In Calcasieu Parish, HIV diagnoses are about 52% higher than the US average. If you've had a recent risk or test on a regular schedule in Starks, Louisiana, consider your options for STI testing. Community and public clinics typically offer low-cost or free testing, while private labs may provide faster results and more flexible scheduling.
Available testing centers
7 testing options are listed for Starks, LA. The nearest, Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Service District, is about 9.5 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 community safety-net rural health clinic about 10 miles from Starks. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
TAN Healthcare in Orange tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis A, B, and C, and TB, treating bacterial STIs the same visit on a sliding-scale fee structure that applies to everyone. Appointments are required.
TAN Healthcare carries Spanish-language services directly and extends interpretation to other languages as well. That reach means the clinical conversation (symptoms, treatment options, medication instructions) happens in full, not in fragments pieced together after the fact.
When prevention requires a prescription, a gap between the conversation and the medication is where risk quietly grows. TAN Healthcare in Orange closes that gap by providing both PrEP and PEP on-site, and specifically covers PrEP costs for uninsured patients.
TAN Healthcare in Orange doesn't hand off a hepatitis C diagnosis, it carries the case through to active treatment on-site. That single-location continuity keeps the care relationship intact and eliminates the scheduling lag that often interrupts viral management.
Languages
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages, Spanish
Tests offered
Serves
Care services
Prevention services
Fees & payment
Listing verified Apr 2026 · Source: CDC NPIN
Triangle Area Network - Orange, serving Orange as a federally qualified health center, welcomes walk-ins for STI screening without an appointment. A single visit can cover syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing, with fees adjusted to income on a sliding scale.
Tests offered
Fees & payment
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 10 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Starks, 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 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 Calcasieu Parish, 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.
830 West Bayou Pines Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
701 East Cypress Street, Sulphur, LA 70663
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
4200 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605
CMS-certified lab Accredited · Joint Commission
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Starks. 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, 182 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Starks. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 23 offer telehealth.
Lanre Udu, MD
Internal medicine · 6901 Medical Ctr Drive, Orange
Hamid Jalali, DO
Family medicine · 11946 Hwy 62 North, Orange
Nick Pomonis, MD
Family medicine · 3306 Ridgemont Drive, Orange
Manuel Hababag, MD
Family medicine · 3321 Ridgemont Drive, Orange
Jalal Joudeh, MD
Internal medicine · 601 West 4th Street, Dequincy
Nandita Chadha, MD
Family medicine · 140 West 4th Street, Dequincy
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 Starks, LA 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.
Lanes Pharmacy
9.7 miBreaux's Pharmacy
9.7 miThe King's Family Pharmacy
16 miBrookshire Brothers Pharmacy
17 miPerkins Pharmacy
17 miShowing the 5 closest pharmacies to Starks, LA.
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 Starks, 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.
$0 with most insurance
Free online PrEP & DoxyPEP: HIV prevention, home lab kits, no in-person visit
From $0 insured
Telehealth PrEP & DoxyPEP with at-home testing and ongoing monitoring
Visit from $39
Online STI treatment & DoxyPEP: same-day prescriptions to your pharmacy
Visit from $0 insured
Telehealth STI treatment and sexual-health care, delivered or to your pharmacy
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 Calcasieu Parish, the parish that includes Starks, compare with Louisiana and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~37% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#38 of 64 Louisiana counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 41% of the state
| Infection | Calcasieu Parish | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 668.4 1,362 cases ▼ 16% | 792.4 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 215 438 cases ▼ 25% | 288.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 16.2 33 cases ▼ 38% | 26.1 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | 7.4 15 cases ▼ 62% | 19.6 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 48.1 98 cases ▼ 9% | 52.6 | 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.
Between 2020 and 2023 in Calcasieu Parish, chlamydia has risen from 469.6 to 668.4 per 100,000 (42%), gonorrhea has risen from 200.2 to 215 per 100,000 (7%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 8.8 to 16.2 per 100,000 (84%).
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 Calcasieu Parish.
Local HIV snapshot
Calcasieu Parish HIV care continuum (2023)
Calcasieu Parish recorded 20.8 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 22.5 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Calcasieu Parish residents living with HIV, 82.4% are in care · 73.2% 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 Calcasieu Parish tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Along Alligator Park, families and young professionals alike call Starks home, with many residents settling into their own houses. The community here is built around stability, with a strong presence of homeowners and a typical household size that reflects a close-knit atmosphere. Many residents are likely juggling work and family life, given the labor-force participation rate and the number of households with higher incomes.
For younger adults still forming relationships and building their careers, everyday life can get busy. With many residents renting apartments or houses, and some managing work schedules, finding time for health check-ups can be a challenge. The area's layout means that getting around may require some planning, which can add to the pressure of fitting in a doctor's visit.
In Starks, getting tested is one less thing to worry about when it's convenient and accessible. Residents can focus on their daily lives, from enjoying time at Alligator Park to managing their households, without added stress. For those living in this community, having easy access to testing means one more way to take care of themselves, right in their own neighborhood.
Getting there
At 3.73/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Starks 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 70661 snapshot
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 70661 area around Starks: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Starks alone.
Starks sits in Calcasieu Parish, ZIP 70661. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Starks? 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 Calcasieu Parish: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Louisiana 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 Starks-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 Starks 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Louisiana 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 LouisianaSource: 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.
Nearest is Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Service District, about 9.5 mi away; 7 are within 30 miles. An at-home kit shipped to 70661 also works.
Yes, Medicaid typically covers it, and public clinics are free either way.
Public health clinics nearby provide free testing.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Calcasieu Parish reported ~668 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Louisiana average.
Yes, PrEP, a daily pill that helps prevent HIV in HIV-negative people, is available in the area.
In Louisiana, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.
Pregnancy screening is standard; ask about an early-pregnancy STI panel.
Clinics give immediate care and treatment; home kits win on convenience and discretion. Either works.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.