Gonorrhea reports in Dallas County are about 62% higher than the US average. Living in Carthage, Arkansas, if you need testing after a possible exposure or as part of routine care, you have a choice between community clinics, which are often low-cost or free, and private labs, which tend to offer faster results and more flexible scheduling. See the options below.
Available testing centers
4 testing options are listed for Carthage, AR. The nearest, Labcorp, is about 34.7 miles away. Compare private labs and at-home kits below.
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 35 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Carthage, 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 range: couples & full panels
$79 & up
Best for simplicity & support
$89 & 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 Dallas 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.
201 Clifton Street, Fordyce, AR 71742
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Carthage. 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, 32 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Carthage. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 3 offer telehealth.
Absalom Tilley, MD
Internal medicine · 1409 South Rock Street, Sheridan
John Harris, MD
Family medicine · 810 South Rock Street, Sheridan
John Mitchell, MD
Family medicine · 506 Little Creek Cut Off Road, Sheridan
David Foscue, MD
General practice · 110 North Clifton Street, Fordyce
Kaitlin Mcnamara, DO
Family medicine · 201 North Clifton Street, Fordyce
Kimberly Golden, MD
Family medicine · 505 Sycamore Street, Rison
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 Carthage, AR 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.
18 mi McCoy Tygart Drug
19 miThe Prescription Store
19 miWatson Pharmacy
20 miCity Pharmacy of Rison
22 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Carthage, AR.
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 Carthage, 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.
$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
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 Dallas County, the county that includes Carthage, compare with Arkansas and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~9% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#9 of 75 Arkansas counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 88% of the state
| Infection | Dallas County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 937.8 58 cases ▲ 62% | 579.6 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 291 18 cases ▲ 50% | 193.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 64.7 4 cases ▲ 122% | 29.2 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 16.2 1 cases ▼ 6% | 17.3 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 97 6 cases ▲ 102% | 48 | 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 Dallas County, chlamydia has risen from 632.5 to 937.8 per 100,000 (48%), gonorrhea has fallen from 370.3 to 291 per 100,000 (21%), and P&S syphilis has fallen from 77.1 to 64.7 per 100,000 (16%).
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 Dallas County.
Local HIV snapshot
Federal priority area: Arkansas 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.
Dallas County HIV care continuum (2023)
Dallas County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 11.8 statewide and 13.7 nationally. 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 Dallas County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Carthage sits in Dallas County where the landscape shifts between open land and tree-lined stretches, a place where people tend to know their surroundings well. That familiarity makes confidentiality especially meaningful when it comes to sexual health, testing here works best when you can be certain what you discuss stays between you and the clinic. Routine screening fits naturally into life at this stage, whether you're newly partnered, managing multiple relationships, or simply staying current with your own health. Young adults in Carthage have access to testing in and around town through the clinics listed on this page, each offering straightforward visits without judgment. The results themselves carry no automatic chain of notification: they belong to you alone, and you decide what comes next.
Whether you're seeking peace of mind after a potential exposure, preparing for a new relationship, or checking in as part of regular care, the process is direct and private. Finding a testing site that fits your schedule and comfort level matters. The clinics available here understand that people move through their twenties and thirties with different concerns and different reasons for screening. What remains constant is the ability to get answers quickly and keep them confidential, a foundation for moving forward with clarity.
Getting there
At 3.4/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Carthage 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 72084 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 72084 area around Carthage: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Carthage alone.
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Carthage? 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 Dallas County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Arkansas 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 Carthage-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 Carthage 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Arkansas 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 ArkansasSource: 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.
Nearest is Labcorp, about 34.7 mi away. An at-home kit shipped to 72084 also works.
Usually yes, it can be billed to insurance, or paid out of pocket at a flat rate.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Dallas County reported ~938 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, above the Arkansas average.
In Arkansas, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.
Lab-based 4th-generation and NAT tests are most sensitive early on; rapid tests are also very reliable after the window.
Certain high-risk HPV types raise cancer risk; vaccination and routine screening are the defenses.
No, most STIs have no visible signs, so the only way to know is to test.
Public and community clinics test everyone; several provide LGBTQ-affirming services.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.