Gonorrhea in Sumter County tests about 57% higher than the national average. No matter whether you need testing after a possible exposure or as part of routine care in Panola, Alabama, you can choose from community clinics that are often low-cost or free and private labs that typically offer faster results and more flexible scheduling. Compare your options below.
Available testing centers
6 testing options are listed for Panola, AL. The nearest, Whatley Health Services at Aliceville, is about 14.2 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 safety-net federally qualified health center about 14 miles from Panola. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
Greater Meridian Health Clinic in Scooba tests for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis A, B, and C on a sliding-scale fee accepted by Medicaid, Medicare, and most insurers; an appointment is required, and bacterial infections can be treated the same visit. With services delivered in Spanish.
Greater Meridian's panel extends to herpes simplex and all three hepatitis strains (A, B, and C) on top of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. That breadth means conditions often screened only on request are included as standard, with vaccination for hepatitis A and B available at the same appointment.
Greater Meridian carries substance-use treatment as a named program alongside its STI services, a pairing that matters because substance use is a documented driver of STI transmission risk. Having both programs within the clinic means a single provider relationship can address both without separate enrollment or scheduling tracks.
Spanish-language care at Greater Meridian is a direct clinical capacity, not a supplemental service, meaning the full scope of testing, treatment counseling, and prevention education runs in Spanish. For patients whose primary language is Spanish, every clinical exchange from intake to follow-up care plan is conducted without a language gap.
Languages
English, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified May 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 14 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Panola, 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 value: single tests
$49 & 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 Sumter 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.
751 Derby Drive, York, AL 36925
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Panola. 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, 8 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Panola. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 2 offer telehealth.
James Parker, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 100 5th Street Northeast, Aliceville
Naim Rahman, MD
Internal medicine · 78 Hospital Road, Macon
Salahuddin Farooqui, MD
Family medicine · 509 Wilson Avenue, Eutaw
Archie Hooper, MD
Family medicine · 1221 North Washington Street, Livingston
Catherine Lavender, MD
Family medicine · 289 Robert K Wilson Drive, Carrollton
Erica Diggs, MD Telehealth
Internal medicine · 14365 Hwy 16 West, De Kalb
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 Panola, AL 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.
7.2 mi Mills Discount Pharmacy
7.2 miGentry Drugs
14 miMacon City Drug Store
20 miMills Pharmacy at Eutaw
23 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Panola, AL.
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 Panola, 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.
Visit from $0 insured
Telehealth STI treatment and sexual-health care, delivered or to your pharmacy
$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
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 Sumter County, the county that includes Panola, compare with Alabama and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~33% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#22 of 67 Alabama counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 67% of the state
| Infection | Sumter County | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 699.2 82 cases ▲ 7% | 651.1 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 281.4 33 cases ▲ 24% | 226.9 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 25.6 3 cases ▼ 10% | 28.6 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 25.6 3 cases ▲ 25% | 20.4 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 34.1 4 cases ▲ 39% | 24.5 | 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 Sumter County, chlamydia has risen from 672.3 to 699.2 per 100,000 (4%), gonorrhea has fallen from 283.5 to 281.4 per 100,000 (1%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 8.1 to 25.6 per 100,000 (216%).
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 Sumter County.
Local HIV snapshot
Federal priority area: Alabama 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.
Sumter County HIV care continuum (2023)
Among Sumter County residents living with HIV, 67.5% are in care · 65% 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.
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 Sumter County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Getting tested in Panola means planning ahead. The town itself has limited clinical infrastructure, so residents typically seek screening through facilities in nearby communities or connect with mobile health services that periodically reach the area. That distance, whether measured in miles or the time it takes to arrange an appointment, is simply part of the reality here, and it's worth acknowledging when you're thinking about your sexual health. The good news is that confidentiality isn't compromised by geography; testing remains private regardless of where you go.
Young adults in Panola, many in their late teens through early thirties, often find routine screening fits best into their lives when they can access it without unnecessary barriers. Knowing what's available in and around Panola listed on this page lets you plan that visit on your own terms, without the awkwardness of asking around or wondering if word gets back. Testing can happen at your pace. Whether you're between jobs, settled in, or passing through, perhaps on a trail near Panola Park or out toward China Bluff Access Area, taking a few minutes to look up testing near you is straightforward.
Confidentiality isn't negotiable, and neither should convenience be. The clinics and providers listed here serve people who live or work in this part of Sumter County.
Getting there
At 3.23/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Panola 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 35477 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 35477 area around Panola: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Panola alone.
Panola sits in Sumter County, ZIP 35477. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Panola? 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 Sumter County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Alabama 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 Panola-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 Panola 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 Alabama 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 Alabama, a minor aged 12 or older can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Alabama 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 AlabamaSource: 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.
The closest is Whatley Health Services at Aliceville (14.2 mi); 2 options are within 30 miles.
Private labs ~$24–$139, at-home kits $49+.
Yes, community and public clinics test the uninsured, with sliding-scale fees.
Local options test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Rapid HIV, a full panel covers the common ones.
About 699 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), above the Alabama average.
In Alabama, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Lab results typically come back in 1–2 days.
It depends: a blood draw covers HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis, while urine or a swab covers chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Yes, test after the window period, and if HIV exposure is a concern, ask about PEP within 72 hours.
Roughly 3–6 weeks after exposure for a dependable syphilis blood test.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.