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STD Testing in Gifford, SC: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

Though people in Hampton County report syphilis about 40% higher than the US average, it is wise to get tested in Gifford, South Carolina whether you have symptoms or just want peace of mind. Consider if you want same-day service or a more flexible schedule while evaluating local clinics, labs, and at-home kits. Some places allow walk-ins while others show you convenience.

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  • Clinics, labs & at-home kits compared
  • Free & low-cost options included
  • Backed by CDC, CMS & Census data
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STD testing near Gifford, SC

7 testing options are listed for Gifford, SC. The nearest, Low Country Health Care System, is about 7.3 miles away. Compare 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 7.3 miles

Low Country Health Care System

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google9
  • EasySTD1
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 10 reviews

Low Country Health Care System in Fairfax runs the full bacterial STI panel (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis A, B, and C, plus rapid HIV) and treats confirmed bacterial infections the same visit, with fees set on a sliding scale for everyone and a free HIV test available.

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Ryan White Carries HIV Care Past the Diagnosis

Testing-only HIV programs leave patients to piece together ongoing care elsewhere. Low Country Health Care System, backed by Ryan White funding, moves from a reactive HIV test through medical treatment and adherence counseling without transferring that responsibility to another provider.

Spanish Spoken Across Every Service Offered

Low Country Health Care System delivers care in Spanish: meaning prevention counseling, medication adherence education, and treatment conversations all happen in the same language without a gap in clinical nuance.

No-Fee Care Is Operationally Built Into Every Appointment

Low Country Health Care System operates under a funding structure in which all services (testing, vaccines, TB treatment, HIV care, STI treatment) are provided at no charge, with sliding-scale and Medicaid and Medicare billing absorbing costs rather than passing them to patients.

Tests & treats Ryan White HIV care Sliding-scale
Address
333 Revolutionary Trail, Fairfax, SC 29827
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Community health center 7.4 miles

Estill Medical Center

No ratings yet

Estill Medical Center, serving Estill, ties STI screening costs directly to what patients actually earn. Federal health center funding ensures no one is turned away for inability to pay. Walk-ins are welcome for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening, with fees scaled to household income.

Sliding-scale
Address
777 2nd Street East, Estill, SC 29918
Website
7.4 miles

Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services

No ratings yet

Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services in Estill runs by appointment, so scheduling ahead means your visit covers gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and rapid HIV testing alongside same-visit bacterial treatment, HPV and hepatitis vaccines, and counseling: fees slide with income and Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance are all accepted.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale
Address
777 East 2nd Street, Estill, SC 29918
Booking
Appointment required
Website

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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Every other option

More ways to get tested in Gifford, SC

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.

At-home STD testing in Gifford, SC

The nearest testing center is about 7 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Gifford, 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.

Other CLIA-certified labs near Gifford, SC

Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Hampton 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.

  • Hampton Regional Medical Center

    595 West Carolina Avenue, Varnville, SC 29944

    CMS-certified lab Accredited · COLA

    • STD testing

Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Gifford. 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.

Clinicians near Gifford, SC who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 16 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Gifford. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 1 offer telehealth.

  • Vishal Abiraj, MD

    Internal medicine · 333 Revolutionary Trail, Fairfax

  • Colton Johnson

    Family medicine · 333 Revolutionary Trail, Fairfax

  • Gerardo Baldassarri, MD

    Family medicine · 1787 Allendale Fairfax Highway, Fairfax

  • David Yerkes, DO

    Family medicine · 1787 Allendale Fairfax Highway, Fairfax

  • Luis Vega, MD

    Family medicine · 300 Maple Street West, Hampton

  • David Castor, MD

    Family medicine · 1000 Pine Street West, Varnville

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.

Pharmacies near Gifford, SC

No pharmacy near Gifford, SC 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.

  • Fairfax Pharmacy

    7.1 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • CVS Pharmacy 7.2 mi
    Rx pickupOTC HIV self-testAt-home STI kitsMinuteClinic STI careHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
  • Vincent Drugs

    7.6 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Carolina Pharmacy of the Lowcountry

    8.1 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Palmetto Pharmacy Enterprises

    8.1 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC

Showing the 5 closest pharmacies to Gifford, SC.

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

PrEP, prevention & online treatment

Testing is one step. For residents of Gifford, 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.

STDs & HIV in Hampton County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Hampton County, the county that includes Gifford, compare with South Carolina and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~35% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.

#10 of 46 South Carolina counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 78% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Hampton County vs South Carolina vs U.S.

Hampton County South Carolina U.S. ▲▼ = Hampton County vs the state average
Infection Hampton County South Carolina United States
Chlamydia
927 168 cases ▲ 51%
612.1 492.2
Gonorrhea
281.4 51 cases ▲ 27%
222.4 179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
22.1 4 cases ▲ 28%
17.3 15.8
Syphilis (early)
22.1 4 cases ▲ 18%
18.8 16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
16.6 3 cases ▲ 42%
11.7 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 Hampton County over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▲ 6% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 475 950 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Hampton County, chlamydia has risen from 786.6 to 927 per 100,000 (18%), gonorrhea has fallen from 387.9 to 281.4 per 100,000 (27%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 5.5 to 22.1 per 100,000 (302%).

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 Gifford, SC

Adults uninsured
15.2%
No routine checkup
15.5%
No transportation
15.9%
Binge drinking
11%
Frequent mental distress
18.4%
Depression
18.8%
Below poverty line
17.5%
Primary-care ratio
3,030 : 1
Hampton County
  • Primary-care shortage score 21 / 26
  • Medically Underserved Area · IMU 49.6
  • Social Vulnerability Index · 96th 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 Hampton County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Hampton County (2023)

Federal priority area: South Carolina is one of the U.S. jurisdictions prioritized under the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative: targeted federal funding to expand local HIV testing, PrEP, and prevention.

People living with HIV
558 / 100k
PrEP users / 100k
84

Hampton County HIV care continuum (2023)

Among Hampton County residents living with HIV, 74.4% are in care · 58.1% 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 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 Hampton County tests for syphilis.

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

17 Sources

Local resources & officials

Data & references

About Gifford, SC

Getting tested in Gifford means traveling beyond town limits. The nearest clinics offering STI screening are in neighboring communities, a drive that requires planning and a car. Not an obstacle for many, but a real one for those without reliable transport. US 321 connects Gifford to larger medical centers where you can walk in for confidential testing, though the trip isn't casual.

For residents who prefer to stay close to home, telemedicine options and mail-in testing kits have made screening less dependent on proximity, though a phone call to confirm what's actually available nearby will save frustration. Young adults in Gifford (people in their late teens through their thirties navigating new jobs, relationships, and life changes) often have the most straightforward reasons to get tested: routine screening, a new partner, or peace of mind. Confidentiality works differently in a small town where word travels, and that reality shapes how people think about where and when to seek care. Testing services listed on this page include locations outside Gifford where privacy isn't a question mark and results stay private by default, not by exception.

Lake Warren State Park and the surrounding area draw people in and out of town regularly, which means residents already move across the landscape for other needs. STI screening fits into that same practical geography.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Gifford, SC

Walkability 5.4 / 20 · Least walkable

At 5.4/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Gifford 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 7 STD & STI testing locations in Gifford, South Carolina, EasySTD

ZIP 29923 snapshot

Residents
200
Median age
37.5
Median income
$29,583

ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 29923 area around Gifford: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Gifford alone.

Gifford sits in Hampton County, ZIP 29923. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • Lake Warren State park

Major routes

  • US 321 (Columbia Highway)

STD testing in Gifford, SC: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in Hampton County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under South Carolina 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 Gifford-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

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 Gifford 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 South Carolina

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

Two things that actually depend on South Carolina 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 South Carolina, 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)

South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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

STD testing FAQs for Gifford, SC

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

Can I get tested near Hampton, SC instead?

Possibly, Hampton, SC is close; compare it by distance against Low Country Health Care System.

Does Medicaid cover STD testing?

Medicaid generally covers STD testing, and public clinics test for free regardless of coverage.

Where's free HIV testing around Gifford, SC?

Public clinics nearby offer free HIV testing.

Which tests are offered near Gifford, SC?

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

How common is chlamydia in Hampton County?

About 927 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), above the South Carolina average.

Can someone under 18 get tested in South Carolina without a parent?

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

I tested negative, am I fully in the clear?

Likely yes, if you were past the window period; otherwise retest, and keep up routine screening with new partners.

Is drug-resistant gonorrhea a concern?

Resistance is rising, which is why the CDC advises a particular treatment; don't self-treat, get tested and treated correctly.

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.

Can trich be treated?

It's cured with antibiotics; treating partners together prevents reinfection.

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