STD Testing in Baton Rouge: Where to Get Tested, What It Costs and What to Expect

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections is a routine part of health care. It is not a verdict on anyone. If you are looking for STD testing in Baton Rouge, this guide covers the clinics, the costs the clinics themselves publish, what happens during a visit, and what Louisiana law says about privacy, partners and minors.

Some details are not published. Where a clinic's listing does not give hours or prices, this guide says so and points you to the clinic to confirm. Please call before you go.

Contents

1. Why testing is routine in Louisiana
2. Where to get tested in Baton Rouge
3. What testing costs and how to pay
4. What to expect at a visit
5. When to test and how to read the timing
6. Louisiana rules on privacy, minors, partners and pregnancy
7. PrEP, PEP, vaccines and prevention
8. Planning your next step

Why testing is routine in Louisiana

Testing is how people find out their status, and many infections cause no symptoms at all. That is why the CDC recommends screening based on age, sexual activity and other factors, even when someone feels fine.

What the state numbers show

City-level figures are not published in the sources used for this guide, so the numbers below are for Louisiana as a whole. They come from CDC STI Surveillance 2023 data.

• Chlamydia: 792.4 cases per 100,000 people (36,242 cases), ranking first among the 50 states.
• Gonorrhea: 288.4 per 100,000 (13,192 cases), ranking second.
• Primary and secondary syphilis: 26.1 per 100,000 (1,196 cases), ranking eighth.

These are reported cases. They reflect both how common infections are and how much testing is done. The practical takeaway is simple. Testing is common, treatment works for the bacterial infections, and a routine screen is a normal thing to ask for.

Who the CDC says should be screened

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and the USPSTF describe screening by group. A clinician can tell you which apply to you. In general:

• The CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once, with more frequent testing for people with ongoing risk.
• The CDC recommends yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors such as a new partner or a partner with an STI.
• The CDC recommends at least yearly screening for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with more frequent screening for those at higher risk.
• The CDC recommends that pregnant people be screened for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia and gonorrhea, with timing set by the provider.
• The USPSTF recommends syphilis screening for people at increased risk, and HIV screening for adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65.

If you do not fit a group above, you can still ask for testing. A clinician can talk through what makes sense for you.

Where to get tested in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is the consolidated City-Parish of East Baton Rouge. Louisiana uses parishes rather than counties. The listings below come from the CDC's GetTested locator unless noted. The CDC says hours may change, so confirm everything with the clinic. For a shorter, scannable version, see the local testing list.

Free and low-cost clinics

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. It lists rapid and blood-draw HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing. Insurance and Medicaid are accepted, and PrEP is listed for people without insurance. This is the clinic listed as accepting walk-ins. Hours are not listed, so call first. Website: brmetrohealth.com.

Open Health Care Clinic (HAART Clinic)

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

The CDC listing shows free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests, with rapid and blood-draw HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing. It says to contact the organization about eligibility. Walk-in is not listed as available, so call to make an appointment. More at ohcc.org/haart-clinic.

CareSouth, Baton Rouge Clinic

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

The CDC listing shows a free HIV test, a sliding scale for fees, and acceptance of insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. Tests listed include 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, plus HPV vaccination. Walk-in is not listed. More at caresouth.org.

RKM Primary Care (Baton Rouge)

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 listed are HIV (blood draw), chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and HPV vaccination is listed. More at rkmcare.org.

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 listed are HIV (blood draw), hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and HPV vaccination is listed. More at brpcc.org.

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 listed are HIV (rapid and blood draw), chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Adult hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are listed. More at crescentcare.org.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) HIV Specialty Clinic

Address: 8425 Cumberland Place, Baton Rouge. A phone number was not listed in the source.

WAFB reported on August 4, 2025 that this center opened, with HIV and STI screenings, wellness days and PrEP services for patients 14 or older. The report gives hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It says care is offered regardless of ability to pay, but it does not say whether testing is free. Because this comes from a news report and not from AHF, confirm the current status with AHF before you go.

The parish health unit

The CDC GetTested locator lists the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit at 353 N 12th St, phone 225-242-4860. It shows HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing, sliding-scale fees and appointments required. One summary of the state directory suggested that routine STD testing moved to community providers in 2017, and that page could not be checked. Call ahead and ask whether the unit currently offers the test you want.

Planned Parenthood, urgent care, university health and your own doctor

The sources used for this guide do not list a Planned Parenthood location, an urgent care center or a university health service in Baton Rouge, so this guide does not name one. That does not mean none exist. These are other routes to ask about:

• Your primary care provider. A doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant can order STI tests, treat bacterial infections and give vaccines.
• Urgent care. Many can test and treat, especially if you have symptoms. Ask about price before the visit, since urgent care billing differs from clinic billing.
• Family planning and reproductive health providers. Call and ask whether they test for STIs and how they set fees.
• The CDC locator. At gettested.cdc.gov you can enter your ZIP code and see current listings for HIV, STI and hepatitis testing sites.

Help finding a site by phone

The Louisiana Health Hub, run by the state's STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program, lists a phone line at 1-800-992-4379, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its testing page directs people to the CDC locator. Its HIV page has more on state services.

Testing at home

Access Health Louisiana offers a free home HIV test kit. It tests for HIV only. The kit is mailed in plain packaging, with no insurance or copay needed. After you test, you have a virtual appointment with a testing navigator. The 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, so ask. You can email [email protected] or call 504-226-2976.

The Louisiana Health Hub also notes that home HIV tests can be bought at many drugstores. Its testing page does not describe a state-run mail-order kit program for other STIs. A home HIV test cannot check for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or other infections, so ask a clinic about those.

What testing costs and how to pay

None of the listings used for this guide publish a dollar price for a test. Here is what they do say, so you can plan your call.

Clinic	Cost as listed	Insurance listed	Walk-in listed
Metro Health	Free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests	Insurance and Medicaid	Yes
Open Health Care Clinic (HAART Clinic)	Free HIV, hepatitis C and STI tests; contact for eligibility	Not listed	No
CareSouth	Free HIV test; sliding scale	Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare	No
RKM Primary Care	Sliding scale	Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare	No
Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative	Sliding scale	Medicaid, Medicare	No
CrescentCare	Not listed; contact for eligibility	Not listed	No
AHF HIV Specialty Clinic	Care offered regardless of ability to pay; testing cost not stated	Not listed	Not listed

"No" under walk-in means walk-in is not listed as available, not that it is refused. Confirm by phone.

What a sliding scale means

A sliding scale sets your fee based on income and household size. Ask the clinic what documents to bring. Ask for the fee for each test you want before you agree.

Questions that save money

• Is there a charge for the visit itself, apart from the lab tests?
• If I have insurance, will a statement or explanation of benefits go to the policyholder? This matters if you are on someone else's plan.
• Is there a charge if the test finds something that needs treatment?
• Do you offer a free or reduced-fee option if I have no insurance?

What to expect at a visit

Visits are usually brief and private. Clinic staff handle STI testing every day, and they are there to help, not to judge.

Before you go

• Call to ask about hours, appointments, cost and what to bring.
• Bring a photo ID and your insurance card if you have one.
• Write down any symptoms, the date of your last test and any medicines you take.

The conversation

A clinician will usually ask about your sexual health, such as the kinds of sex you have, the number of partners and whether you use protection. They ask so they can choose the right tests and the right body sites to check. You can answer honestly without fear of being judged, and you can say if you would rather not answer something.

How samples are collected

• Urine or swab samples are used for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Depending on the kinds of sex you have, swabs may be taken from the throat or rectum as well. Many clinics let you collect a vaginal or rectal swab yourself.
• Blood tests are used for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. Some clinics offer a rapid HIV test, which uses a finger prick or oral swab and gives results during the visit.
• A sample from a sore may be taken if you have a sore that could be herpes.
• A physical exam may be offered, especially if you have symptoms.

What is tested by default and what to ask for

Many clinics do not test for everything unless you ask. Based on the CDC listings, the most common set at Baton Rouge sites is HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Some list hepatitis C, and CareSouth lists hepatitis A, B and C and herpes.

The CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood testing for people with no symptoms. It also does not recommend routine HPV testing for most people, apart from cervical cancer screening for those with a cervix. If you are worried about herpes or HPV, ask a clinician what is recommended for you.

Ask the clinic:

• Which infections are included in this test?
• Do you test the throat and rectum, if that fits my situation?
• Can I add hepatitis B or C?
• How and when will I get results?

Getting results

Rapid HIV tests give results in the visit. Other results usually take a few days, and clinics differ in how they share them, such as by phone or a patient portal. Ask how you will be contacted and whether it is safe to leave a message.

A clinician, not a website, is the right person to explain what a result means for you.

If treatment is needed

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are bacterial or parasitic infections that are curable with treatment from a clinician. Your clinician chooses the medicine and how to take it. Do not use leftover or borrowed antibiotics.

HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. For HIV, treatment prescribed by a clinician can keep the virus at a very low level in the body. The CDC says people with HIV who take treatment and keep an undetectable viral load do not pass HIV to partners through sex.

After treatment for some infections, the CDC recommends retesting later, often about three months afterward. Your clinician will tell you if that applies.

When to test and how to read the timing

Testing right after a possible exposure

Every test has a window period. This is the time after an exposure when a test may not yet detect an infection. A test taken during the window period can come back negative even if an infection is present.

The CDC gives these approximate HIV windows:

• A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
• An antigen/antibody lab test on a blood draw can usually detect it 18 to 45 days after exposure.
• An antigen/antibody rapid test using a finger prick can take 18 to 90 days.
• Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, window periods differ by test and by infection. Ask the clinician which test they use and when you should repeat it. This is also why a clinician may suggest a follow-up test.

If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last three days

The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a medicine prescribed by a clinician that can prevent HIV if it is started within 72 hours of exposure. Sooner is better. See the prevention section below for how Louisiana pharmacists can help.

Testing when nothing has happened

Many people test simply as routine care, for example at the start of a new relationship, after a partner tells them they were treated for an infection, or as part of a yearly checkup. Any of those is a good reason to test.

Symptoms worth a visit

Many STIs cause no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can include unusual discharge, burning when urinating, sores or bumps, itching, pelvic or testicular pain, or a rash. These signs can have many causes, and only a clinician or a test can tell you which one. If you have symptoms, tell the clinic when you call so they can schedule an appropriate visit.

Louisiana rules on privacy, minors, partners and pregnancy

Minors and consent

Under Louisiana R.S. 40:1121.8, a minor who has or believes they have a venereal disease may consent to medical or surgical care from a hospital, public clinic or Louisiana-licensed physician. The consent of a spouse, parent or guardian is not required. The statute names no minimum age.

The same law says a physician or member of the medical staff may, but is not required to, tell the minor's spouse, parent or guardian about the treatment, without the minor's consent and over the minor's objection. So the law lets a minor get care without a parent's permission, but it does not promise that a parent will not be told. If privacy matters to you, ask the clinic how it handles this before the visit. Ask also how billing and insurance statements are handled.

Treating partners (expedited partner therapy)

Louisiana R.S. 40:1121.6 lets physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants with prescribing authority provide antibiotics to the sexual partners of a patient with chlamydia or gonorrhea without examining the partner. The partner gets written notice, and pharmacists may accept these prescriptions as valid.

The Louisiana Legislature's page for HB 779 (2026) shows the bill was signed as Act 567 on May 29, 2026, effective August 1, 2026. A summary of the bill says it extends partner therapy to trichomoniasis and other infections the Louisiana Department of Health lists. The final statute text could not be confirmed for this guide. Ask your clinician which infections the program covers now.

Even when partner treatment is offered, a partner may still benefit from being seen and tested for other infections.

What gets reported to the state

Under the Louisiana Sanitary Code (La. Admin. Code tit. 51, Part II, section 105), providers must report certain infections to the state. Syphilis, including syphilis in pregnancy, and HIV infection in pregnancy are reported by the end of the next business day. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, AIDS and other HIV infection are reported within five business days. This is public health reporting used to track and respond to infections. If you have concerns, ask the clinic how your information is handled.

Pregnancy and prenatal testing

Louisiana R.S. 40:1121.21 requires prenatal care providers to offer HIV and syphilis blood tests at the first prenatal visit and again at the first third-trimester visit. Providers admitting a person in labor also test. The person is told that testing will occur, and it is not done if they decline. The law also requires chlamydia and gonorrhea testing at the first prenatal visit, with a third-trimester retest offered if the first result was positive or the provider considers it necessary. The statute was last amended by Acts 2025, No. 437, effective June 20, 2025.

HIV and the law

Louisiana R.S. 14:43.5, as amended by Acts 2026, No. 177 (effective August 1, 2026), makes it an offense to intentionally expose another person to HIV without that person's knowing and lawful consent when the person knew they were HIV-positive and the contact posed a substantial likelihood of transmission. The listed defenses include the other person's informed consent, a physician's advice that the person was noninfectious combined with disclosure, disclosure plus prevention steps, and disclosure plus a viral load that effectively eliminates sexual transmission risk under prevailing medical standards.

This is general information, not legal advice. Anyone with questions about disclosure can ask the clinic's HIV staff or a legal aid organization.

PrEP, PEP, vaccines and prevention

PrEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is HIV prevention medicine prescribed by a clinician. The CDC recommends that clinicians discuss it with sexually active adults and adolescents, and with people who inject drugs.

• Louisiana TelePrEP from the state's STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program offers virtual PrEP care by phone or video, with oral PrEP only. It is for HIV-negative adults 18 and older (minors need a parent or guardian's consent) who are Medicaid insured or eligible, or privately insured, and who have email and a smartphone, tablet or computer. Medicaid covers labs and prescriptions in full. Costs under private insurance vary. Medication shipping is free. Navigators can be reached at 504-931-7687 or 504-877-2464, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Details are on the TelePrEP page.
• Pharmacists. Under Act 711 of 2024 (La. R.S. 37:1218.2), trained pharmacists may dispense HIV PrEP and PEP without a prescription to people aged 17 and older, and must perform rapid HIV tests. See the Act 711 page.
• Clinics. Metro Health and CareSouth list PrEP for people without insurance. AHF's report lists PrEP services. A state PrEP assistance program was not found in the sources used here, so ask the clinics about costs.

Doxy-PEP

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex (doxy-PEP) to reduce bacterial STIs. The CDC says clinicians should discuss it with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and with transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. It is a prescription. Whether it is right for you, and how to use it, is for a clinician to decide.

Vaccines

Vaccines can prevent hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. CareSouth, CrescentCare, RKM Primary Care and the Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative list HPV vaccination in their CDC listings, and CrescentCare also lists adult hepatitis A and B vaccines. Ask your clinic which vaccines they offer.

Condoms and other barriers

The CDC says condoms, when used consistently and correctly, reduce the risk of many STIs, including HIV. Many clinics give them out for free. Ask at your visit.

Planning your next step

You do not have to figure everything out before making a call. Here is a simple plan:

1. Pick one or two clinics from the list above. If you want walk-in care, start with Metro Health.
2. Call and ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, the cost, and which tests are included.
3. Say if you are a minor, uninsured or have a privacy concern. The staff can explain your options.
4. Get tested. Ask how and when you will hear back.
5. If treatment is needed, follow the clinician's instructions and ask whether partners should be treated.

If a clinic's information has changed, the CDC locator at gettested.cdc.gov is a good second check. The Louisiana Health Hub line at 1-800-992-4379 can also help.

Frequently asked questions

Is STI testing confidential?

Clinics treat health information as private under health privacy rules. Some infections must be reported to the state, as described above, and minors should ask about parent notification. Ask the clinic about its practices.

Do I need to be symptom-free or have a reason?

No. You can ask for testing at any time for any reason.

How often should I test?

It depends on your age, partners and health. The CDC and USPSTF give group-based recommendations, summarized earlier. A clinician can help you pick a schedule.

Can I test for everything at one visit?

Often you can test for many infections, but not every clinic offers every test. Ask what is included before you go.

What if I cannot afford a test?

Start with the free and sliding-scale clinics listed above, and tell them about your situation. Eligibility rules differ, so ask directly.

Sources

• CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
• CDC GetTested locator, including listings for Metro Health, Open Health Care Clinic, CareSouth, RKM Primary Care, Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative, CrescentCare and the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit
• CDC STI Surveillance 2023 (state tables for chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis)
• CDC guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (2024) and CDC HIV testing and PEP guidance
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on HIV and syphilis screening
• Louisiana Health Hub, HIV (STI/HIV/Hepatitis Program), Testing, TelePrEP and Act 711
• La. R.S. 40:1121.8, minor's consent
• La. R.S. 40:1121.6, expedited partner therapy and HB 779 (2026)
• La. R.S. 40:1121.21, prenatal testing
• La. R.S. 14:43.5, intentional exposure to HIV
• La. Admin. Code tit. 51, section II-105, reportable diseases
• WAFB, New HIV Specialty Health Care Center opens in Baton Rouge (August 4, 2025)
• Access Health Louisiana, Free HIV Home Test Kits