STD Testing in Townsend, MA: Free, Same-Day & Confidential
Middlesex County has about 59% fewer new HIV diagnoses than the US average. Whether you're in Townsend, Massachusetts with one-time questions or for regular check-ups, choose whether you prefer the support of a clinic or the convenience of an at-home kit. We list local clinics and at-home kits below.
9 testing options are listed for Townsend, MA. The nearest, Quest Diagnostics, is about 6.4 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.
Premium Partner
Quest Diagnostics
Most popular Results in 1–2 days
4.6(43)?
Review sources
Google38
EasySTD5
Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 43 reviews
Address
370 Lunenburg Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420 6.4 miles away
Today's offer: $10 off any test panel, applied automatically at checkout.
Community health center 6.9 miles
Community Health Connections
3.1(158)?
Review sources
Google153
EasySTD5
Rated 3.1 out of 5 from 158 reviews
Community Health Connections in Fitchburg runs on a sliding-scale fee with Medicaid and private insurance accepted, covering HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, hepatitis A, B, and C, and TB: appointments required, with same-visit treatment for bacterial infections and interpretation services available across languages.
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Interpretation Services Built Into Every Appointment
Community Health Connections maintains interpretation services for non-English languages as a standing part of care, not a workaround arranged on arrival. For someone navigating a PrEP regimen, a new STI diagnosis, or medication adherence counseling, the clinical conversation happens without a language gap at its center.
PrEP and PEP Prescribed and Managed On-Site
Community Health Connections prescribes both PrEP, including branded options like Truvada and Descovy, and PEP directly, with the follow-up monitoring those regimens require handled within the same practice. That continuity means HIV-prevention medication isn't a one-time handoff but an ongoing clinical relationship.
Substance-Use Treatment Sits Next to STI Care
Separate specialty systems typically leave substance use and STI care siloed, requiring patients to coordinate across providers on their own. Community Health Connections folds substance-abuse treatment directly into the clinical mix, so those conditions, which frequently intersect, get addressed by the same team in the same place.
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B
TB
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Herpes
Chlamydia
Conventional HIV
Serves
Adolescents/Youth/Teens
American Indian or Alaska Native persons
Asian or Pacific Islander persons
Black or African American persons
Gay Men
Hispanic or Latino persons
LGBTQ
Low Income Persons
Care services
Medication Adherence Education and Counseling
Substance Abuse Treatment
STI Treatment
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Adult Hepatitis B Vaccine
Prevention services
TB Prevention/Education
STI Prevention/Education
HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education
Hepatitis Prevention/Education
Condom Distribution
Fees & payment
Medicaid Accepted
Fee
Insurance Accepted
Listing verified Nov 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN + HRSA
Best for free testing 7.7 miles
Making Opportunity Count
4.1(26)?
Review sources
Google23
EasySTD3
Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 26 reviews
Making Opportunity Count in Fitchburg requires an appointment and covers the full standard panel (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis, and herpes) with sliding-scale fees, same-visit bacterial treatment, HPV vaccination, and free HIV and hepatitis B and C testing.
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Every Service Carries a Zero Balance
A cost that stops someone from returning for treatment is a cost that lets an infection persist. Making Opportunity Count removes that barrier entirely, every service, from testing through treatment to vaccination, is provided at no fee, so nothing goes unfinished because of what it would have cost.
Care Delivered Without a Language Gap
When language blocks communication between a patient and a provider, the clinical detail that shapes a diagnosis, or the instruction that makes treatment work, gets lost. Making Opportunity Count provides interpretation services for non-English languages, keeping that exchange intact from the first question through the final follow-up.
Herpes and Hepatitis A, B, and C on the Same Panel
Leaving herpes or hepatitis untested means leaving infections that don't announce themselves to keep going undetected. Making Opportunity Count tests for herpes and hepatitis A, B, and C alongside the core panel, so a single appointment closes those gaps rather than pushing them to a separate visit.
English, Interpretation Services Available for Non-English Languages
Tests offered
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B
Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Herpes
Chlamydia
Conventional HIV
Serves
Adolescents/Youth/Teens
American Indian or Alaska Native persons
Asian or Pacific Islander persons
Black or African American persons
Gay Men
Hispanic or Latino persons
LGBTQ
Low Income Persons
Care services
Family Planning
Medication Adherence Education and Counseling
STI Treatment
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)
Prevention services
STI Prevention/Education
Needle Cleaning, Needle Exchange or Needle Distribution
HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education
HIV Test Counseling
Hepatitis Prevention/Education
Condom Distribution
Fees & payment
Medicaid Accepted
PrEP for uninsured
No Fee
Fee
Insurance Accepted
Free STI Test
Free HIV Test
Free Hepatitis C Test
Free Hepatitis B Test
Listing verified Oct 2025 · Source: CDC NPIN
Community health center 12.4 miles
Harbor Homes, Inc. Headquarters
3.9(47)?
Review sources
Google42
EasySTD5
Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 47 reviews
Harbor Homes, Inc. Headquarters in Nashua meets patients where they are (whether uninsured, between providers, or paying cash) through federally qualified status that ties fees to income. Sliding-scale STI screening covers syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, with no appointment needed to get started.
Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center in Nashua welcomes walk-ins for STI screening, no appointment needed. Federally qualified status anchors its sliding-scale fees, adjusting costs to income so anyone can afford a visit covering syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia testing in one stop.
Convenient MD Urgent Care in Nashua runs STI testing through a walk-in urgent-care model, covering gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis on a sliding-scale fee with no appointment required. Same-visit treatment for bacterial infections is available, and the free mpox vaccine is on hand alongside standard insurance and Medicare billing.
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.
The nearest testing center is about 6 miles away, if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to Townsend, 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 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
Quest Diagnostics
$79 & up
Panel:
8-infection panel incl. chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis & herpes: single tests too
Sample:
Quest Mobile: a phlebotomist collects your sample at home
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
Other CLIA-certified labs near Townsend, MA
Beyond the public testing sites above, these federally certified (CLIA) labs serve Middlesex 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.
Source: CMS CLIA registry (Provider of Services), Q1 2026. Federal public records: active CLIA-certified laboratories near Townsend. 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
Clinicians near Townsend, MA who may help arrange STD testing
Beyond dedicated clinics, 1,871 primary-care, OB-GYN, infectious-disease and other clinicians have a CMS practice record within 30 miles of Townsend. They may be able to evaluate symptoms or order a confidential STD panel during a regular visit, and 740 offer telehealth.
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 Townsend, MA
Compare the pharmacies closest to Townsend, MA. Contact a location directly to confirm pharmacy-counter hours, services, prices, and product availability before visiting.
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 Townsend, 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.
PrEP & DoxyPEP
Q Care Plus
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
STDs & HIV in Middlesex County: the local picture
How reported STI rates in Middlesex County, the county that includes Townsend, compare with Massachusetts and U.S. averages, based on the most recent 2023 surveillance data. An estimated ~23% of residents are aged 15–34 (ACS), the age group with the highest reported chlamydia and gonorrhea rates nationally.
#9
#9 of 14 Massachusetts counties for chlamydia, a higher rate than 36% of the state
Reported STD rates per 100,000, Middlesex County vs Massachusetts vs U.S.
Middlesex CountyMassachusettsU.S.▲▼ = Middlesex County vs the state average
Infection
Middlesex County
Massachusetts
United States
Chlamydia
317.65,158 cases▼ 23%
412.7
492.2
Gonorrhea
1141,852 cases▼ 18%
139.8
179.5
Syphilis (P&S)
8.6139 cases▼ 19%
10.6
15.8
Syphilis (early)
10.8175 cases▲ 5%
10.3
16
Syphilis (late/unknown)
11.6188 cases▼ 15%
13.7
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 Middlesex County over time (per 100,000)
Chlamydia ▲ 3% vs 2022
Chlamydia Gonorrhea Syphilis (P&S)
Between 2020 and 2023 in Middlesex County, chlamydia has risen from 258.8 to 317.6 per 100,000 (23%), gonorrhea has risen from 74.8 to 114 per 100,000 (52%), and P&S syphilis has risen from 6.9 to 8.6 per 100,000 (25%).
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 Townsend, MA
Adults uninsured
3.7%
No routine checkup
19.6%
No transportation
6.8%
Binge drinking
17.2%
Frequent mental distress
17%
Depression
27.6%
Below poverty line
9.4%
Primary-care ratio
803 : 1
Middlesex County
Primary-care shortage score 17 / 26
Medically Underserved Area · IMU 59.9
Social Vulnerability Index · 29th 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 Middlesex County.
Local HIV snapshot
HIV in Middlesex County (2023)
People living with HIV
294 / 100k
New diagnoses (2023)
79cases countywide
On PrEP (coverage)
42.4%
Middlesex County HIV care continuum (2023)
Middlesex County recorded 5.6 new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 (2023), against 8.8 statewide and 13.7 nationally. Among Middlesex County residents living with HIV, 71.2% are in care · 64.2% 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.
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 Middlesex County tests for syphilis.
Source: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus, 2023 (county-level congenital syphilis is not published).
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 →
Old City feels lived-in and rooted, the kind of neighborhood where most households have owned their homes for years and families run larger than the state average. That stability shapes daily life in ways that matter for health planning: with nearly seven in ten residents in the workforce and households often running on two schedules, carving out time for a routine screening can slip behind youth sports pickups, commutes down MA 13, and everything else a full house demands.
That pressure is real for the younger adults here, people in their late teens and twenties who are statistically in the years when STIs go undetected most often, precisely because life feels busy and symptoms are easy to dismiss. Townsend's share of residents in that window is not small, and Middlesex County's STI data underscores why consistent testing matters across the whole area. The town's relatively strong household income picture means cost is less often the wall, but schedule and distance remain the practical constraints for most people.
That's where the range of options listed on this page becomes genuinely useful. Twelve listed sites, spread across varying hours and fee structures, mean a resident near Townsend Harbor or making a regular run along Highland Street can find something that fits without a long detour, turning a reasonable intention into a confirmed appointment on the calendar.
Getting there
How residents reach STD testing in Townsend, MA
Walkability5.58 / 20 · Least walkable
At 5.58/20 on the EPA walkability index, day-to-day errands in Townsend 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 01469 snapshot
Residents
6,803
Median age
40.4
Median income
$113,162
ZIP-level Census figures for the wider 01469 area around Townsend: a single ZIP can span several communities, so they describe the area, not Townsend alone.
Townsend sits in Middlesex County, ZIP 01469. Local context that shapes where residents test:
Local landmarks
Bayberry Hill
Townsend Hill
Barker Hill
Shipley Hill
The Throne
Lunenburg Town Pound
Neighborhoods & communities
Old City
Townsend Harbor
South Row
Major routes
MA 13 (Elm Street)
Nearby cities & towns
STD testing near Townsend, MA
Just outside Townsend? These nearby communities have their own testing guides: clinics, at-home kits, and free screening close to home.
STD testing in Townsend, MA: screening, costs & privacy
Everything to know before you test in Middlesex County: the CDC's screening guidelines, each infection's detection window, per-test reference prices, and your privacy rights under Massachusetts law. If you have symptoms right now, our confidential symptom checker maps them to the tests worth considering.
Who should test, and whenCDC screening schedule + each infection's detection window
Who should get tested, and how often
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
When to test: STD detection windows
Testing too early can return a false negative, confirm timing with a Townsend-area provider.
What each STD test costsMedicare 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 Townsend 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.
Confidentiality & consent in MassachusettsMinor consent and partner treatment (EPT) under state law, plus how to test privately
Two things that actually depend on Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, a minor may consent to confidential STI testing and treatment on their own; a provider may inform a parent only if they judge the minor's health to be in serious danger.
Can my partner be treated too? (EPT)
Massachusetts 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.
