This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Free STD testing in Baton Rouge exists, and it is easier to use once you know the steps. This guide walks you through finding a clinic, checking whether you qualify, getting ready, and understanding what happens next.

Testing is a routine part of health care. Anyone who is sexually active can ask for it, whatever their gender, orientation or relationship status. Louisiana has a real need for it. The CDC's 2023 STI Surveillance report ranks Louisiana first among the 50 states for chlamydia, at 792.4 cases per 100,000 people. It ranks second for gonorrhea, at 288.4 per 100,000. The same report puts Louisiana's primary and secondary syphilis rate at 26.1 per 100,000, which ranks eighth. Baton Rouge-specific rates were not available to us, so check with the health department for local figures.

Many infections cause no symptoms. A test is the only way a clinician can tell you what is going on.

What you need before you start

A phone. Most of the clinics below ask you to call first. Several are marked as appointment-based.
A photo ID, if you have one. Ask the clinic whether it is required. Policies differ, and we could not confirm them.
Your insurance or Medicaid card, if you have one. Some clinics accept coverage and also offer free or sliding-scale options.
A short list of questions. Examples: What does this visit cost me? Which infections are included? How and when will I get results?
A few minutes to think about your recent sexual health history. A clinician may ask about partners, types of sex and symptoms. They ask so they can choose the right tests, not to judge you.
A way to be reached. A phone number or secure portal helps if results need follow-up.

Step 1: Know the difference between free and sliding-scale

A free test has no charge to you. Free programs often have eligibility rules, so ask about them.

A sliding-scale fee means the price is based on your income and household size. Ask how the clinic sets the fee and whether you need proof of income.

Some clinics offer both. One test, such as HIV, may be free while a full STI panel is on a sliding scale.

Step 2: Choose a Baton Rouge clinic

The clinic details below come from CDC GetTested listings, unless noted. Each listing says hours may change. None of them lists hours, so call before you go. You can also see the local testing list for these options in one place.

Free testing options

Metro Health

Address: 950 Lorri Burgess Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Phone: 225-338-9333.

The CDC GetTested listing shows free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests. The tests listed are rapid and blood-draw HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. It accepts insurance and Medicaid, and the listing mentions PrEP for people without insurance. It is marked as accepting walk-ins, but hours are not published, so call to confirm.

Open Health Care Clinic (HAART Clinic)

Address: 3849 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone: 225-655-6422.

CDC GetTested lists free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests here. The tests named are rapid and blood-draw HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The listing says to contact the organization about eligibility. Walk-in service is not listed, so plan to call first. The clinic's page is ohcc.org/haart-clinic.

Sliding-scale options

CareSouth, Baton Rouge Clinic

Address: 3140 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone: 225-650-2000.

CDC GetTested shows a free HIV test and a sliding scale. It also lists insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. The tests named are HIV (rapid and blood draw), hepatitis A, B and C, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The listing also mentions PrEP navigation and PrEP for people without insurance. The clinic page is caresouth.org.

RKM Primary Care

Address: 455 E Airport Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone: 225-683-1320.

The CDC listing shows a sliding scale and acceptance of insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. Tests named are HIV (blood draw), chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. HPV vaccination is also on the service list. The clinic page is rkmcare.org/batonrouge.

Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative, Plank Road Clinic

Address: 7050 Plank Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70811. Phone: 225-774-1120.

The CDC listing shows a sliding scale and acceptance of Medicaid and Medicare. Tests named are HIV (blood draw), hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The clinic page is brpcc.org.

Cost not published

CrescentCare, Baton Rouge Office

Address: 4550 North Blvd, Ste 230, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone: 225-302-5968.

The CDC listing gives no cost information and says to contact the organization about eligibility. Tests named are HIV (rapid and blood draw), chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Adult hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are also listed. Ask about the price when you call.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) HIV Specialty Clinic

Address: 8425 Cumberland Place, Baton Rouge, LA. A WAFB report dated August 4, 2025 says the center offers HIV and STI screenings, wellness days and PrEP services for patients 14 or older. It lists weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The report says care is offered regardless of ability to pay, but it does not say whether testing is free. It gives no phone number, so confirm the current status with AHF directly.

East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit

Address: 353 N 12th St. Phone: 225-242-4860. CDC GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing here, with sliding-scale fees and appointments required. We could not verify what routine STD services are offered at this site today, so call ahead and ask.

Step 3: Check eligibility and current hours

The CDC listings do not publish hours for these clinics. They say hours may change and to check the organization's website. Do this before you travel:

Call the number listed above. Ask, "Are you doing STI testing this week, and do I need an appointment?"
Ask what days and times testing is offered. Some clinics test only on certain days.
Ask who qualifies. For example: Is it free for everyone, or only for certain groups?
Ask what the visit costs if you do not qualify for free testing.
Write down the answers, including the name of the person you spoke with.

The Louisiana Health Hub also runs a phone line at 1-800-992-4379, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its testing page points people to the CDC locator at gettested.cdc.gov. You can enter your ZIP code there to see more options in and around East Baton Rouge Parish.

We did not find a sourced list of free testing events or health department walk-in days for Baton Rouge. If you see one advertised, confirm the date, place and services with the host before you go.

Step 4: Decide which tests to ask for

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) explain that the right tests depend on your age, body parts exposed, partners and symptoms. A clinician can help you choose. You can also bring up any concern, even if it feels awkward.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Often done with a urine sample or a swab. Swabs may be taken from the throat or rectum, depending on the type of sex you have.
Syphilis and HIV. Usually done with a blood draw. Some clinics also offer a rapid HIV test.
Hepatitis C. Offered at several of the clinics above.
Herpes and HPV. Testing differs from other STIs. CareSouth's listing names herpes testing. Ask any clinic what they offer for these, and why a test may or may not be recommended in your case.

If you are pregnant, Louisiana law (La. R.S. 40:1121.21) requires prenatal care providers to offer HIV and syphilis blood tests at the first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is required at the first prenatal visit. You are told testing will happen, and it is not done if you decline.

Step 5: Go to your visit

Arrive a little early, and bring your ID and any insurance card. Tell the clinician what you are worried about and any symptoms you have noticed. Ask what each test is for.

You can ask these questions before you leave:

When will my results be ready?
How will I be told, by phone, portal or in person?
What happens if a result needs follow-up?
Is there a window period I should know about for any of these tests?

A window period is the time after an exposure when a test may not yet detect an infection. The CDC publishes window periods for specific tests, and they differ by infection and test type. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test makes sense for you.

Step 6: Understand what results may mean

Results are explained by a clinician, and nobody else can tell you what they mean for you. In general terms, a negative result means the test did not find that infection at the time it was done. If you tested soon after an exposure, a clinician may suggest testing again. A positive result means you should talk with a clinician about the next steps.

Treatment is whatever a clinician prescribes. Here is what is useful to know about the infections themselves:

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are bacterial infections. They are curable with treatment from a clinician.
Trichomoniasis is also curable with treatment from a clinician.
HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable. They are treatable or manageable, and a clinician can explain the options.

Many people with a positive result go on to live full, healthy lives. Getting care promptly can help protect your health and the health of your partners.

Other free or low-cost options in Baton Rouge

Free home HIV test kit

Access Health Louisiana offers a free HIV home test kit. It is an oral swab, mailed in plain packaging. After testing, you have a virtual appointment with a testing navigator. The organization's page says it serves southeast Louisiana residents aged 18 to 64 who have not been tested in the past year. It does not say whether Baton Rouge addresses qualify. You can request a kit online, email [email protected], or call 504-226-2976. This test covers HIV only.

The Louisiana Health Hub also notes that home HIV tests can be bought at many drugstores. It did not list a state-run mail-order program for other STIs.

PrEP and PEP

PrEP is medication a clinician prescribes to help prevent HIV. PEP is started after a possible HIV exposure. Two Louisiana programs are worth knowing:

Louisiana TelePrEP from the Louisiana Health Hub offers virtual PrEP care by phone or video. According to the program page, it is for HIV-negative adults 18 and older who have Medicaid or private insurance. Medicaid covers labs and prescriptions. Navigators are at 504-931-7687 or 504-877-2464, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pharmacist-initiated PrEP and PEP (Act 711 of 2024, La. R.S. 37:1218.2) lets trained pharmacists provide PrEP and PEP without a separate prescription to people 17 and older. Pharmacists must perform rapid HIV tests.

CareSouth and Metro Health also list PrEP services in their CDC GetTested entries.

If you are under 18

Louisiana law (La. R.S. 40:1121.8) says a minor who has, or believes they have, a sexually transmitted disease may consent to medical care from a hospital, public clinic or licensed physician. Parent or guardian consent is not required. The statute sets no minimum age.

There is one limit to know about. The same law says a physician or member of the medical staff may tell the minor's parent or guardian about treatment, even over the minor's objection. They are not required to. Ask the clinic about its practice before your visit.

If a partner has been diagnosed

Louisiana's expedited partner therapy law (La. R.S. 40:1121.6) lets certain prescribers provide antibiotics to the sexual partners of a patient with chlamydia or gonorrhea without examining them. Pharmacists may accept those prescriptions. A 2026 law (Act 567, effective August 1, 2026) was signed to broaden this, but we could not confirm the final text. Ask your clinician what applies to you. You may still want a full exam and testing for other infections.

Tips and common mistakes

Do not assume walk-in service. Most listings above are not marked as walk-in. Call first.
Do not assume "free" covers everything. A free HIV test may sit alongside a fee for other tests. Ask what is included.
Do not skip the eligibility question. Several listings say to contact the organization. That is a normal step, not a barrier.
Do not rely on old hours. The CDC listings say hours may change. Check each time.
Do not stop at a negative result if the timing was close to an exposure. Ask about the window period and whether to retest.
Do not skip follow-up. If a clinician asks you to return, going back protects your health.
Be honest with the clinician. Accurate details help them choose the right tests. They have heard it all before.

A note on privacy and reporting

Under the Louisiana Sanitary Code (La. Admin. Code tit. 51, Part II, section 105), clinicians and laboratories report certain infections to the state. These include syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. This is a public health practice used to track and respond to disease. Ask the clinic how your information is handled if privacy is a concern.

Louisiana also has a law about intentional exposure to HIV (La. R.S. 14:43.5, amended by Acts 2026, No. 177, effective August 1, 2026). It applies only when a person knew they had HIV and exposed another person without that person's knowing consent. The law lists several defenses. If you have questions about how it applies to you, a clinician, a case manager or a legal aid service can explain it.

What to expect and what to do next

Most people find the visit shorter and less stressful than they expected. The first call is often the hardest part. With results in hand, you and a clinician can plan the next steps, whatever they are.

Start with one phone call this week. Pick a clinic from the list, ask about eligibility, cost and hours, and book a time. You can also look up more locations at gettested.cdc.gov or call the Louisiana Health Hub at 1-800-992-4379.

Free STD Testing in Baton Rouge: Every Free and Sliding-Scale Option