Kershaw County reports about 16 syphilis cases per 100,000 residents, near the US average. Whether you're testing for peace of mind before starting a new relationship or as part of ongoing care in Camden, South Carolina, you can choose between community clinics with low-cost or free testing and private labs with faster results and more flexible scheduling. See the list below.
Available testing centers
9 testing options are listed for Camden, SC. The nearest, South Carolina Department of Public Health, 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.
South Carolina Department of Public Health in Camden runs on a sliding-scale fee structure with no charge for HIV testing, accepting Medicaid and private insurance, and tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis C and B. With same-visit treatment for bacterial infections by appointment.
Camden's public health department tests for herpes and hepatitis C and B in addition to the standard four bacterial STIs, which means a single appointment can surface infections that a narrower panel would miss entirely, keeping care from fragmenting across multiple providers.
The clinic is staffed and funded to deliver all services (testing, treatment, vaccines, and prevention counseling) without charging patients at the point of care. Sliding-scale and insurance billing handle the back end; nothing is collected out of pocket on the day.
Without access to all three prevention medications at one site, patients often leave with a script for PrEP but no path to DoxyPEP or PEP. Gaps that compound over time. South Carolina Department of Public Health in Camden prescribes and manages PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP directly, keeping every prevention option in the same appointment.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Aug 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
Sandhills Medical Foundation, in Camden, earned federal qualification that requires it to tie fees to income, so no patient is turned away for inability to pay. Walk-in STI screening covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, with costs scaled to what each person actually earns.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
Sandhills Medical Foundation- Bethune, serving Bethune, earned its federally qualified health center designation by tying fees directly to income. Meaning sliding-scale pricing applies to everyone who walks in. STI screening here covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, with no appointment needed to get started.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
CareSouth Carolina in Bishopville runs hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing by appointment, treating bacterial infections the same visit; fees follow a sliding scale for all patients, and every service is provided at no charge.
CareSouth Carolina carries hepatitis A, B, and C treatment alongside HIV/AIDS medical management within the same clinic. Staffed and prescribed directly rather than coordinated through outside providers. Hepatitis C testing is free, and active treatment follows from the same clinical team.
Spanish-speaking staff and structured interpretation services are integrated into the clinical workflow at CareSouth Carolina in Bishopville, so counseling, medication adherence education, and test results are delivered with the same precision across languages. Not approximated through secondary channels.
Prevention prescriptions often require a separate primary care relationship that many STI clinics cannot offer. CareSouth Carolina prescribes both PrEP and PEP directly, and carries dedicated PrEP coverage for uninsured patients. Keeping prevention and testing in one clinical relationship.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Nov 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
Plexus Health | Kershaw meets patients in Kershaw who are paying cash, between providers, or working within a tight budget. Exactly the population a federally qualified health center is designed to serve. Sliding-scale fees apply to syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening, with no appointment required.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
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 Camden, 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 Kershaw 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.
1315 Roberts Street, Camden, SC 29020
CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists
1346 Haile Street, Camden, SC 29020
CMS-certified lab
Showing the nearest 2 CLIA-certified labs.
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Camden. 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, 340 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Camden. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 77 offer telehealth.
Robert Dawkins, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 2034 West Dekalb Street, Camden
Susan Munn, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 1017 Fair Street, Camden
Travis Dice, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 1344 Haile Street, Camden
Leland King, MD
OB-GYN · 1800 Roberts Street, Camden
Stephen Pillinger, DO
Family medicine · 1315 Roberts Street, Camden
Akinwale Olatosi, MD
Internal medicine · 1218 Roberts Street, Camden
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 Camden, 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.
0.7 mi Value-Pak Pharmacy
0.8 miMedi-Save Pharmacy
0.9 mi
1.1 mi Hawthorne Camden Pharmacy
1.3 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Camden, 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 Camden, 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
$0 with most insurance
Free online PrEP & DoxyPEP: HIV prevention, home lab kits, no in-person visit
From $0 insured
Telehealth PrEP & DoxyPEP with at-home testing and ongoing monitoring
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 Kershaw County, the county that includes Camden, compare with South Carolina and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~20% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#21 of 46 South Carolina counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 54% of the state
| Infection | Kershaw County | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 645.2 451 cases ▲ 5% | 612.1 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 227.5 159 cases ▲ 2% | 222.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 15.7 11 cases ▼ 9% | 17.3 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 5.7 4 cases ▼ 70% | 18.8 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 17.2 12 cases ▲ 47% | 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 Kershaw County, chlamydia has risen from 574.9 to 645.2 per 100,000 (12%), gonorrhea has fallen from 287.4 to 227.5 per 100,000 (21%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 6.1 to 15.7 per 100,000 (157%).
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 Kershaw 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.
Kershaw County HIV care continuum (2023)
Kershaw County recorded 23.8 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 18.3 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Kershaw County residents living with HIV, 86.1% are in care · 77.8% 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 Kershaw County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Kendall Mill Historic District carries the quiet weight of a town that has largely stayed put: nearly three in four Camden households own their homes, and that rootedness shapes the rhythm of daily life on streets like Broad and West DeKalb. But stability in housing doesn't translate into easy access to health care when nearly everything requires a car and a deliberate trip across town. That's especially relevant for younger Camden residents, people in their late teens and twenties navigating new relationships while managing real financial constraints. With typical rent under $700 a month and a significant share of households outside the workforce entirely, both time and money factor into whether a screening appointment actually gets made.
Low-cost, appointment-friendly options aren't a convenience here; for many people, they're the only version that's realistic. The county STI picture adds weight to that. Kershaw County's rates reflect what happens when testing stays inconvenient, infections circulate longer before anyone knows.
Getting there
At 5.82/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Camden 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 29020 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 29020 area around Camden: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Camden alone.
Camden sits in Kershaw County, ZIP 29020. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Camden? 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 Kershaw 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 a Camden-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 Camden 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.
Yes, several local labs offer same-day walk-in testing; best to call first.
Usually yes, it can be billed to insurance, or paid out of pocket at a flat rate.
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.
Kershaw County reported ~645 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, above 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.
Herpes isn't curable, but daily or as-needed antiviral medicine controls outbreaks and lowers the chance of passing it on.
A urine test or swab finds trichomoniasis, one of the most treatable STIs.
Usually urine or a swab for chlamydia/gonorrhea, and blood for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.