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STD Testing in Cotulla, TX: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

Gonorrhea cases in La Salle County run about 49% lower than the national average. If you're in Cotulla, Texas, and seeking testing for a one-time concern or regular check-ups, you have several options. Public clinics keep costs down, private labs prioritize speed, and at-home kits trade a clinic visit for convenience. Review your options below.

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  • Clinics, labs & at-home kits compared
  • Free & low-cost options included
  • Backed by CDC, CMS & Census data
  • Editorially reviewed

Available testing centers

STD testing near Cotulla, TX

5 testing options are listed for Cotulla, TX. The nearest, South Texas Rural Health Services, is about 0.2 miles away. Compare 4 community and public clinics, private labs, and at-home kits below.

How to read these listings

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.

Community health center 0.2 miles

South Texas Rural Health Services

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google10
  • EasySTD1
Rated 2.7 out of 5 from 11 reviews

South Texas Rural Health Services in Cotulla requires an appointment, so scheduling ahead is the move, but one visit covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and TB testing, with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections and sliding-scale fees for everyone, care delivered in Spanish.

Read full overview Show less

Spanish Is the Working Language Here

Plenty of clinics gesture at Spanish-language access without actually delivering care in it, the exam, the counseling, the follow-up all revert to English with a workaround layered on top. At South Texas Rural Health Services, Spanish is the operating language of the clinical encounter itself, not an accommodation bolted on after the fact.

Substance-Use Treatment Shares the Same Roof

South Texas Rural Health Services carries substance-use treatment as a standing clinical service alongside STI care, meaning someone managing both doesn't need to coordinate between separate providers across separate systems. The overlap between these health concerns is well-documented, and handling them within a single practice removes the friction of split records, split schedules, and split conversations.

Herpes and Hepatitis Are on the Panel

Walking out with only a partial picture (no herpes result, no hepatitis screen) often means a second appointment somewhere else, a gap in coverage, or an untreated condition that a fuller panel at South Texas Rural Health Services would have caught in the first visit. Testing here extends to herpes, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C alongside the core bacterial and viral infections.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale
Address
105 South Stewart Street, Cotulla, TX 78014
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 0.6 miles

STRHS

No ratings yet

STRHS Administration in Cotulla structures its fees on a sliding scale tied to income, so cost is never a barrier to care. Walk-ins are welcome for STI screening that covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Federally qualified status backs that commitment to serve everyone regardless of ability to pay.

Sliding-scale
Address
611 Thornton Street, Cotulla, TX 78014
Website
Community health center 32.7 miles

Pearsall Behavioral Health

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google11
  • EasySTD1
Rated 3.3 out of 5 from 12 reviews

Pearsall Behavioral Health, in Pearsall, earns its federally qualified status by tying fees to income. 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.

Sliding-scale
Address
158 Medical Drive, Pearsall, TX 78061
Website
Best for free testing 33.3 miles

Texas Department of State Health Services

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google6
  • EasySTD1
Rated 3 out of 5 from 7 reviews

Texas Department of State Health Services in Pearsall runs on appointments, so scheduling ahead unlocks the full visit: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing alongside STI treatment, DoxyPEP, and HPV, hepatitis A, and mpox vaccines. All on a sliding-scale or no-fee basis.

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DoxyPEP Prescribed Where Most Clinics Decline

Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis remains outside the scope of many STI clinics, left to specialists or primary care. Texas DSHS Pearsall carries a prescription protocol for DoxyPEP directly, meaning the regimen is discussed, dispensed, and followed up within the same clinical relationship.

Spanish-Language Care Shapes Every Clinical Exchange

Services at Texas DSHS Pearsall are delivered in Spanish, which means counseling, test results, and prevention education are communicated with the same precision as the clinical work itself. Nothing filtered or summarized through a secondary step.

Zero-Fee Structure Covers Every Service on the Menu

The no-fee commitment at Texas DSHS Pearsall is operational, not selective: HIV testing, vaccines, DoxyPEP, STI treatment, and TB care are all staffed and administered under the same cost framework. No service is carved out at a separate rate.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale DoxyPEP
Address
1009 North Oak Street, Suite A Pearsall, TX 78061
Booking
Appointment required
Website
Premium Partner

Quest Diagnostics

Most reviewed Results in 1–2 days
Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google62
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 67 reviews
Address
2151 West Oaklawn Road, Pleasanton, TX 78064 55.9 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Free tool · not a clinic

When can I test? Exposure-window calculator

Testing too soon can miss an infection. Enter the date of possible exposure to see the earliest a test can reliably detect each STI.

Detection windows for every 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.

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What matters most to you?

What will it cost? Estimate your STD test

Typical out-of-pocket ranges by option, actual cost depends on which tests you need.

  • Public / community clinic

    Free HIV testing is common

    $0–$25

  • Private lab (self-pay)

    Never billed to insurance

    $24–$200

  • At-home kit

    Mailed to your door, private

    From $49

  • Doctor / urgent care

    Often $0 preventive with insurance

    $0–$50 copay

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Rate what mattered to you, no account needed. Reviews are moderated before publishing.

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Every other option

More ways to get tested in Cotulla, TX

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

At-home STD testing in Cotulla, TX

The nearest testing center is less than a mile away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Cotulla, 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.

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.

Nearby pharmacies

Pharmacies near Cotulla, TX

No pharmacy near Cotulla, TX 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.

Showing the 4 closest pharmacies to Cotulla, TX.

Directory records identify nearby pharmacies. Service, stock, price, and hours information is shown only when supported by current location-specific evidence.

Prevention & treatment

PrEP, prevention & online treatment

Testing is one step. For residents of Cotulla, 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.

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

STDs & HIV in La Salle County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in La Salle County, the county that includes Cotulla, compare with Texas and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~26% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.

#131 of 254 Texas counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 48% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, La Salle County vs Texas vs U.S.

La Salle County Texas U.S. ▲▼ = La Salle County vs the state average
Infection La Salle County Texas United States
Chlamydia
290.7 19 cases ▼ 41%
491.9 492.2
Gonorrhea
91.8 6 cases ▼ 48%
176.4 179.5
Syphilis (P&S) — no data 15 15.8
Syphilis (early) — no data 26.4 16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
45.9 3 cases ▲ 4%
44.3 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.

Reported STD rates in La Salle County over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▼ 26% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 250 500 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in La Salle County, chlamydia has fallen from 390.2 to 290.7 per 100,000 (25%), and gonorrhea has risen from 75 to 91.8 per 100,000 (22%).

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

What shapes testing access in and around Cotulla, TX

Adults uninsured
36.8%
No routine checkup
27.8%
Binge drinking
14.7%
Frequent mental distress
17.3%
Depression
19.3%
Below poverty line
24%
  • Primary-care shortage score 21 / 26
  • Medically Underserved Area · IMU 57
  • Social Vulnerability Index · 91st percentile nationally

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 La Salle County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in La Salle County (2023)

People living with HIV
459 / 100k
New diagnoses (2023)
0cases countywide
PrEP users / 100k
124

La Salle County HIV care continuum (2023)

La Salle County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 20.2 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among La Salle County residents living with HIV, 68% are in care · 64% 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.

Pregnant or planning to be?

Congenital syphilis is the fastest-rising STI: what to test, and when

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 La Salle County tests for syphilis.

Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).

Reviewed & Fact-Checked · Updated

Reviewed by EasySTD Editorial Team (opens in a new tab)

Compiled and checked by EasySTD's editorial team against CDC and public-health sources. This is educational information, not a substitute for advice from a licensed clinician. Our editorial guidelines → (opens in a new tab)

15 Sources

Local resources & officials

Data & references

Local context

About Cotulla, TX

Cotulla's identity rests on the La Salle County land that drew settlers here: a place where families have built homes and stayed, where affordability and stability anchor daily life. That same commitment to staying put carries into health decisions. Young adults in town, from late teens through their thirties, often find themselves at a life stage where a quiet, confidential screening fits naturally into their routine: before a new relationship, after a concerning encounter, or simply as part of staying aware. Testing in and around Cotulla listed on this page gives them that chance without fanfare.

The town's modest size means word travels, and that reality shapes how people approach their health. Confidentiality here isn't theoretical, it's the difference between getting tested and putting it off. Clinics and providers serving Cotulla understand this tension and build their practice around it, treating each visit as a private matter between you and your care team. Access to testing doesn't require a drive into a larger city.

Local and nearby resources can handle routine screening, results that need follow-up, and the conversations that come after. For residents who value both their roots in Cotulla and their privacy, that combination, staying local while keeping things quiet, matters.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Cotulla, TX

Walkability 5.65 / 20 · Least walkable

At 5.65/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Cotulla 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.

Map of 5 STD & STI testing locations in Cotulla, Texas, EasySTD

ZIP 78014 snapshot

Residents
5,542
Median age
39
Median income
$58,216

ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 78014 area around Cotulla: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Cotulla alone.

Cotulla sits in La Salle County, ZIP 78014. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • First Methodist Church of Cotulla
  • Veterans Park
  • La Salle County
  • Cotulla City Park
  • First Presbyterian Church of Cotulla
  • First Baptist Church of Cotulla

Major routes

  • I 35 Bus (North Main Street)
  • TX 97 (Tilden Street)
  • North Interstate 35

Reference

STD testing in Cotulla, TX: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in La Salle County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Texas law. If you have symptoms right now, our confidential symptom checker maps them to the tests worth considering.

Who should test, and when

CDC screening schedule + each infection's detection window

Who should get tested, and how often

Based on current CDC screening recommendations.

GroupTestsHow 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

When to test: STD detection windows

Testing too early can return a false negative, confirm timing with a Cotulla-area provider.

InfectionEarliest reliable testSample
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
Browse all STD & STI guides

What each STD test costs

Medicare reference prices per lab test, a benchmark before you pay out of pocket

These are the federal Medicare reference prices for processing each lab test. Public clinics and the community health centers serving Cotulla 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.

TestReference priceCPT / 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.

Confidentiality & consent in Texas

Minor consent and partner treatment (EPT) under state law, plus how to test privately

Two things that actually depend on Texas 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).

Can a minor consent on their own?

In Texas, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

Texas 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 Texas

Source: Guttmacher Institute, Minors' Access to STI Services; CDC, Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy. General information, not legal advice.

Good to Know

STD testing FAQs for Cotulla, TX

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

Where can I get tested for STDs in Cotulla, TX?

The closest is South Texas Rural Health Services (0.2 mi); 2 options are within 30 miles.

What does STD testing cost around Cotulla, TX?

Public clinics are free; private labs ~$24–$139, at-home kits $49+.

Is there free STD testing near Cotulla, TX?

Yes, Texas Department of State Health Services (33.3 mi) offers free testing, and public clinics serve the uninsured.

Which tests are offered near Cotulla, TX?

Local options test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Herpes, Trichomoniasis, a full panel covers the common ones.

How common is chlamydia in La Salle County?

About 291 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the Texas average.

How long do results take near Cotulla, TX?

Lab results typically come back in 1–2 days.

Can someone under 18 get tested in Texas without a parent?

In Texas, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.

Can chlamydia have no symptoms?

Yes, most chlamydia infections cause no symptoms, so screening is the only reliable way to catch it.

How do at-home STD kits work near Cotulla, TX?

You self-collect a sample at home, mail it in, and view results online, no clinic visit needed.

I tested positive, what are the next steps?

Start treatment, tell recent partners so they can test, avoid sex until cleared, and retest if advised, most STIs resolve with care.

Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.