In King County, new HIV diagnoses are about 34% lower than the US average. Whether it's your first STI test or a routine screening in Des Moines, Washington, you can choose between visiting a clinic to speak with a provider or using an at-home kit for convenience. See your options below for more information.
Available testing centers
12 testing options are listed for Des Moines, WA. The nearest, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, is about 1.0 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.
A free or low-cost STD-testing location about 1 mile from Des Moines, run as a Federally Qualified Health Center with sliding-scale fees.
Languages
English, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Sep 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN + HRSA
Sea Mar Community Health Center on S. 242nd St. in Des Moines extends federally qualified sliding-scale care to people paying out of pocket, between insurance, or simply watching their budget. Walk in for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening with fees adjusted to what you can actually afford.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
HealthPoint in Des Moines runs on a sliding scale and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, making its standard panel (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV) reachable at almost any income. Appointments are required, and bacterial STIs are treated the same visit.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Feb 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN + HRSA
Sea Mar CHC - Burien 8th Ave. S. located in Seatac, welcomes walk-ins for STI screening without an appointment. Federal qualification underpins its sliding-scale fees, keeping syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing within reach based on income. All handled in a single visit.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
HealthPoint Kent Urgent Care, in Kent, draws its STI screening from the federally qualified health center model. Meaning fees slide with income, not a flat price. Walk-ins are welcome for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing, with no appointment needed to get started.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
ZoomCare Tukwila tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, herpes, and hepatitis A, B, and C on a sliding-scale fee with insurance accepted; appointments are required, and bacterial infections can be treated the same visit.
ZoomCare's panel adds herpes typing and hepatitis A, B, and C serology to the core bacterial and HIV workup. Each test is ordered and resulted through the clinic's own workflow, no separate lab referral, so a single appointment captures the full picture.
Clinics that handle PrEP often stop there, leaving PEP and DoxyPEP to emergency departments or specialty referrals. ZoomCare Tukwila prescribes and manages all three (daily oral PrEP, post-exposure antiretroviral PEP, and doxycycline PEP for bacterial STI prevention) within the same clinical relationship.
ZoomCare Tukwila builds interpretation services into the appointment itself: not as an add-on requested at check-in, but as a coordinated part of how the visit is structured and documented, so clinical history, medication instructions, and follow-up plans are communicated with the same precision regardless of language.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Apr 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Burien accepts Medicaid and private insurance, with a fee schedule for others, covering gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, and TB. Appointments required, bacterial STIs treated same visit.
Leaving a clinic with gonorrhea and chlamydia cleared but herpes or hepatitis B undetected means scheduling elsewhere, paying again, and waiting again. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Burien tests for herpes and hepatitis A, B, and C alongside the core bacterial panel. One appointment closes those gaps rather than opening new ones.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Burien prescribes and monitors PrEP for ongoing HIV prevention, PEP when indicated, and DoxyPEP for bacterial STI risk reduction: each requiring its own dosing schedule, lab follow-up cadence, and clinical check-ins that are managed within the same practice.
Many clinics field a non-English speaker and route language access through workarounds that break the clinical conversation. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Burien provides interpretation services integrated into the appointment itself, so the history, the results, and the treatment plan are communicated directly. Not filtered or abbreviated.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Mar 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
Family Care of Kent blends STI testing and same-visit treatment for bacterial infections into a family practice framework, covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C on a sliding-scale fee with appointments required. PrEP and PEP are both available here.
Family Care of Kent prescribes both PrEP and PEP directly, which means your prevention plan and your primary care relationship can develop in the same place over time. No hand-off required to get started or to stay on it.
Chasing down hepatitis B or C through a separate specialist visit means a gap between exposure and answers, and potentially between answers and treatment. Family Care of Kent folds both hepatitis tests into the same panel as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV, closing that gap at the first appointment.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Sep 2025 · 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 about 1 mile away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Des Moines, 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 King 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.
2781 South 242nd, Des Moines, WA 98198
CMS-certified lab
720 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
CMS-certified lab
1035 116th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA 98004
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Des Moines. 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, 3,127 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Des Moines. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 1,318 offer telehealth.
Elaine Chang, MD Telehealth
OB-GYN · 205 10th Street Northeast, Des Moines
Prathayini Muthiah, MD
Family medicine · 2781 South 242nd Street, Des Moines
Mumin Dimbil, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 22000 Marine View Drive South, Des Moines
Robert Dini, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 23213 Pacific Highway South, Kent
Ariahnna Croskey, DO
Family medicine · 26401 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines
Ngoc-Anh Ta, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 505 Washington Avenue South, Kent
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 Des Moines, WA 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.
Fred Meyer Pharmacy
1.4 miThrifty Payless
2.0 miAccredo Health Group
3.1 miQualtiy Compounding Solutions
3.3 miShowing the 4 closest pharmacies to Des Moines, WA.
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 Des Moines, 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
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 $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 King County, the county that includes Des Moines, compare with Washington and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~27% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#18 of 39 Washington counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 54% of the state
| Infection | King County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 324 7,360 cases ▼ 9% | 354.4 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 198.5 4,509 cases ▲ 53% | 129.6 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 25.4 578 cases ▲ 19% | 21.3 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 18 409 cases ▲ 44% | 12.5 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 29.1 660 cases ▲ 27% | 22.9 | 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 King County, chlamydia has fallen from 373.4 to 324 per 100,000 (13%), gonorrhea has risen from 192 to 198.5 per 100,000 (3%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 14.8 to 25.4 per 100,000 (72%).
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 King County.
Local HIV snapshot
Federal priority area: King County is one of 48 U.S. counties prioritized under the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative: targeted federal funding to expand local HIV testing, PrEP, and prevention.
King County HIV care continuum (2023)
King County recorded 9 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 6.3 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among King County residents living with HIV, 88% know their status · 87% are in care · 79.1% 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 King County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Along Pacific Highway South, families and young professionals navigate the balance between work and personal life in Des Moines. With a strong presence of homeowners, many residents have a vested interest in their community, but the significant number of renters means that housing stability and affordability can be a concern. The typical household, with three people and nearly half of adults married, often involves juggling schedules and priorities.
In this community, where over a third of households earn a six-figure income and labor-force participation is high, there can be pressure to keep up with a busy pace. The unemployment rate and typical rent suggest that financial stability is not always a given, and some residents may need to prioritize their spending. For young adults still forming relationships and establishing their careers, getting screened for STIs might not be top of mind - but it's an important part of maintaining their health. Robert Morris Earthworks Park and Cottonwood Grove Park offer peaceful escapes from the daily grind, but for residents with limited free time, accessing healthcare services can be a challenge.
As residents consider their health, they do so in a context where many of their neighbors are likely to be in similar life stages. With many households having multiple people to consider, staying current with health screenings can be a complex task. For someone living in a neighborhood like Hearthside or Star Lake, getting tested is about finding a moment that works amidst the demands of work, family, and community - and the county's health landscape is a part of that story.
Getting there
Des Moines scores 13.11/20 on the EPA walkability index, so many trips are walkable or a short ride, though a car still gives you the widest choice of testing centers.
Source: EPA National Walkability Index 2021.
ZIP 98198 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 98198 area around Des Moines: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Des Moines alone.
Des Moines sits in King County, ZIP 98198. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Neighborhoods & communities
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Des Moines? 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 King County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Washington 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 Des Moines-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 Des Moines 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 Washington 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 Washington, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Washington 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 WashingtonSource: 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.
Possibly, Kent, WA is close; compare it by distance against Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
Public clinics are free; private labs ~$24–$139, at-home kits $49+.
Public clinics nearby offer free HIV testing.
Local options test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Rapid HIV, a full panel covers the common ones.
About 324 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the Washington average.
In Washington, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
PrEP (HIV-prevention medicine for HIV-negative people) is available locally, any provider can prescribe it.
The gap between exposure and when a test can reliably detect the infection; testing inside it can miss a real infection.
Yes, test after the window period, and if HIV exposure is a concern, ask about PEP within 72 hours.
It depends: a blood draw covers HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis, while urine or a swab covers chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.