STD Testing in Louisiana

Louisiana STD Testing Directory

To help you locate an accredited laboratory/testing center, a list of resources has been compiled and can be found below.

Consult with your health care provider about any lab testing that you may be considering. It is also important to follow up with your health care provider to discuss your results within the context of your medical history.

STD Trends in Louisiana

Louisiana’s reported STDs are above average. Some underlying causes of increased STDs in Louisiana relate to a complex network of social factors. These factors may include economic disparities that prevent access to appropriate health care, substance use, homelessness, and the exchange of sex for money or other resources. Startling trends seen in Louisiana include:

STD Trends in Louisiana
	State rank	Cases	Rate per 100,000 population
Chlamydia	2nd	32,997	709.8
Gonorrhea	2nd	15,483	333.1
Syphilis	12th	704	15.1
Congenital syphilis	7th	63	106.9

Source: CDC 2020 STD Surveillance Report

STD Screening Recommendations and Risk Factors

If you have sex, you are at risk for getting an STD. According to the CDC, Risk factors for STDs include:

• Unprotected sex (anal, vaginal, or oral)
• Sex with multiple partners
• Anonymous sex partners
• Sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Injection of drugs or sharing needles

Should you get tested for STDs? And how often? Talk to your doctor to be sure, but generally follow these CDC recommendations:

Who should get tested	How often to test
Anyone who is sexually active	At least once for HIV and more often if you have new partners
Sexually active women under 25 or women 25+ with new or multiple sex partners or a partner with an STD	Annually for gonorrhea and chlamydia
Pregnant women	During pregnancy for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea
Sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men	Annually for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea (every three to six months if you have multiple or anonymous partners) Annually for HIV Annually for hepatitis C if living with HIV
Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment	Annually for HIV and Hepatitis B and C
People who have had oral or anal sex	Discuss throat and rectal testing with your health care provider

STD Testing in Louisiana:

• Alexandria, LA
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Covington, LA
• Hammond, LA
• Houma, LA
• Kenner, LA
• Lafayette, LA
• Lake Charles, LA
• Mandeville, LA
• Metairie, LA
• Monroe, LA
• New Orleans, LA
• Shreveport, LA
• Slidell, LA

Louisiana Community STD Testing Centers

Community-based STD testing organizations generate awareness and foster social change while providing access to testing and treatment.

If you’re concerned about visiting your regular doctor or can’t afford the cost of private testing, a community testing center may be able to help. While community testing centers may charge a fee for STD testing, it’s common to find free or low-cost testing from these resources:

• Baton Rouge Health Center
  Address: 3825 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA 70806Number: (225) 387-1167
• CrescentCare – Sexual Health CenterAddress: 3308 Tulane AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70119Number: (504) 821-2601
  Address: 1631 Elysian Fields AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70117 Number: 504-821-2601
• GO CARE Community Health Center
  Address: 1801 North Seventh St., W. Monroe, LA 71291Number: (318) 325-1092
• HAART Clinic
  Address: 3849 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806Number: (225) 655-6422
• Lafayette Foundation Clinic
  Address: 117 Caillouet Pl., Lafayette, LA 70501Number: (337) 988-9737
• The Philadelphia Center
  Address: 2020 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, Louisiana 71104Number: (318) 222-6633

Frequently Asked Questions About STD Tests in Louisiana

Which STD has the highest number of cases in Louisiana?

Chlamydia is the most common STD in Louisiana at a rate of 709.8 cases per 100,000 people. But Louisiana also ranks second for gonorrhea in the nation, though the rate of infection is lower than chlamydia at 333.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Is STD testing free in Louisiana?

There are free STD clinics in Louisiana, including the GO CARE Community Health Center and The Philadelphia Center.

How much does STD testing cost in Louisiana?

STD testing costs vary depending on the test you get and where you get it. You may be able to find free or low-cost testing at some community or nonprofit clinics. Also, you can see if other labs, clinics, and at-home testing accept insurance to cover or reduce your testing cost.

Lab testing fees range from $8 to $150. At-home tests cost between $35 and $175 per test.

What is included in a full STD panel?

A full STD panel tests you for HIV, herpes, hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Does insurance cover STD testing?

Insurance coverage varies depending on the clinic you use. However, most public and private ones accept insurance. If you have insurance questions, call the clinic before your appointment.

How long does it take to get STD results?

Some tests, like HIV, can provide rapid results within 30 minutes, while others can take a few days or a week. Longer wait times should be expected for bacterial testing, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

STD Resources in Louisiana

Learn more about STDs and the signs and symptoms that you might have contracted an STD. Numerous authoritative resources at the state and national levels provide valuable information about the most common STDs, testing procedures, and prevention.

• Louisiana Department of Health Learn More
• Louisiana Health Hub Learn More
• Crescent Care: Take Charge of Your Sexual Health Learn More

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 STD Surveillance Report. Updated 2021. Accessed November 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2020/tables/2020-STD-Surveillance-State-Ranking-Tables.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STDs and HIV – CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Updated April 12, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/stdfact-std-hiv.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana – State Health Profile. Updated 2016. Accessed November 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/stateprofiles/pdf/Louisiana_profile.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) – CDC Fact Sheets. Updated January 13, 2022. Accessed November 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/std/healthcomm/fact_sheets.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) – Which Tests Should I Get? Updated December 14, 2021. Accessed November 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/screeningreccs.htm

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