Gonorrhea in Clear Creek County is reported about 94% less often than in the US overall. If you're in Empire, Colorado and seeking STI testing before starting a new relationship or as part of ongoing care, you can either visit a clinic to get support and start treatment or use an at-home kit for self-collection and mailing. The options below cover both approaches.
Available testing centers
7 testing options are listed for Empire, CO. The nearest, Clear Creek County, is about 9.1 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.
Clear Creek County in Idaho Springs requires an appointment, so scheduling ahead locks in a visit that covers HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis C testing alongside same-visit treatment for bacterial infections, vaccines, and sliding-scale fees accepted across insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Clear Creek County prescribes DoxyPEP as a standing prevention option, which means patients leave with a concrete post-exposure bacterial STI strategy rather than an unresolved gap in their care.
Clinics that test only for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV leave hepatitis C unexamined. Clear Creek County adds both hepatitis C and TB to the panel, catching infections that would otherwise go untested in a single visit.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Nov 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
Denver Health in Winter Park tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis C on a sliding-scale fee open to everyone, with Medicaid and Medicare accepted; bacterial infections can be treated the same visit, and appointments are required.
Plenty of clinics cap their panel at the four bacterial and viral basics, leaving herpes and hepatitis C to a separate specialist visit. Denver Health tests for both, herpes and hepatitis C included, alongside HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, with on-site hepatitis C care rather than a separate referral chain.
PrEP at Denver Health isn't a prescription handed off without follow-through: clinicians manage the ongoing HIV testing, kidney-function monitoring, and refill cycle that a PrEP regimen requires. Uninsured patients have a dedicated cost pathway, and PEP is also available for post-exposure HIV prevention.
Many clinics handle Spanish only through ad hoc workarounds that leave clinical nuance on the table. Denver Health delivers STI care directly in Spanish: counseling, testing, and treatment conducted in the language, not summarized through it.
Languages
English, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Feb 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
A safety-net rural health clinic about 12 miles from Empire. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
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 9 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Empire, 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.
Local clinicians
Beyond dedicated clinics, 283 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Empire. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 109 offer telehealth.
Kelley Glancey, MD
Family medicine · 78878 US Hwy 40, Winter Park
Jeffrey Sorensen, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 32135 Castle Court, Evergreen
Sarah Robinson, DO Telehealth
Family medicine · 365 Dillon Ridge Road, Dillon
Astrid Lampey, MD
Family medicine · 956 West Anemone Trail, Dillon
Mark Siemer, DO
Family medicine · 265 Tanglewood Lane, Silverthorne
Thien Dang Vu, MD Telehealth
Internal medicine · 110 North Rubey Drive, Golden
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 Empire, CO 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.
9.5 mi Showing the 1 closest pharmacy to Empire, CO.
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 Empire, 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 $0 insured
Telehealth STI treatment and sexual-health care, delivered or to your pharmacy
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 Clear Creek County, the county that includes Empire, compare with Colorado and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~22% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#46 of 64 Colorado counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 28% of the state
| Infection | Clear Creek County | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 164 15 cases ▼ 62% | 435.1 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 10.9 1 cases ▼ 92% | 128.7 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | — no data | 16 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | — no data | 10.4 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 10.9 1 cases ▼ 62% | 28.4 | 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 Clear Creek County, chlamydia has risen from 74.5 to 164 per 100,000 (120%), and gonorrhea has fallen from 21.3 to 10.9 per 100,000 (49%).
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 Clear Creek County.
Local HIV snapshot
Clear Creek County HIV care continuum (2023)
Clear Creek County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 9.6 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Clear Creek County residents living with HIV, 57.1% are in care · 47.6% 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 Clear Creek County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Empire's identity traces back to the mining operations that drew settlers to Clear Creek in the 1800s, a legacy reflected in the town's name and the landscape itself. Today, the community includes young adults in their late teens through thirties who benefit from confidential STI screening as part of regular health care. Testing in and around Empire, listed on this page, serves residents across Ball Placer and Victorian Village, with providers accessible from both East Park Avenue and West Park Avenue. The appeal of screening in a smaller town often centers on knowing where to go and what to expect. Empire's clinics and health partners understand that discretion matters; results remain private, and the process moves straightforwardly from appointment to follow-up.
No results are reported to employers, schools, or family unless you choose to share them. Whether you're new to the area or have lived here through seasons, routine testing fits into life without fanfare. The providers available in and around Empire welcome walk-ins and scheduled visits alike, and many accept insurance or offer sliding-scale fees. Starting a screening is as simple as calling ahead or stopping by, a step that costs little in time and builds confidence in your health.
Getting there
At 6.48/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Empire 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 80438 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 80438 area around Empire: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Empire alone.
Empire sits in Clear Creek County, ZIP 80438. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Neighborhoods & communities
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Empire? 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 Clear Creek County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Colorado 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 an Empire-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 Empire 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 Colorado 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 Colorado, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Colorado 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 ColoradoSource: 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.
There are 6 options within a 30-mile drive.
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.
Clear Creek County reported ~164 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Colorado average.
At-home kits mail to 80438: self-collect, send to the lab, results in ~2–5 days.
In Colorado, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Yes, PrEP, a daily pill that helps prevent HIV in HIV-negative people, is available in the area.
Reassuring if you tested after the window, just retest if it was early, and screen again with new partners.
Often, yes, especially throat and rectal infections, which is why site-specific testing matters.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.