Saline County reports about 448 chlamydia cases per 100,000 residents, near the US average. Whether you have symptoms or just want peace of mind, you have options to get tested in Salem, Arkansas. Community and public clinics often have low costs, while private labs may offer faster results and more flexible scheduling. See your options below.
Available testing centers
7 testing options are listed for Salem, AR. The nearest, AR Journey Lab LLC, is about 2.7 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.
Healthy Connections- Bryant in Benton carries federally qualified health center designation, meaning its STI screening fees slide according to income: syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing without a fixed price barrier. No appointment is required to walk in and get screened.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
Baptist Health in Bryant brings STI testing into its broader clinical network, covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C on a sliding-scale fee, Medicare and insurance accepted, with STI treatment, HPV and hepatitis A vaccines, and an appointment required.
Languages
English
Tests offered
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Jun 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
ARcare in Bryant runs STI care by appointment, covering gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, rapid and conventional HIV, herpes, hepatitis C, and TB on a sliding-scale fee: with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections, PrEP, PEP, and HPV and hepatitis A/B vaccines available at the same visit.
For anyone without a regular primary care provider, ARcare's panel is the practical answer: herpes and hepatitis C testing sit alongside the standard bacterial and HIV workup, so a single appointment resolves questions that would otherwise require separate specialist referrals and separate scheduling across multiple offices.
ARcare carries both PrEP, ongoing daily HIV prevention requiring regular lab monitoring, and PEP, with uninsured PrEP covered through a dedicated program. Having both under the same appointment structure means monitoring labs, prescription management, and adherence counseling stay with one clinical team rather than splitting across providers.
When language access fails at a clinic, the gap isn't just uncomfortable: diagnoses go unexplained, treatment instructions don't land, and follow-up appointments don't happen. ARcare Bryant provides interpretation services directly, so STI treatment, TB management, and medication adherence counseling reach patients in the language those conversations actually require.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Jan 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 3 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Salem, 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 range: couples & full panels
$79 & up
Best value: single tests
$49 & 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 Saline 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.
1901 Encore Way, Bryant, AR 72019
CMS-certified lab
1200 Salem Road, Benton, AR 72019
CMS-certified lab
2301 Springhill Road, Suite 200, Benton, AR 72019
CMS-certified lab
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Salem. 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, 474 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Salem. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 124 offer telehealth.
Patricia Mcgarry, MD
Family medicine · 1720 Scott Salem Road, Benton
Jill Bryson, MD
Family medicine · 100 Rivendell Drive, Benton
Absalom Tilley, MD
Internal medicine · 3525 Hwy 5 North, Bryant
Jarrett Lea, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 4411 Hwy 5 North, Bryant
Derek Bryant, MD
Family medicine · 4430 Hwy 5 North, Bryant
Marcus Chu, MD Telehealth
Family medicine · 507 West Commerce, Bryant
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 Salem, 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.
Salem Pharmacy
0.5 mi
2.2 mi Natural State Drug Company
2.3 mi
2.4 mi Bryant Family Pharmacy
2.6 mi
3.4 mi Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Salem, AR.
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 Salem, 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 Saline County, the county that includes Salem, compare with Arkansas and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~27% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#39 of 75 Arkansas counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 48% of the state
| Infection | Saline County | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 448.4 581 cases ▼ 23% | 579.6 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 148.9 193 cases ▼ 23% | 193.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 17 22 cases ▼ 42% | 29.2 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 9.3 12 cases ▼ 46% | 17.3 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 17.8 23 cases ▼ 63% | 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.
Between 2020 and 2023 in Saline County, chlamydia has risen from 274.7 to 448.4 per 100,000 (63%), gonorrhea has risen from 102.9 to 148.9 per 100,000 (45%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 4.9 to 17 per 100,000 (247%).
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 Saline County.
Local HIV snapshot
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.
Saline County HIV care continuum (2023)
Saline County recorded 4.6 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 11.8 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Saline County residents living with HIV, 50% are in care · 42.9% 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.
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 Saline County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Salem's residential character is striking: every household here owns its home, and with more than six in ten adults married and households averaging well over three people, most families are deeply rooted rather than transient. That stability is a real asset, but it also means the rhythms of daily life here (coordinating work, kids, and shared schedules) can make a routine health appointment feel like one more logistical puzzle to solve. The workforce picture reinforces this.
Salem's labor-force participation is strong, and unemployment is low, which sounds like good news until you consider that it often translates to fewer flexible hours and less margin in the week. For younger adults still forming relationships, people in their late teens and twenties who make up more than a quarter of the population, the compounding pressures of work and family obligation can quietly push off a straightforward screening that takes thirty minutes. That's exactly why the range of options listed on this page matters.
Getting there
At 5.9/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Salem 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 72019 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 72019 area around Salem: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Salem alone.
Salem sits in Saline County, ZIP 72019. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Major routes
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Salem? 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 Saline 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.
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 Salem-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 Salem 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 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).
In Arkansas, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
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.
Learn more about confidential STD testing in ArkansasSource: 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.
Possibly, Benton, AR is close; compare it by distance against AR Journey Lab LLC.
Most plans cover STD screening; a clinic or lab can bill insurance, or you can pay a flat self-pay price.
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 448 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the Arkansas average.
Yes, at-home kits ship to 72019; you collect a sample, mail it back, and get results in about 2–5 days.
In Arkansas, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
PrEP (HIV-prevention medicine for HIV-negative people) is available locally, any provider can prescribe it.
The gap between exposure and when a test can reliably detect the infection; testing inside it can miss a real infection.
Yes, test after the window period, and if HIV exposure is a concern, ask about PEP within 72 hours.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.