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STD Testing in Kensett, IA: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

Kensett, in Worth County, sees chlamydia about 64% less often than the US average. Whether you need a one-time STD check in Kensett, Iowa or regular tests, consider your situation: visiting a clinic offers professional guidance and might start treatment quicker, while an at-home kit offers convenience and flexibility. We list options.

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

STD testing near Kensett, IA

6 testing options are listed for Kensett, IA. The nearest, Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, is about 13.7 miles away. Compare 3 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 13.7 miles

Community Health Center of Fort Dodge

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google42
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.3 out of 5 from 47 reviews

Community Health Center of Fort Dodge in Mason City tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis B and C on a sliding-scale fee open to all, with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections; an appointment is required, and care is delivered in Spanish.

Read full overview Show less

Spanish-Language Care Closes the Treatment Gap

When language limits what a patient can explain or understand, the real cost shows up later: in a missed diagnosis, a prescription not filled, or a partner not notified. At Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, STI care is conducted directly in Spanish, so nothing that matters gets lost between the visit and the outcome.

Herpes and Hepatitis Testing Alongside the Standard Panel

For anyone without a regular primary care provider, paying out of pocket or simply without a usual place to ask, Community Health Center of Fort Dodge runs herpes and hepatitis B and C testing alongside the standard bacterial and HIV panel, so a single appointment covers exposures that a shorter panel would leave unaddressed.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale
Address
404 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 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
Highest rated 13.8 miles

North Iowa Community Action Organization

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google66
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 71 reviews

North Iowa Community Action Organization in Mason City runs every HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and herpes test at no charge, with sliding-scale fees across all other services and both Medicaid and private insurance accepted; appointments are required for same-visit bacterial STI treatment.

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Every Service Carries a Zero Dollar Cost

North Iowa Community Action Organization's Title X status anchors a fee structure where STI testing and HIV testing are free for everyone, not free after a threshold, not free pending eligibility review. PrEP is additionally covered for uninsured patients, meaning ongoing HIV prevention carries no out-of-pocket cost either.

Spanish and Interpretation Keep Care Fluent

Spanish is available directly at North Iowa Community Action Organization, and interpretation services extend to additional languages beyond it, so a patient's ability to describe symptoms, understand a diagnosis, or ask about PrEP dosing is never compressed into approximations.

Title X Confidentiality Covers Minors Directly

As a Title X-funded site, North Iowa Community Action Organization provides legally confidential family planning services to minors: meaning a young person can access contraception, STI testing, or HPV vaccination without that care appearing on a parent's insurance explanation of benefits.

Tests & treats Title X Sliding-scale PrEP
Address
100 1st Street Northwest, Suite 200 Mason City, IA 50401
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Most reviewed 14.1 miles

MercyOne

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google185
  • EasySTD5
Rated 2.5 out of 5 from 190 reviews

MercyOne Mason City's hospital-grounded clinic brings specialist depth to STI care (standard panel, sliding-scale fees, same-visit treatment for bacterial infections, and appointments required) closing with PrEP and PEP as standing prevention tools, not afterthoughts.

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Prevention Prescriptions Are Standard, Not Exceptional

Prevention-focused prescribing gets quietly offloaded at many STI clinics, PrEP handled by primary care, PEP chased down through urgent care. MercyOne Mason City holds both in-house, meaning ongoing HIV prevention and post-exposure medication are managed within the same clinical relationship as testing and treatment.

Hepatitis C Care Runs Through Completion Here

Hepatitis C treatment at MercyOne Mason City means direct-acting antiviral therapy, not a handoff to a gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist elsewhere. On-site treatment keeps monitoring, dosing adjustments, and sustained virologic response confirmation within one clinical team.

Herpes and Hepatitis Extend the Testing Panel

Beyond the gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV baseline, MercyOne Mason City's panel includes herpes, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing. That breadth matters for hepatitis specifically: because treatment is available on-site, a reactive hepatitis C result doesn't stall at diagnosis. It moves directly toward care.

Tests & treats PrEP
Address
1000 4th Street Southwest, Mason City, IA 50401
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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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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 Kensett, IA

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 Kensett, IA

The nearest testing center is about 14 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Kensett, 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.

Clinicians near Kensett, IA who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 139 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Kensett. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 37 offer telehealth.

  • Burt Bottjen, MD

    Family medicine · 803 9th Avenue North, Northwood

  • David Daniels, MD

    Internal medicine · 600 1st Street Northwest, Mason City

  • Aileen Prabhakaran, MD Telehealth

    Family medicine · 910 North Eisenhower Avenue, Mason City

  • Charity Baker, DO

    Family medicine · 320 North Eisenhower Avenue, Mason City

  • Madison Lannom

    Internal medicine · 1010 4th Street Southwest, Mason City

  • Sandra Leticia Crosara, MD Telehealth

    Infectious disease · 1000 4th Street Southwest, Mason City

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 Kensett, IA

No pharmacy near Kensett, IA 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.

  • Mercyone Northwood Pharmacy

    6.3 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Mercy Health Services-Iowa

    14 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Genoa Healthcare

    14 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Hy-Vee Pharmacy

    14 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Hy-Vee Pharmacy #1 (1410)

    14 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
  • Forest Park Pharmacy

    14 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC

Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Kensett, IA.

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 Kensett, 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 Worth County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Worth County, the county that includes Kensett, compare with Iowa and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~17% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.

#76 of 99 Iowa counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 23% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Worth County vs Iowa vs U.S.

Worth County Iowa U.S. ▲▼ = Worth County vs the state average
Infection Worth County Iowa United States
Chlamydia
178.2 13 cases ▼ 58%
426.8 492.2
Gonorrhea
13.7 1 cases ▼ 88%
116.8 179.5
Syphilis (P&S) — no data 10.3 15.8
Syphilis (early) — no data 9.2 16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
13.7 1 cases ▲ 38%
9.9 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.

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

Chlamydia ▼ 35% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 150 300 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Worth County, chlamydia has fallen from 241.8 to 178.2 per 100,000 (26%), and gonorrhea has fallen from 94 to 13.7 per 100,000 (85%).

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 Kensett, IA

Adults uninsured
6.4%
No routine checkup
21.6%
No transportation
6%
Binge drinking
20.3%
Frequent mental distress
15.8%
Depression
20.1%
Below poverty line
10.9%
Primary-care ratio
7,385 : 1
Worth County
  • Medically Underserved Area · IMU 57
  • Social Vulnerability Index · 2nd 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 Worth County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Worth County (2024)

PrEP users / 100k
65

Worth County HIV care continuum (2022)

Worth County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2022), against 5.1 statewide and 13.7 nationally. 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 Worth County tests for syphilis.

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

15 Sources

Local resources & officials

Data & references

About Kensett, IA

Bosworth Park sits at the quiet center of Kensett the way most things here do: unhurried, rooted, surrounded by the kind of town where nearly three-quarters of residents own their homes and many have for years. That drive matters most for younger adults in their late teens and twenties, who are statistically at the highest risk for STIs yet often have the least flexibility to act on a good intention mid-week. Kensett's unemployment rate sits notably high, meaning a portion of residents have the time but not the budget, while others working irregular or part-time hours structure their days around whatever income they can find. Either way, options listed on this page, spread across the region rather than concentrated in any one place, represent a real logistical ask.

Worth County's STI picture makes that ask worth taking seriously. For a resident renting near Orchid Avenue on $555 a month, the fee structure at a given clinic can be the deciding detail. Sliding-scale or low-cost options among those listed here carry more weight than they might elsewhere.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Kensett, IA

Walkability 4.54 / 20 · Least walkable

At 4.54/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Kensett 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 6 STD & STI testing locations in Kensett, Iowa, EasySTD

ZIP 50448 snapshot

Residents
613
Median age
56.6
Median income
$60,000

ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 50448 area around Kensett: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Kensett alone.

Kensett sits in Worth County, ZIP 50448. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • Kuennen's Quarry
  • Bosworth Park
  • Manly Junction Railroad Museum
  • Manly Caboose Museum
  • Rock Island Caboose

Major routes

  • US 65 (Maple Street)

STD testing in Kensett, IA: screening, costs & privacy

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

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

Two things that actually depend on Iowa 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 Iowa, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own; a parent may be notified only in the case of a positive HIV test result.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

Iowa 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 Iowa

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

STD testing FAQs for Kensett, IA

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

How many places can I test near Kensett, IA?

There are 3 options within a 30-mile drive.

How much does STD testing cost near Kensett, IA?

Free at public clinics. Private labs run about $24 for one test and $139 for a full panel; at-home kits are $49+.

Can I get tested in Kensett, IA without insurance?

Public clinics serve people without insurance, often on a sliding scale.

What's included in a full panel near Kensett, IA?

A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.

How common is chlamydia in Worth County?

Worth County reported ~178 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Iowa average.

Can I get PrEP near Kensett, IA?

Yes, PrEP, a daily pill that helps prevent HIV in HIV-negative people, is available in the area.

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

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

How long do results take near Kensett, IA?

Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.

What happens after a positive result?

Get treated, notify partners, pause sex until cleared, and follow up, the infection is manageable.

Does the test site matter for gonorrhea?

Yes, site matters; oral/anal exposure needs a throat or rectal swab, which urine testing won't catch.

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