Vernon Parish reports about 173 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 residents, near the US average. Whether you have symptoms or just want peace of mind in Fort Polk South, Louisiana, weigh your options: public clinics keep costs down, private labs prioritize speed, and at-home kits trade a clinic visit for convenience.
Available testing centers
9 testing options are listed for Fort Polk South, LA. The nearest, CLHG-Leesville, is about 6.6 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 community safety-net rural health clinic about 7 miles from Fort Polk South. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
A safety-net rural health clinic about 7 miles from Fort Polk South. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
Outpatient Medical Center, Inc. @ Leesville welcomes patients paying out of pocket, between providers, or without coverage. Federally qualified status means fees slide with income. Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening is available, and no appointment is needed to get tested.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
Louisiana Department of Health in Leesville covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and HIV testing, plus TB and family planning, with every service provided at no fee regardless of income, and Medicaid is also accepted. An appointment is required.
The no-fee structure here is sustained by state public health appropriations, which means the full range of services (testing, STI treatment, TB treatment, vaccines, and family planning) is zeroed out at the point of care for every patient, not offset by a sliding-scale calculation or limited to a single program line.
Beyond gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV, Louisiana Department of Health in Leesville adds herpes to its diagnostic panel. A distinction that means a single appointment produces results across five distinct STI categories rather than stopping at the more commonly offered four.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Aug 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center in Leesville requires an appointment, so scheduling ahead is the move, and once you're in, that single visit covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing alongside STI treatment and family planning on a sliding-scale fee accepted alongside Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Apr 2026 · 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 7 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Fort Polk South, 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 Vernon Parish, 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.
3353 University Parkway, Leesville, LA 71446
CMS-certified lab
1112 Port Arthur Terrace, Leesville, LA 71446
CMS-certified lab Accredited · COLA
1020 Fertitta Boulevard, Leesville, LA 71446
CMS-certified lab Accredited · COLA
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Fort Polk South. 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, 73 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Fort Polk South. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 25 offer telehealth.
Robert Lamme, MD
Family medicine · 900 South 6th Street, Leesville
Dametra Taylor, NP
Family medicine · 908 South 10th Street, Leesville
Sylwia Hatley, MD
Urology · 700 South 6th Street, Leesville
Jocelyne Saikali, MD
Internal medicine · 1020 Fertitta Boulevard, Leesville
Kimberly Landrum, MD Telehealth
Internal medicine · 1020 West Fertita Boulevard, Leesville
Wesley Updike, MD
Family medicine · 1020 West Fertita Boulevard, Leesville
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 Fort Polk South, LA 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.
5.6 mi 
5.8 mi Dons Family Pharmacy
6.6 miThrifty Way Pharmacy
6.7 miLeesville Pharmacy
6.7 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Fort Polk South, LA.
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 Fort Polk South, 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
Visit from $39
Online STI treatment & DoxyPEP: same-day prescriptions to your pharmacy
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
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 Vernon Parish, the parish that includes Fort Polk South, compare with Louisiana and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~49% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#28 of 64 Louisiana counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 56% of the state
| Infection | Vernon Parish | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 748.1 346 cases ▼ 6% | 792.4 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 173 80 cases ▼ 40% | 288.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 2.2 1 cases ▼ 92% | 26.1 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 4.3 2 cases ▼ 78% | 19.6 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 30.3 14 cases ▼ 42% | 52.6 | 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 Vernon Parish, chlamydia has risen from 500.5 to 748.1 per 100,000 (49%), gonorrhea has risen from 145.6 to 173 per 100,000 (19%), and P&S syphilis has fallen from 6.2 to 2.2 per 100,000 (65%).
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 Vernon Parish.
Local HIV snapshot
Vernon Parish HIV care continuum (2023)
Vernon Parish recorded 21.3 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 22.5 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Vernon Parish residents living with HIV, 80.3% are in care · 71.2% 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 Vernon Parish tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Rent consuming the bulk of a paycheck leaves little cushion for anything that feels optional, and for most people here, a screening visit can feel exactly that way until it doesn't. Fort Polk South runs almost entirely on rental households, and at typical rent levels, a unexpected co-pay or the cost of gas down LA 10 (Pitkin Highway) to reach a clinic can be enough to postpone a visit indefinitely. With very few households clearing six figures, that budget reality touches nearly everyone in town. The community also skews strikingly young and coupled: more than half of adults are married, households run larger than average, and the workforce participation rate is among the highest you'll find anywhere.
That combination means schedules are dense: long duty days, shared vehicles, children to arrange care for. The younger adults here, people in their late teens and twenties who account for nearly half the population, are at the ages when STI transmission peaks, yet they're also the ones most likely to be juggling shift constraints and a tight monthly budget at the same time. The testing options on this page vary in cost, distance from the Pitkin Highway corridor, and hours, which matters in a place where walking isn't realistic and every trip needs to be worth the drive. Knowing which clinics offer sliding-scale fees or same-day slots before you leave Warrior Memorial Park area can be the difference between a visit that fits your week and one that gets filed away.
Getting there
At 2.7/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Fort Polk South 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 71459 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 71459 area around Fort Polk South: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Fort Polk South alone.
Fort Polk South sits in Vernon Parish, ZIP 71459. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Fort Polk South? 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 Vernon Parish: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Louisiana 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 Fort Polk South-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 Fort Polk South 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Louisiana 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 LouisianaSource: 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 CLHG-Leesville, about 6.6 mi away; 6 are within 30 miles. An at-home kit shipped to 71459 also works.
Usually yes, it can be billed to insurance, or paid out of pocket at a flat rate.
Public clinics serve people without insurance, often on a sliding scale.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Vernon Parish reported ~748 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Louisiana average.
Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.
In Louisiana, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
At-home kits mail to 71459: self-collect, send to the lab, results in ~2–5 days.
Sexually active people, especially under 25 or with new/multiple partners; everyone 13–64 should test for HIV at least once.
Many STIs are fully cured with antibiotics; others, like HIV and herpes, are well managed with treatment.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.