Arkansas 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 Arkansas
Arkansas’s reported STDs are generally below average, except for syphilis, which is above average. In Arkansas, some underlying causes of increased STDs relate to a complex network of social factors. Some of 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 Arkansas include:
| STD Trends in Arkansas |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| State rank | Cases | Rate per 100,000 population | |
| Chlamydia | 13th | 16,053 | 531.9 |
| Gonorrhea | 12th | 7,857 | 260.4 |
| Syphilis | 8th | 502 | 16.6 |
| Congenital syphilis | 13th | 23 | 62.9 |
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 you should 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 |
|
| 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 Arkansas:
Free STD Testing Centers in Arkansas
Community-based STD testing organizations help expand access to sexual health services by offering affordable, confidential testing and treatment.
You may choose a community testing center if cost, insurance coverage, privacy, or access to a regular healthcare provider is a concern. While some centers charge a small fee, many offer free or low-cost STD testing and additional support services. Below are examples of community-based resources where reduced-cost testing may be available.
- ARcare (Kensett Medical)
Address: 606 W Wilbur D Mills Ave, Kensett, AR 72082Number: (501) 742-5697 - Arkansas Department of Health (Northeast Public Health Region)
Address: 112 Brantly Rd, Searcy, AR 72143Number: (501) 268-6102 - Engaging Arkansas Communities (Utopia)
Address: 2516 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock, AR 72202Number: (844) 754-3742 - Future Builders, Inc
Address: 16117 AR-365, Little Rock, AR 72206Number: (501) 897-5566 - Jefferson Comprehensive Care System Incorporated (Altheimer Clinic)
Address: 309 S Edine, Altheimer, AR 72004Number: (870) 766-8411 - Lee County Cooperative Clinic
Address: 530 W Atkins Blvd, Marianna, AR 72360Number: (870) 295-5225 - The Strilite Foundation Incorporated
Address: 8615 Chicot Rd, Little Rock, AR 72209Number: (501) 379-8357