STD Testing in Mena, AR: Free, Same-Day & Confidential
In Polk County, Arkansas, syphilis cases run about 68% lower than the US average. Whether you're testing before starting a new relationship or as part of ongoing care in Mena, Arkansas, your options vary in speed, cost, convenience. Compare public clinics, private labs, and at-home kits to find your best fit.
8 testing options are listed for Mena, AR. The nearest, Healthy Connections, Inc. Mena Street Clinic, is about 0.3 miles away. Compare 5 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.
Location unavailable — enter a ZIP code or city instead.
Community health center 0.3 miles
Healthy Connections, Inc. Mena Street Clinic
3.7(7)?Where these reviews come from
Review sources
Google6
EasySTD1
Rated 3.7 out of 5 from 7 reviews
Healthy Connections, Inc. Mena Street Clinic, in Mena, was built for patients paying out of pocket, between providers, or working with limited income: federal qualification means its sliding-scale fees put syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening within reach, no appointment needed to get started.
Arkansas Department of Health in Mena operates as the public health backbone of the region, meaning STI care (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV testing with same-visit bacterial treatment) sits alongside TB and family planning under a single appointment, on sliding-scale fees, with Spanish-language services available.
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Spanish Services Prevent the Untreated Gap
Without Spanish-language capability on-site, a diagnosis becomes a starting point for a second appointment somewhere else, and that gap is where follow-up falls apart. At Arkansas Department of Health in Mena, counseling, treatment discussion, and prevention education are delivered in Spanish directly, so nothing critical depends on a follow-up visit that may not happen.
Hepatitis B and C Testing Alongside the Core Panel
For anyone without a regular provider who needs a thorough workup and is paying out of pocket, Arkansas Department of Health in Mena extends its panel beyond gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV to include hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing. Conditions that otherwise require a separate referral to access.
A public safety-net rural health clinic about 1 mile from Mena. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
A safety-net rural health clinic about 1 mile from Mena. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Healthy Connections in Mena runs on a sliding-scale fee structure and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most insurance, making the full panel (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, hepatitis B and C, and TB) available regardless of what you're carrying in your wallet. Appointments are required, and bacterial STIs are treated same visit.
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Herpes and Hepatitis Are on the Panel
Healthy Connections tests for herpes and hepatitis B and C alongside the core bacterial infections and HIV, which means an exposure that wouldn't show up on a basic panel gets caught here, at the same appointment, without a separate specialist order.
Hepatitis C Treatment Stays at Healthy Connections
Healthy Connections carries hepatitis C treatment on-site, so a confirmed diagnosis moves directly into a care plan rather than waiting on outside scheduling. Shortening the window between knowing and clearing the infection.
Skipping PrEP Means an Uninsured Patient Absorbs the Full Cost
Without a clinic that folds PrEP into sliding-scale care, uninsured patients often absorb retail medication costs or simply go without. Healthy Connections covers PrEP for uninsured patients and provides both PrEP and PEP, keeping continuous HIV prevention available at the same address where you're already testing.
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.
The nearest testing center is less than a mile away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Mena, 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
Panel:
8-infection panel incl. chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis & herpes: single tests too
Sample:
Quest Mobile: a phlebotomist collects your sample at home
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
Other CLIA-certified labs near Mena, AR
Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Polk 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.
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Mena. 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
Clinicians near Mena, AR who may help arrange STD testing
Beyond dedicated clinics, 22 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Mena. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 1 offer telehealth.
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
Pharmacies near Mena, AR
No pharmacy near Mena, AR 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.
Directory records identify nearby pharmacies. Service, stock, price, and hours information is shown only when supported by current location-specific evidence.
Prevention & treatment
PrEP, prevention & online treatment
Testing is one step. For residents of Mena, 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.
Online treatment
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
STDs & HIV in Polk County: the local picture
How reported STI rates in Polk County, the county that includes Mena, compare with Arkansas and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~26% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#63
#63 of 75 Arkansas counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 16% of the state
Reported STD rates per 100,000, Polk County vs Arkansas vs U.S.
Polk CountyArkansasU.S.▲▼ = Polk County vs the state average
Infection
Polk County
Arkansas
United States
Chlamydia
200.739 cases▼ 65%
579.6
492.2
Gonorrhea
10.32 cases▼ 95%
193.4
179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
5.11 cases▼ 83%
29.2
15.8
Syphilis (early)
10.32 cases▼ 40%
17.3
16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
— no data
48
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 Polk County over time (per 100,000)
Chlamydia ▼ 17% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
Between 2020 and 2023 in Polk County, chlamydia has fallen from 280.9 to 200.7 per 100,000 (29%), gonorrhea has fallen from 46.8 to 10.3 per 100,000 (78%), and P&S syphilis has fallen from 15.5 to 5.1 per 100,000 (67%).
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 Mena, AR
Adults uninsured
10.4%
No routine checkup
19.5%
No transportation
9%
Binge drinking
13.6%
Frequent mental distress
18.3%
Depression
24.8%
Below poverty line
15.2%
Primary-care ratio
1,290 : 1
Polk County
Primary-care shortage score 20 / 26
Medically Underserved Area · IMU 60.6
Social Vulnerability Index · 69th 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 Polk County.
Local HIV snapshot
HIV in Polk County (2023)
Federal priority area: Arkansas 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
30 / 100k
New diagnoses (2023)
0cases countywide
PrEP users / 100k
91
Polk County HIV care continuum (2023)
Polk County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 11.8 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Polk County residents living with HIV, 40% are in care · 40% 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.
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 Polk County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Compiled and checked by EasySTD's editorial team against CDC and public-health sources. This is educational information, not a substitute for advice from a licensed clinician. Our editorial guidelines → (opens in a new tab)
Mena takes its name from the wife of a railroad developer whose vision shaped the town in the 1880s, a reminder that this community was built on the ambitions of people passing through and staying put. Today, that legacy of modest living and tight budgets persists. For young adults navigating early careers, relationships, or uncertain futures, the affordability of life here is real, but so are the financial pressures that can make health decisions feel like competing priorities. STI testing in and around Mena serves residents who value straightforward care without elaborate logistics or expense. The clinics and providers listed on this page understand that confidentiality isn't theater here, it's practical.
When you know people at the grocery store or the post office, the assurance that your test results remain sealed carries genuine weight. Many young adults in Mena are at the age when routine screening is most protective, whether as part of a new relationship, a health check before moving, or simply peace of mind. Testing is accessible without requiring a trip to a distant city or a conversation with someone you'll see again at a local event. That combination of privacy, proximity, and affordability makes the difference between putting off a screening and getting it done.
Getting there
How residents reach STD testing in Mena, AR
Walkability5.3 / 20 · Least walkable
At 5.3/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Mena 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 71953 snapshot
Residents
13,412
Median age
47.8
Median income
$52,355
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 71953 area around Mena: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Mena alone.
Mena sits in Polk County, ZIP 71953. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Janssen Park
Ebenezer Monument
Tower Mountain
Potter Mountain
Historic Armory
Mena Art Gallery
Major routes
Pickering
Nearby cities & towns
Nearby cities and towns near Mena, AR
Just outside Mena? These nearby communities have their own testing guides: clinics, at-home kits, and free screening close to home.
STD testing in Mena, AR: screening, costs & privacy
Everything to know before you test in Polk County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Arkansas 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.
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
When to test: STD detection windows
Testing too early can return a false negative, confirm timing with a Mena-area provider.
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 Mena 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.
Confidentiality & consent in Arkansas
Minor consent and partner treatment (EPT) under state law, plus how to test privately
Two things that actually depend on Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 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)
Arkansas 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.
