Around 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the USA, and about 56,300 new infections are reported annually. Those with an STD, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, are at a greater risk of contracting HIV. In case you test positive, modern medications are available to treat HIV and other STDs. But their effectiveness depends on how sooner you start treatment. Early testing is also essential to prevent the transmission of infection to others. Learn more about STD/HIV testing in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Rhode Island reported a shocking rise in numbers of the three notifiable STDs, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Between 2010 and 2019, syphilis rates increased by over 200%, whereas gonorrhea spiked by 400%. Providence County accounted for the largest number of combined STIs, reporting 78% of all chlamydia, 81% of syphilis, and 87% of gonorrheal infections in the state. Moreover, health experts noted that STIs impacted people across all age groups, socioeconomic levels, sexual orientations, and genders. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common STDs in Rhode Island. Listed below are some free and low-cost STD/HIV testing clinics in Providence, RI.
1 Randall Sq, Providence, Rhode Island 02904
1.06 mile
Tel: 4014560545
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
333 School Street Suite 108, Basement, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
3.72 mile
Tel: 4017242971
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
1524 Atwood Ave, 1St Fl Suite 133, Johnston, Rhode Island 02919
4.27 mile
Tel: 4015210232
Today's best offer is: $10 off any order. Discount will be applied automatically.
All residents of the State of Rhode Island are eligible for Health Center services. This is an LGBTQ+ safe zone clinic.
1126 Hartford Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02919
0.27 mile
Tel: (401) 519-1940
Appointment Required: Yes
HIV/STD testing open to the general public. Testing is provided free for those without insurance.
180 Corliss St, Ste E, Providence, Rhode Island 02904
0.27 mile
Tel: (401) 793-2928
Appointment Required: Yes
The clinic primarily serves the homeless population, and others are welcomed on a sliding fee schedule. Many insurances are accepted.
160 Broad St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
0.43 mile
Tel: (401) 861-2403
Tel: (401) 521-1145
Appointment Required: Yes
1 Hoppin St, Ste 3055, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
0.6 mile
Tel: (401) 444-5980
Appointment Required: Yes
3 Capitol Hill, Rm 106, Providence, Rhode Island 02908
0.67 mile
Tel: (401) 222-5960
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to enroll as a patient.
239 Cranston St, Providence, Rhode Island 02907
0.77 mile
Tel: (401) 444-0580
Tel: (401) 444-0428
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to enroll as a patient.
40 Candace St, Providence, Rhode Island 02908
0.91 mile
Tel: (401) 444-0550
Tel: (401) 444-0425
Appointment Required: Yes
530 N Main Str, Providence, Rhode Island 02904
1.03 mile
Tel: (401) 415-9500
Appointment Required: Yes
640 Broad St, Providence, Rhode Island 02907
1.13 mile
Tel: (401) 383-4888
Appointment Required: Yes
Only eligibility requirements are that the patient is uninsured and over the age of 18. Serve anyone regardless of documentation status.
60 Valley St, Ste 104, Providence, Rhode Island 02909
1.19 mile
Tel: (401) 347-9093
Appointment Required: No
APRI offers free at-home HIV testing kits to those who qualify. Please visit website to complete request form. In-person HIV and hepatitis C testing available for Rhode Islanders over age 13.
55 Hope St, Providence, Rhode Island 02906
1.22 mile
Tel: (401) 831-5522
Appointment Required: Yes
Need to register as a patient.
355 Prairie Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02905
1.31 mile
Tel: (401) 444-0570
Tel: (401) 444-0427
Appointment Required: Yes
Use our confidential STD symptom checker to get an idea of what STDs/STIs your symptoms align with and what STD tests are recommended to you.
Start Symptom CheckerWhich Method of STD Testing is Suitable for Me?
Every sexually active individual must protect their sexual health. Regular STD testing is the only way to care for your sexual health. However, sometimes it becomes confusing to select the right testing method as there are so many options available. For your convenience, we have gathered information about all available STD testing methods in Providence, Rhode Island. Check them out to find out which option is suitable for you.
This is one of the most popular ways to get tested for STDs today. These tests combine the best of both worlds for convenience and accuracy. You will order the test online at home, but you can walk into a professional lab testing center to get tested.
Another option is to simply visit your regular clinic and talk to your doctor.
If you do not want to visit a testing center, then a great alternative is an at-home test kit. You don’t even need to leave your house to get tested for STDs this way, which makes it the most discreet option. Everything is done through email and snail mail.
One last option for STD testing is a trip to a free clinic. If you go to a public STD-testing clinic, then you may get a free or discounted test, depending on your financial situation.
Learn more in our ultimate guide to STD testing.
It can be, but it does not necessarily have to be. What many people need to understand is that laboratory tests would most often than not be relatively pricey due to the technology that is being utilized behind these diagnostic techniques. However, opting for specific laboratories that offer more convenient testing procedures and discounted prices for diagnostic tests would help ensure that the price will not be much of an issue in providing you with the conclusive diagnosis of your condition. It might take some independent scanning to find the right testing center for you in the most acceptable price range, but it is not as impossible as many people make it out to be.
Considering that a wide variety of testing kits and laboratory procedures can be performed to determine conclusively whether you have a particular STD or not, the time that it will take for your results to return will also be subject to the same inconsistency. Although there are specific laboratories that could produce your results even by the end of the day (albeit, it is extremely rare for institutions to do so unless necessary), most would often take a few days to a week before the results are either delivered or posted online through your secure personal profile (in the case of online transactions). In addition to that, the capability of the laboratory performing the test may also contribute to the overall timeframe of result delivery – causing delays in cases where there are several requests or understaffed to provide expedited results.
For more information, skip to the FAQs section on this page.
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Similar to what was previously mentioned, herpes infections are known for their recurring tendencies – causing outbreaks now and then and thus causing an intermittent spike in the patient’s viral load for specific instances. In addition to that, other STDs also take time to proliferate and produce a sufficient viral load that could warrant a positive and, more importantly, accurate diagnosis and detection from the tests being administered. As such, detecting an STD a few days following exposure is often complex and unpredictable – leading physicians to follow a certain timeframe instead for testing STDs instead of blindly testing immediately following exposure. Physical exams, however, may supplement inaccurate laboratory diagnoses, especially in cases where the test is prone to false results.
Although NAATs are well-known for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting most STDs, it is also subject to certain inconsistencies, especially in the case of herpes infections. In Herpes, outbreaks often result in a relative increase in the patient’s viral load – leading to a timeline that usually has specific peaks at certain intervals instead of a consistent rise in viral load throughout. As such, sensitive tests such as NAATs are still unable to accurately diagnose herpes conditions, especially in cases where the patient has recently become asymptomatic and is currently between outbreaks. Other tests such as culture testing and type-specific virologic tests are often employed instead as a confirmatory diagnosis for the patient’s condition.
Similar to how other testing procedures behave, false-positive results are still evident even in STD testing. False-positive and even false-negative results are standard instances that showcase the imperfection of the test’s design – a factor that is present everywhere. However, despite certain inconsistencies in laboratory tests as such, physicians commonly use confirmatory tests that would often take another path entirely to arrive at the same conclusion – solidifying the initial test’s diagnosis while still ensuring that the second test is not following the inconsistencies of the first.
It is recommended to get tested for STDs if you have had unprotected sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with STDs. Additionally, regular testing is recommended as part of routine sexual health care, even in the absence of symptoms, especially for individuals who are sexually active.
Standard STD testing can detect common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis B and C. Additional tests may be required for less common STDs or specific situations.
Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status. Get tested today!