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STD Testing in Palo Seco, PR: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

In Maunabo Municipio, reported syphilis runs about 23% higher than the US average. If you need testing in Palo Seco, Puerto Rico, whether after a possible exposure or as part of routine care, you can visit a clinic to get immediate support and treatment, or use an at-home kit for convenience and discretion.

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

Available testing centers

STD testing near Palo Seco, PR

3 testing options are listed for Palo Seco, PR. The nearest, Centro de Servicios Primarios de Salud de Patillas, is about 2.4 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 2.4 miles

Centro de Servicios Primarios de Salud de Patillas

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google31
  • EasySTD4
Rated 3.5 out of 5 from 35 reviews

Centro de Servicios Primarios de Salud de Patillas, serving Maunabo, earned its federally qualified health center designation by tying fees directly to each patient's income: meaning STI screening for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia stays within reach regardless of what someone earns or whether they carry insurance.

Sliding-scale
Address
7 Calle Santiago Iglesias, Maunabo, PR 00707
Website
Community health center 4.9 miles

Cossma New Yabucoa Clinic Site

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google22
  • EasySTD2
Rated 2.8 out of 5 from 24 reviews

Cossma New Yabucoa Clinic Site, serving Yabucoa under federally qualified health center designation, extends sliding-scale fees that adjust to each patient's income: making syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia screening genuinely reachable without an appointment for anyone who walks through the door.

Sliding-scale
Address
Carr-901, Yabucoa, PR 00767
Website
Community health center 8.4 miles

Centro de Salud Familiar Dr Julio Palmieri Ferri

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google101
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4 out of 5 from 106 reviews

Centro de Salud Familiar Dr Julio Palmieri Ferri, in Arroyo, adjusts fees to income so cost never blocks care. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Walk-in STI screening covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia under the federal health center program's sliding-scale structure.

Sliding-scale
Address
Morse St. Valentina Cnr., Arroyo, PR 00714
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.

Privacy & discretion
Wait time
Staff & comfort
Value for cost

Every other option

More ways to get tested in Palo Seco, PR

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

At-home STD testing in Palo Seco, PR

The nearest testing center is about 2 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Palo Seco, 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.

Also in the area

Other CLIA-certified labs near Palo Seco, PR

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

  • Laboratorio Clinico Colon

    Calle Antonio R Barcelo #21, Maunabo, PR 00707

    CMS-certified lab

    • STD testing
    Call Directions

  • Laboratorio Clinico y Bacteriologico Trixymar

    17 Luis Munoz Rivera, Maunabo, PR 00707

    CMS-certified lab

    • STD testing
    Call Directions

  • Laboratorio Clinico Referencia Cima II

    Munoz Rivera No 57, Maunabo, PR 00707

    CMS-certified lab

    • STD testing
    Call Directions

Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Palo Seco. 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 Palo Seco, PR who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 778 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Palo Seco. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 51 offer telehealth.

  • Carmen Flecha Melendez, MD

    Family medicine · 95 Urb Mendez, Yabucoa

    Call Directions

  • Juan Gomez, MD

    Internal medicine · Urb Villa Hilda, Yabucoa

    Call Directions

  • Arturo Torres Borges, MD

    Family medicine · 33 Luis Munoz Rivera Street, Yabucoa

    Call Directions

  • Karla Rodriguez Tirado, MD

    Family medicine · 99 Calle Riefkohl, Patillas

    Call Directions

  • Gustavo Altamar Bueno, MD

    Internal medicine · Bc12 Calle, Humacao

    Call Directions

  • Rey Aponte-Rivera, MD

    Internal medicine · M33 Calle, Humacao

    Directions

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 Palo Seco, PR

No pharmacy near Palo Seco, PR 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.

  • Farmacia Jomari

    4.9 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions

  • Centro Servicios Primarios de Salud de Patillas

    5.1 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions

  • Farmacia Santa Ana

    5.1 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions

  • Farmacia San Carlos Iii

    8.4 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions

Showing the 4 closest pharmacies to Palo Seco, PR.

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 Palo Seco, 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.

STD stats & rates

STDs & HIV in Maunabo Municipio: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Maunabo Municipio, the municipio that includes Palo Seco, compare with Puerto Rico 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 78 Puerto Rico counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 41% of the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Maunabo Municipio vs Puerto Rico vs U.S.

Maunabo Municipio Puerto Rico U.S. ▲▼ = Maunabo Municipio vs the state average
Infection Maunabo Municipio Puerto Rico United States
Chlamydia
126.6 13 cases ▼ 22%
162.1 492.2
Gonorrhea
19.5 2 cases ▼ 47%
37 179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
19.5 2 cases ▲ 43%
13.6 15.8
Syphilis (early)
39 4 cases ▲ 99%
19.6 16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
19.5 2 cases ▲ 25%
15.6 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.

Reported STD rates in Maunabo Municipio over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▼ 13% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 125 250 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Maunabo Municipio, chlamydia has risen from 85 to 126.6 per 100,000 (49%), gonorrhea has risen from 9.4 to 19.5 per 100,000 (107%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 19.3 to 19.5 per 100,000 (1%).

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 Palo Seco, PR

  • Primary-care shortage score 11 / 26
  • Medically Underserved Area

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 Maunabo Municipio.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Maunabo Municipio (2023)

People living with HIV
403 / 100k

Maunabo Municipio HIV care continuum (2022)

Maunabo Municipio recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2022), against 13.5 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Maunabo Municipio residents living with HIV, 69.4% are in care · 58.3% 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 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 Maunabo Municipio tests for syphilis.

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

Reviewed & Fact-Checked · Updated

Reviewed by EasySTD Editorial Team (opens in a new tab)

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)

15 Sources

Local resources & officials

Data & references

Local context

About Palo Seco, PR

The high rate of STIs in Maunabo Municipio, particularly among residents of Palo Seco, is exacerbated by the county's rural spread and limited access to healthcare. 5 people and a labor-force participation rate of nearly 50%. With the average household rent at $336 per month, many residents are forced to prioritize finding employment over maintaining a healthy work-life balance, leaving them more vulnerable to STIs. The rural nature of Palo Seco's geography makes it difficult for residents to access healthcare services, including STI testing and treatment.

As a result, many residents are forced to rely on expensive private transportation or take time off work to travel to nearby cities for care. Despite the challenges, there are still options available for residents of Palo Seco who want to prioritize their health. The nearest clinic, a drive from Palo Seco, offers testing and treatment services, although it may require a significant sacrifice in work time or personal time.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Palo Seco, PR

Walkability 3.76 / 20 · Least walkable

At 3.76/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Palo Seco 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 3 STD & STI testing locations in Palo Seco, Puerto Rico, EasySTD

Palo Seco sits in Maunabo Municipio, ZIP 707. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • Faro de Punta Tuna
  • Pico Hutton
  • Pico Lebrón
  • Cerro Mala Pascua
  • Cerro de las Avispas
  • Playa Mala Pascua

Neighborhoods & communities

  • Lizas
  • Tumbao
  • Sector García
  • Calzada
  • Matuyas Bajo
  • Guardarraya
  • Talante
  • Ríos

Major routes

  • PR-3 (Carretera Maunabo - Patillas)
  • PR-760 (Avenida Presidente John F. Kennedy)
  • Ruta Panorámica Luis Muñoz Marín / Carretera Ernesto Carasquillo

Reference

STD testing in Palo Seco, PR: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in Maunabo Municipio: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Puerto Rico 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 Palo Seco-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
Browse all STD & STI guides

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 Palo Seco 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 Puerto Rico

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

Two things that actually depend on Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico, public health clinics provide confidential STI testing and treatment; ask the clinic directly about consent requirements for minors.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is potentially allowable in Puerto Rico: it is not expressly authorized, but not prohibited either. Ask your provider whether they will prescribe treatment for a partner without a separate visit.

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 Puerto Rico

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

Good to Know

STD testing FAQs for Palo Seco, PR

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

Where can I get tested for STDs in Palo Seco, PR?

The closest is Centro de Servicios Primarios de Salud de Patillas (2.4 mi); 3 options are within 30 miles.

Does Medicaid cover STD testing?

Medicaid generally covers STD testing.

Can I get tested in Palo Seco, PR without insurance?

Yes, community and public clinics test the uninsured, with sliding-scale fees.

Which tests are offered near Palo Seco, PR?

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

How common is chlamydia in Maunabo Municipio?

About 127 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the Puerto Rico average.

Can someone under 18 get tested in Puerto Rico without a parent?

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

Can swollen lymph nodes be from an STD?

They can, swollen groin nodes can accompany herpes, syphilis, or early HIV, so mention them when you test.

Can I be vaccinated against any STIs?

HPV and hepatitis B vaccines prevent those infections, ask a provider if you're due.

Do syphilis sores heal by themselves?

The sore can disappear on its own even though the infection remains; only testing confirms it's gone.

Should I test again after being treated?

A retest around 3 months after treatment is recommended for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

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