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.

Finding free STD testing in Columbia, SC takes a few phone calls and a little planning. It does not have to be hard. This guide walks through each free or sliding-scale option, who each one is for, what to bring, and how to confirm details before you go.

Testing is a routine part of health care. People of every gender, orientation and relationship status get tested, and clinics in Columbia see them every day.

What you need before you start

You do not need much. Gather these items first.

A phone. Many clinics ask for an appointment or want you to confirm hours first.
A photo ID, if you have one. Ask the clinic whether it is required. Policies differ, and not every clinic publishes this.
Insurance or Medicaid card, if you have one. Several clinics below accept insurance and also offer free or sliding-scale testing. Ask which applies to you.
Proof of income, in case you are asked. Sliding-scale fees are usually based on income. Ask the clinic what it accepts.
A short list of notes. Include any symptoms, the date of your last test, and the kinds of sex you have had. A clinician uses this to choose the right tests.
A list of questions. Cost, how and when results arrive, and what happens if a result is positive are good starting points.

Free versus sliding-scale: what the words mean

Free means the clinic lists the test at no charge. Some clinics list only certain tests as free, such as HIV or hepatitis C. Ask about the rest.

Sliding scale means the fee depends on your income and household size. Some people pay very little. Ask what the fee would be before you book.

Many clinics also bill insurance or Medicaid. If you have coverage, ask whether using it is optional. Ask too whether anything would appear on an explanation of benefits mailed to a policyholder.

Step 1: Decide what kind of testing you want to ask about

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe which infections clinicians commonly test for and who should be screened. Exact needs depend on your age, body parts, partners and symptoms. A clinician makes that call with you.

Tests that Columbia clinics list include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes and trichomoniasis. Not every clinic offers every test. The details are below.

It helps to know how the CDC describes these infections:

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician.
HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with care from a clinician.

If you have symptoms, say so when you call. If a partner has told you about an infection, say that too. A clinician can decide what to test for and when.

Step 2: Pick from the free and sliding-scale options in Columbia

Here is each option, based on what the clinic or the CDC directory publishes. Hours and services can change, so treat this as a starting point. The page on local testing in Columbia has the full list.

PALSS (Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services)

Address: 2638 Two Notch Rd, Ste 108, Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: (803) 779-7257
Cost: The CDC NPIN listing shows free HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests. It also says sliding scale, insurance and Medicaid are accepted.
Hours listed by CDC NPIN: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in testing is listed for Tuesday 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursday 3 to 7 p.m. The first and third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., are listed as walk-in only.
Good to know: The CDC GetTested listing for PALSS says an appointment is required and does not give hours. The two listings differ, so call to confirm before you go.

The CDC NPIN listing also notes that PALSS offers PrEP for people who are uninsured and lists doxy-PEP among its services. Details: CDC NPIN listing for PALSS.

CAN Community Health - Columbia

Address: 1911 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 849-8430
Cost: The clinic page describes free testing, including free rapid and home HIV testing. It says sliding-scale fees and grant funding may be available. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance.
Tests listed: HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and trichomoniasis. Treatment is listed as available on site.
Hours listed: Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Extended Thursday hours to 8 p.m. and Saturday hours (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) are listed for select dates only.
Good to know: The clinic page says walk-ins are accepted during regular hours. A separate CDC NPIN listing says an appointment is required, so call ahead.

Learn more on the CAN Community Health South Carolina page.

Cooperative Health (two Columbia locations)

Cooperative Health is a federally qualified health center. Both sites are at 1228 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29204. Both accept insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, and both offer a sliding scale, according to CDC GetTested.

Five Points Walk-In Center (Ste A): (803) 722-1565. CDC GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests, with no appointment required. The listing does not give hours. Check with the clinic.
Waverly Family Practice (Ste C): (803) 748-1181 or toll-free (866) 405-9438. CDC GetTested lists the same tests plus rapid HIV. It lists free HIV and hepatitis C tests and says an appointment is required.

The directory pages are Five Points Walk-In Center and Waverly Family Practice.

AHF Healthcare Center - Columbia

Address: 4100 N Main St, Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: (803) 223-9895
Cost: CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test. For other tests, it says to contact the organization about eligibility.
Tests listed: Rapid HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Good to know: An appointment is required. Hours are not listed, so call.

Details: CDC GetTested listing for AHF.

Richland County Health Department (SC DPH)

Address: 2000 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) lists its Care Line, 1-855-472-3432, for appointments at health departments. Its main line is (803) 898-3300.
Services: DPH's headquarters page lists STD, HIV and hepatitis C services at this site.
Cost, walk-in and hours: The DPH page does not publish these. Call the Care Line to ask.

DPH also notes that this service may move to the former Columbia Place Mall site in the future. Confirm the location when you call. Read more on DPH's headquarters page.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic - Columbia Health Center

Address: 2712 Middleburg Dr, Ste 107, Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: (803) 256-4908
Cost: The CDC NPIN listing says to contact the center about eligibility. It accepts insurance and Medicaid. A free or reduced price is not promised on the listing, so ask.
Tests listed: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, herpes, rapid HIV and syphilis.
Hours listed by CDC NPIN: Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Good to know: The listing says an appointment is required. It also says you are welcome to walk in during open hours to book or ask about same-day availability.

Details: CDC NPIN listing.

Quick comparison

Clinic	Cost as listed	Walk-in or appointment as listed
PALSS	Free tests listed; sliding scale	Walk-in days listed on one directory; appointment on another
CAN Community Health	Free testing listed; sliding scale	Walk-ins on clinic page; appointment on CDC listing
Cooperative Health, Five Points	Sliding scale	No appointment required
Cooperative Health, Waverly	Free HIV and hepatitis C tests listed; sliding scale	Appointment required
AHF Healthcare Center	Free HIV test listed	Appointment required
Richland County Health Department	Not stated	Not stated; call the DPH Care Line
Planned Parenthood Columbia	Contact for eligibility	Appointment, with walk-in booking welcome

Step 3: Try free HIV self-testing at home

If getting to a clinic is hard right now, DPH runs an In-Home HIV Testing Program. It offers a free OraQuick HIV self-test to South Carolina residents age 17 or older. The limit is one kit every 90 days, and you request it through an online survey.

Questions can go to [email protected] or the STD/HIV Hotline at 1-800-322-2437. Read the DPH Home HIV Testing Program page for current details.

A self-test checks for HIV only. It does not test for other infections. Ask a clinician which result steps to take next, and whether other tests make sense.

Step 4: Check current hours and details

Most listings say that hours may change. Spend two minutes confirming before you travel.

Call the clinic. Use the number in this guide. Ask: Are you doing walk-ins today? Is an appointment needed? What tests are free?
Ask about the cost of each test. A clinic might list one test as free and charge for another.
Use the CDC directory. CDC GetTested lets you search for sites by ZIP code and filter by services.
Use DPH for state resources. The DPH sexually transmitted diseases page lists the STD/HIV Hotline (1-800-322-2437), the Care Line (1-855-472-3432), and a Columbia number, (803) 898-0749.

Free testing events

DPH has promoted free STD and HIV testing days at many local health department clinics. The page does not show a current year, so do not count on a specific date. Call the Care Line or check the DPH page for any current event.

Step 5: Know your privacy and consent rights

If you are under 18. South Carolina Code Section 63-5-350 says health services of any kind may be given to minors of any age without parent or guardian consent when an authorized provider considers them necessary. Section 63-5-340 covers minors age 16 and older. Neither section names STDs. The Guttmacher Institute lists South Carolina as allowing minors to consent to STI testing and treatment. Ask the clinic how it handles billing and notices for minors.

Reporting. Under South Carolina Code Section 44-29-10, physicians must report certain infectious diseases on the DPH reportable list to the county health department. The reporting is for public health tracking. Ask the clinic what that means for your own situation.

Notifying partners. South Carolina's Board of Medical Examiners interprets Section 40-47-113(B) to allow expedited partner therapy for chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to the CDC's legal status page. A clinician can tell you if that applies to you. The Board's current wording could not be confirmed.

Step 6: At your visit

Check in and share your reason for the visit. You do not have to explain your life story. Say what you want to be tested for, or ask the clinician to recommend tests.
Answer the questions. The clinician may ask about partners, the kinds of sex you have, and symptoms. Honest answers help them pick tests. Clinicians are there to help, not to judge.
Give your samples. Depending on the tests, this may be a urine sample, a swab, a finger stick or a blood draw. Some swabs can be collected by you in private.
Ask how you will get results. Ask by what method, and how long it usually takes. Rapid HIV tests are listed at several clinics, and other tests may take longer.
Ask about prevention. Several clinics list PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and HPV vaccination. The CDC issued doxy-PEP guidance in 2024. A clinician decides whether any of these fit your situation and prescribes them.

Tips

Call before you travel. This is the single best way to avoid a wasted trip.
Ask about timing. The CDC says how soon a test can detect an infection depends on the infection and the test. Ask the clinician whether a recent exposure means you should test now, test again later, or both.
Ask about all body sites. Throat, rectal and genital testing can differ. Tell the clinician which apply to you.
Ask for a printed or portal copy of your results. It helps with future visits.
Bring a friend if it helps. Having someone along can make the visit easier.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming free means every test. Some listings say free for HIV or hepatitis C only. Ask about each test.
Relying on one listing. Directories can disagree on walk-ins and hours. Both PALSS and CAN Community Health show this. Call to confirm.
Not mentioning symptoms. Symptoms help a clinician decide what to test for.
Skipping follow-up questions. Ask how results will arrive and what happens next.
Waiting because of embarrassment. Testing is routine health care, and clinics are used to these questions.

What to expect afterward

Results can come back as negative or positive. A negative result may mean the test did not detect that infection at that time. A clinician can explain what it means given your timing and exposure.

A positive result is a starting point for care. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV and herpes are treatable and manageable with care from a clinician. Several clinics above list treatment on site. Ask yours what follow-up looks like.

Some clinics offer treatment at the same location. Others refer you elsewhere. Ask before you test.

Why testing matters in South Carolina

America's Health Rankings, using CDC data, reports a 2023 statewide chlamydia rate of 612.1 per 100,000 people in South Carolina. Infections are common, and many cause no symptoms. That is one reason clinicians use testing rather than guessing.

Your next step

Pick one or two clinics from the list above and call today. Ask what is free, what is on a sliding scale, and whether walk-ins are open. You can also search CDC GetTested by ZIP code to compare more options.

Free STD Testing in Columbia: Every Free and Sliding-Scale Option