Skip to main content

STD Testing in Sierra City, CA: Free, Same-Day & Confidential

Gonorrhea rates in Sierra County, California run about 83% lower than the US average. Whether it's your first STI test or routine screening in Sierra City, California, you can choose between visiting a clinic to speak with a provider or using an at-home kit to collect samples at your convenience. Check the options below.

Find a lab
  • 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 Sierra City, CA

5 testing options are listed for Sierra City, CA. The nearest, Western Sierra Medical Clinic, is about 10.7 miles away. Compare 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 10.7 miles

Western Sierra Medical Clinic

Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google6
  • EasySTD1
Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 7 reviews

Western Sierra Medical Clinic, a full-service medical clinic in Downieville, pairs gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and TB testing with STI treatment, family planning, and HPV and hepatitis vaccines on a sliding-scale fee. By appointment, with care available in Spanish.

Read full overview Show less

Spanish-Language STI Care Without the Extra Step

When STI care depends on a relay through a third language, the result can be a missed nuance, a misunderstood dosage, or a follow-up that quietly falls through. At Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Downieville, Spanish-language care is built directly into the visit. No middleman, no delayed clarity, no untreated gap because something got lost between languages.

Substance-Use Treatment and STI Care, Same Clinic

Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Downieville holds substance-use treatment alongside STI care as a standing capability, which matters for someone whose health needs don't separate neatly into departments. Rather than coordinating care across two providers on a sliding-scale budget with no primary physician anchoring the process, everything runs through one clinic.

Tests & treats Sliding-scale
Address
209 Nevada Street, Downieville, CA 95936
Booking
Appointment required
Opening hours
  • Monday 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday 8:15 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday Closed
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Website
Premium Partner

Quest Diagnostics

Results in 1–2 days
Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google67
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.3 out of 5 from 72 reviews
Address
300 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 32.5 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Premium Partner

Labcorp

Highest rated Results in 1–2 days
Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google24
  • EasySTD4
Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 28 reviews
Address
104 Catherine Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95945 32.5 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Wednesday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Thursday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Friday 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Premium Partner

Quest Diagnostics

Most reviewed Results in 1–2 days
Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google123
  • EasySTD5
Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 128 reviews
Address
155 Glasson Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945 32.7 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Thursday 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Friday 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

Premium Partner

Quest Diagnostics

Results in 1–2 days
Where these reviews come from

Review sources

  • Google56
  • EasySTD5
Rated 4 out of 5 from 61 reviews
Address
11366 Pleasant Valley Road, Penn Valley, CA 95946 39.0 miles away
Opening hours
  • Monday 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Tuesday 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Wednesday 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Thursday 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Friday 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Rapid HIV
  • Conventional HIV
See tests & prices

Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.

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.

Find your match in 10 seconds

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

Rate this clinic

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 Sierra City, CA

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 Sierra City, CA

The nearest testing center is about 11 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Sierra City, 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.

Local clinicians

Clinicians near Sierra City, CA who may help arrange STD testing

Beyond dedicated clinics, 39 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Sierra City. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 8 offer telehealth.

  • Jessica Hamilton, MD

    Family medicine · 209 Nevada Street, Downieville

    Call Directions

  • Robert Adams, DO

    Family medicine · 500 1st Avenue, Portola

    Directions

  • Michelle Pourtabib, MD

    Family medicine · 480 1st Avenue, Portola

    Call Directions

  • Thomas Hovenic, MD Telehealth

    Internal medicine · 101621 Martis Valley Road, Truckee

    Directions

  • Heidi Standteiner, MD

    Internal medicine · 10051 Lake Avenue, Truckee

    Call Directions

  • Anna Ferrera Baumann, MD

    Internal medicine · 10121 Pine Avenue, Truckee

    Call 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 Sierra City, CA

No pharmacy near Sierra City, CA 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.

  • Portola Village Pharmacy

    18 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions

  • Loyalton Pharmacy, Barber, Haire Faire

    22 mi
    Rx pickupCondoms / EC
    Directions
  • Albertsons/Safeway 28 mi
    Rx pickupHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
    Directions
  • Rite Aid 28 mi
    Rx pickupOTC HIV self-testPrEP/PEP fillsHPV & Hep B vaccinesCondoms / EC
    Directions

Showing the 4 closest pharmacies to Sierra City, CA.

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 Sierra City, 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 Sierra County: the local picture

How reported STI rates in Sierra County, the county that includes Sierra City, compare with California and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data.

#57 of 58 California counties for chlamydia, among the lowest in the state

Reported STD rates per 100,000, Sierra County vs California vs U.S.

Sierra County California U.S. ▲▼ = Sierra County vs the state average
Infection Sierra County California United States
Chlamydia
62.5 2 cases ▼ 87%
491.1 492.2
Gonorrhea
31.2 1 cases ▼ 84%
190.2 179.5
Syphilis (P&S) — no data 16.3 15.8
Syphilis (early) — no data 19.1 16
Syphilis (late/unknown) — no data 46.7 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 Sierra County over time (per 100,000)

Chlamydia ▲ 0% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
0 50 100 2020202120222023

Between 2020 and 2023 in Sierra County, chlamydia has fallen from 92.7 to 62.5 per 100,000 (33%), and gonorrhea has risen from 30.9 to 31.2 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 Sierra City, CA

Adults uninsured
7.4%
No routine checkup
24.1%
No transportation
8.4%
Binge drinking
14.3%
Frequent mental distress
17.4%
Depression
23.4%
Below poverty line
3.1%
  • Primary-care shortage score 16 / 26
  • Medically Underserved Area · IMU 57.6
  • Social Vulnerability Index · 35th 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 Sierra County.

Local HIV snapshot

HIV in Sierra County (2023)

New diagnoses (2023)
0cases countywide
PrEP users / 100k
106

Sierra County HIV care continuum (2023)

Sierra County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 14.9 statewide and 13.7 nationally. 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 Sierra County 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 Sierra City, CA

Sierra City's rhythm turns on the seasons and the land itself: mining heritage, backcountry access, and the steady work of maintaining a mountain community through winter and summer alike. That practical bent extends to health: residents here understand that checking in on sexual health is straightforward maintenance, not something to postpone. Testing in and around Sierra City is available through providers listed on this page, with clinic visits that respect both your schedule and your privacy. Young adults make up a visible part of the community, and many are at the life stage when regular STI screening fits naturally into their health routine.

Whether someone is new to the area, between jobs, or managing the unpredictable pace of seasonal work, confidential testing removes one barrier to peace of mind. The providers serving Sierra City keep records separate from everyday gossip, a distinction that matters in a close-knit place where discretion isn't assumed by default. Access means more than proximity: it means a visit that doesn't require explaining yourself, where your results stay yours alone, and where getting screened doesn't signal anything beyond ordinary self-care. Sierra County's landscape and history draw people to this place; the clinics listed here are designed to serve them without fanfare.

Getting there

How residents reach STD testing in Sierra City, CA

Walkability 5.11 / 20 · Least walkable

At 5.11/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Sierra City 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 5 STD & STI testing locations in Sierra City, California, EasySTD

ZIP 96125 snapshot

Residents
226
Median age
69.9
Median income
$76,875

ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 96125 area around Sierra City: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Sierra City alone.

Sierra City sits in Sierra County, ZIP 96125. Local context that shapes where residents test:

Local landmarks

  • Sierra Buttes
  • Sierra County Chinese Laborer Memorial
  • Kentucky Mine Historic Park and Museum
  • Sierra City Community Park
  • Sierra City Community Center
  • Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout

Major routes

  • CA 49 (Main Street)

Reference

STD testing in Sierra City, CA: screening, costs & privacy

Everything to know before you test in Sierra County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under California 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 Sierra City-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 Sierra City 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 California

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

Two things that actually depend on California 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 California, a minor aged 12 or older can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.

Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)

California 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 California

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 Sierra City, CA

Answers to the questions people ask most before getting tested.

How many testing options are within 30 miles of Sierra City, CA?

1 testing option is within 30 miles of Sierra City, CA.

Does insurance cover STD testing near Sierra City, CA?

Most plans cover STD screening; a clinic or lab can bill insurance, or you can pay a flat self-pay price.

Can I get tested in Sierra City, CA without insurance?

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

Which tests are offered near Sierra City, CA?

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

How common is chlamydia in Sierra County?

About 63 cases per 100,000 residents (2023), below the California average.

Can someone under 18 get tested in California without a parent?

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

Should I test again after being treated?

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

Do syphilis sores heal by themselves?

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

What is STD testing?

Checking for sexually transmitted infections with a urine sample, a swab, or a blood draw, often before any symptoms appear.

Can rectal pain or discharge be an STD?

Yes, rectal symptoms can come from chlamydia or gonorrhea; ask for a rectal swab if you had anal exposure.

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