Having chlamydia in Oxford County is about 65% less common than the US average, but testing is crucial whether you have symptoms or just want peace of mind in Stow, Maine. The options vary, as public clinics keep costs down, private labs prioritize speed, and at-home kits trade a clinic visit for convenience. Check out the listings below to see what works best for you.
Available testing centers
3 testing options are listed for Stow, ME. The nearest, Memorial Hospital, is about 12.2 miles away. Compare 1 community and public clinic, 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 rural health clinic about 12 miles from Stow. Sliding-scale STD testing and care are typical here, call ahead to confirm the exact panel and pricing.
Tests offered
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 12 miles away; if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Stow, 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 Oxford 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.
181 Main Street, Norway, ME 04268
CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists
420 Franklin Street, Rumford, ME 04276
CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists
10 Railroad Street, Rumford, ME 04276
CMS-certified lab Accredited · College of American Pathologists
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Stow. 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, 52 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Stow. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 3 offer telehealth.
Susan Paul, MD
Internal medicine · 70 Fairview Drive, Fryeburg
Lauren Frye, DO
OB-GYN · 3073 White Mountain Highway, North Conway
Curtis Smith, MD
Family medicine · 3073 White Mountain Highway, North Conway
David Marr, MD
Family medicine · 2936 White Mountain Highway, North Conway
Dariusz Pierko, DO
Family medicine · 14 Wyonegonic Road, Bridgton
Charles Kevin Bergeron Poulin
Family medicine · 15 Hospital Drive, Bridgton
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 Stow, ME 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.
Valley Independent Pharmacy
11 miMWV Pharmacy
12 mi
14 mi Hannaford Bros
14 mi
14 mi 
14 mi Showing the 6 closest pharmacies to Stow, ME.
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 Stow, 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 Oxford County, the county that includes Stow, compare with Maine and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data.
#9 of 16 Maine counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 44% of the state
| Infection | Oxford County | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 171.9 103 cases ▼ 21% | 217.4 | 492.2 |
| Gonorrhea | 35.1 21 cases ▼ 21% | 44.4 | 179.5 |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 8.3 5 cases ▲ 57% | 5.3 | 15.8 |
| Syphilis (early) | — no data | 2.1 | 16 |
| Syphilis (late/unknown) | 5 3 cases ▲ 11% | 4.5 | 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 Oxford County, chlamydia has risen from 157.5 to 171.9 per 100,000 (9%), gonorrhea has risen from 26 to 35.1 per 100,000 (35%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 6.8 to 8.3 per 100,000 (22%).
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 Oxford County.
Local HIV snapshot
Oxford County HIV care continuum (2022)
Oxford County recorded 0 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2022), against 2.9 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Oxford County residents living with HIV, 84% are in care · 78% 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 Oxford County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
Local resources & officials
Data & references
Local context
Colton Hill and the ridgelines around it are home to a community where nearly nine in ten households own their property and the average home holds close to four people, extended families and established couples who've put down roots here for the long term. Most working-age adults are in the labor force, and with Oxford County's STI landscape showing the patterns it does, routine screening is simply part of staying ahead, not a response to crisis. That settled, owner-heavy character shapes daily logistics in ways that matter.
For younger adults still building relationships and sexual health habits, that distance can turn a straightforward intention into a multi-step commitment. The single option listed on this page reflects the rural reality: there isn't a menu to choose from, but knowing exactly what's available, what it costs against a typical Oxford County rent, and when it's open removes the guesswork from that trip. For residents near Pine Hill or anywhere along Stow's back roads, the range listed here, even if narrow, means having a confirmed address, confirmed hours, and a clear route before you leave the driveway.
Getting there
At 5.82/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Stow 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.
Stow sits in Oxford County, ZIP 4037. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Nearby cities & towns
Just outside Stow? 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 Oxford County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Maine 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 Stow-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 Stow 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 Maine 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 Maine, a minor of any age can consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own, no parental permission is required.
Maine 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 MaineSource: 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 Memorial Hospital, about 12.2 mi away; 1 is within 30 miles. An at-home kit shipped to 4037 also works.
Usually yes, it can be billed to insurance, or paid out of pocket at a flat rate.
A full panel typically covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B and C.
Oxford County reported ~172 chlamydia cases per 100,000 in 2023, below the Maine average.
In Maine, people under 18 can consent to confidential STD testing and treatment on their own.
Most results are ready in about 1–2 days.
Herpes isn't curable, but daily or as-needed antiviral medicine controls outbreaks and lowers the chance of passing it on.
A urine test or swab finds trichomoniasis, one of the most treatable STIs.
It can: too soon and a real infection may not show yet. Retest after the window to be sure.
Go to an ER or call RAINN (800-656-4673); they provide testing, PEP, and support right away.
Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.