STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) can cause irreparable damage to your body if left untreated. Some prevalent STDs in the USA are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, which are generally spread through close skin-to-skin contact, sexual activity, and even to unborn babies during pregnancy. These infections are caused due to bacteria, parasites, or viruses penetrating the body. Millions of Americans get infected with STDs, and one can even develop multiple diseases. For instance, those infected with chlamydia also become vulnerable to HIV. STD testing is necessary to ensure your health and well-being. Learn more about STD/HIV testing in Columbia, South Carolina.
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South Carolina has America’s third-highest statewide STD rate, with 999.9 cases detected per 100k residents in 2021. Richland County is amongst its worst-affected regions. It has the third-highest STD rate among all US counties, with 1,939.4 cases diagnosed/100k residents. Since South Carolina comprises large rural areas, STD testing is not as common, given the lack of transportation. However, in the post-pandemic years, STD testing has become more commonplace. Columbia, SC, has many low-cost, confidential STD testing facilities. Find your nearest clinic here.
120 Highland Ctr Dr Ste 130b, Columbia, South Carolina 29203
5.97 mile
Tel: 8034621271
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2100 Gervais St Ste B, Columbia, South Carolina 29204
6.94 mile
Tel: 8039290076
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
2 Southern Ct, West Columbia, South Carolina 29169
13.3 mile
Tel: 8039391455
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
3025 Farrow Rd, Ste 102, Columbia, South Carolina 29203
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 223-9895
Appointment Required: Yes
Free condoms available.
827 Wildwood Ave, Ste 200, Columbia, South Carolina 29203
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 419-5112
Appointment Required: Yes
Cooperative Care is a Ryan White Part C & D Program. Free confidential healthcare to HIV+ clients is offered.
1228 Harden St, 2nd Fl, Columbia, South Carolina 29204
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 748-1181
Tel: (803) 748-1185
Tel: (803) 799-8407
Appointment Required: Yes
Please visit the website or call for eligibility requirements. STD testing, HIV PrEP and PEP for patients 18+. Trichomoniasis testing available as part of STD testing services.
121 Clemson Rd, Columbia, South Carolina 29229
3.32 mile
Tel: (866) 389-2727
Must register as a patient.
115 Blarney Dr , Ste 212, Columbia, South Carolina 29223
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 254-5171
Appointment Required: Yes
1813 Laurel St, Columbia, South Carolina 29201
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 254-6644
Tel: (803) 254-2209
Appointment Required: Yes
1411 Barnwell St, Ste 1, Columbia, South Carolina 29201
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 849-8434
Appointment Required: No
1 Richland Medical Park Dr , Ste 420, Columbia, South Carolina 29203
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 545-5350
Tel: (803) 545-5353
Appointment Required: Yes
2000 Hampton St, Columbia, South Carolina 29204
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 576-2980
Tel: (855) 472-3432
Appointment Required: Yes
1911 Hampton St, Columbia, South Carolina 29201
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 849-8430
Appointment Required: Yes
Condoms available for free.
2638 Two Notch Rd, Ste 108, Columbia, South Carolina 29204
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 779-7257
Appointment Required: Yes
2712 Middleburg Dr, Ste 107, Columbia, South Carolina 29204
3.32 mile
Tel: (803) 256-4908
Tel: (803) 256-4900
Appointment Required: Yes
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Columbia, South Carolina. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
This is one of the most popular ways to get tested for STDs today. These tests combine the best of both worlds for convenience and accuracy. You will order the test online at home, but you can walk into a professional lab testing center to get tested.
Another option is to simply visit your regular clinic and talk to your doctor.
If you do not want to visit a testing center, then a great alternative is an at-home test kit. You don’t even need to leave your house to get tested for STDs this way, which makes it the most discreet option. Everything is done through email and snail mail.
One last option for STD testing is a trip to a free clinic. If you go to a public STD-testing clinic, then you may get a free or discounted test, depending on your financial situation.
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
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It would vary depending on the condition that is being tested. STDs behave differently due to the varying pathogenicity of each STD’s causative organism. In some instances, you can get accurately tested as early as two weeks following exposure, while some are intermittently inaccurate due to its recurrence (much like in the case of herpes infections). To avoid this, be sure to discuss the intricacies of the test with your physician to understand whether a particular test could provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or if it still needs another confirmatory test to establish its premise.
Depending on the test being performed and the testing physician's targeted diseases, various types of samples can be requested from you. In some instances, a minuscule blood sample of a few milliliters will be collected, some might ask for a urine sample, and others may opt for a genital swab. Again, the sample being collected will depend on the test being conducted and the outcome that is being targeted for this particular procedure.
It does vary on a case-to-case basis. Insurance policies are often particular with the instances that they would be covering with their program. Some may cover severe accidents, some may even consider “orphan disease,” and yes, some may also cover the expenses for performing STD diagnostic tests. However, considering that your insurance provider will have to verify the person's identity availing of the program, STD testing laboratories that employ a minimal collection of patient information may not accept insurance policies to prioritize privacy over affordability.
A nucleic acid amplification test is a laboratory procedure that professionals often perform to make detecting a particular nucleic acid or gene being targeted easier and more convenient while still ensuring that the sample being collected is relatively minimal. Nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, are usually the mainstay diagnostic test for most STDs due to their ability to detect the presence of pathogenic nucleic acids and genes in the patient sample with utmost accuracy and speed. NAATs depends on their ability to replicate the target RNA and DNA to create numerous copies – resulting in an increased convenience in the detection of the desired molecules instead of trying to either blindly look for one strand in a minuscule sample or collecting a large sample that could make the patient uncomfortable throughout the process. Although NAATs are often preferred for a more conclusive diagnosis of STDs, certain exceptions such as the availability of resources and instances of intermittent viral shedding could make NAATs less desirable than other tests. Fret not, however, as your physician is knowledgeable regarding these instances and would often request the best diagnostic procedure for your instances.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!