without splitting the visit across separate providers.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Apr 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 less than a mile away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Benton, 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 Marshall 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.
615 Old Symsonia Road, Benton, KY 42025
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Benton. 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, 131 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Benton. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 22 offer telehealth.
Abraham Galloway, MD
Family medicine · 543 Powell Lane, Benton
Richard Wilson, MD
Internal medicine · 615 Old Symsonia Road, Benton
Sanjay Bose, MD
Internal medicine · 617 Old Symsonia Road, Benton
Julia Lyles, MD
Internal medicine · 619 Old Symsonia Road, Benton
Kim Hall, MD
Family medicine · 267 Slickback Road, Benton
Austin Beck, MD
Family medicine · 83 Wellness Way, Benton
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 Benton, KY 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&K Pharmacy
0.6 miJ W Pharmacy
0.8 miUniversal J&E Enterprises
0.8 miMarshall County Hosp District
1.0 mi
1.1 mi 
1.1 mi Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Benton, KY.
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 Benton, 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 Marshall County, the county that includes Benton, compare with Kentucky and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~23% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#95 of 120 Kentucky counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 21% of the state
| Infection | Marshall County | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 154.4 49 cases ▼ 60% | 381.9 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 18.9 6 cases ▼ 86% | 134.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 3.2 1 cases ▼ 77% | 14.1 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | — no data | 14.5 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 6.3 2 cases ▼ 67% | 18.9 | 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.
Between 2020 and 2023 in Marshall County, chlamydia has fallen from 240.1 to 154.4 per 100,000 (36%), gonorrhea has fallen from 88.4 to 18.9 per 100,000 (79%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 3.1 to 3.2 per 100,000 (3%).
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 Marshall County.
Local HIV snapshot
Federal priority area: Kentucky 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.
Marshall County HIV care continuum (2023)
Marshall County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 10.4 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Marshall County residents living with HIV, 93.3% are in care · 86.7% 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 Marshall County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Getting STI testing in Benton means accepting that the clinic you need may not be the one closest to home. The town itself has limited in-house capacity, so residents often travel to neighboring communities or larger medical centers to access the full range of screening services listed on this page. For those accustomed to staying put, and Benton draws people who do, that trip can feel like an extra hurdle, though the affordability of living here often means the cost of care itself stays manageable. Young adults moving through their twenties and thirties make up a steady presence in Benton, and many of them understand that confidential screening is routine healthcare, not a crisis.
Still, in a place where people tend to know their neighbors and stay for decades, the question of where to go and who might notice lingers differently than it would elsewhere. Testing facilities in and around Benton respect privacy as a given, not a special accommodation, and results remain between you and your provider. The practical reality is straightforward: check the clinics listed here, call ahead about what they offer, and plan the drive if needed. Benton's slower pace and stable housing stock are part of its character, and so is the willingness of residents to step outside town limits when their health demands it.
Getting there
At 5.75/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Benton 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 42025 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 42025 area around Benton: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Benton alone.
Benton sits in Marshall County, ZIP 42025. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Benton? 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 Marshall County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Kentucky 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 a Benton-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 Benton 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Kentucky 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 KentuckySource: 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.
There are 7 options within a 30-mile drive.
Free at public clinics. Private labs run about $24 for one test and $139 for a full panel; at-home kits are $49+.
Public clinics serve people without insurance, often on a sliding scale.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Marshall County reported ~154 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Kentucky average.
Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.
In Kentucky, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Your results are part of your HIPAA-protected medical record; you can ask any clinic about its own privacy practices.
Yes, sores or ulcers can indicate herpes or syphilis and should be evaluated quickly, ideally while a sore is present.
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.