Preferred Location: 300 W Central Tx Expwy Harker,TX 76548 Harker Heights Change location
Preferred Location: 300 W Central Tx Expwy Harker,TX 76548 Harker Heights Change location
SaferSTD Preferred Location: 300 W Central Tx Expwy Harker,TX 76548 Harker Heights Change Location
Bell County; home of Harker Heights, an exurb of Austin and a part of the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan area. Unfortunately, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are becoming a bigger problem in the region.
Heights—as most locals refer to it—shares many of the same issues as its nearest expansive metropolitan area.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the figures for Texas as of 2017 indicate a combined 2.3 million reported cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. This represents a 10% increase from 2016.
Mirroring trends across the nation.
With over a thousand new diagnosis of HIV per year in the region and rising, Bell County—included with the rest of the Greater Austin area—must contend with an elevated risk of contracting a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), as well as other STD/Is. Doctors at the city of Austin’s Health Department state that while these trends primarily affect younger adults, that everyone who is sexually active needs to be screened in order to curtail those numbers.
For Harker Heights’ residents, there is an Any Lab Test Now located in Market Heights on East Central Texas Expy. Otherwise, you can find STI screening available at a number of Austin locations. The Baylor Scott & White Clinic – Harker Heights is over on Mountain Lion Circle. Or you can find a NextCare Urgent Care, Any Lab Test Now, Total Men’s Primary Care, and more not far off the 35. Some clinics may offer same-day testing services. You may be able to find free STD testing if you can make the drive into Austin.
To find the best services and location for you, use our search tools below to compare location features across Harker Heights clinics with our easy-to-read chart.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 (CDC) recommends screening for the most common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, herpes 1, herpes 2, and HIV for both men and women. In addition, the CDC suggests women get screened for trichomoniasis.
SaferSTD recommends searching for locations that offer a 10-test panel which tests for the most common bacteria and viral STDs in the U.S. with additional premium add-ons like early HIV detection, if needed.
The CDC2 provides detailed STD testing information as to when you should get tested. In summary, you should get tested today if you are sexually active, never been tested before, have had unprotected sex in the past, or if you exhibit symptoms.
According to the World Health Organization3, the majority of STI cases reported every day, more than one million, are asymptomatic; another reason to get tested today.
You should get tested again in 90 days to rule out STDs that have specific exposure waiting times, including HIV.
STD testing can be a quick and simple process, depending on the type of test you choose and where you get tested. Some may require an oral or genital swab, a urine test or blood sample, or a physical exam to check your genital area for signs of an STD.
SaferSTD has identified preferred providers that require only a urine test, a blood sample, or both without a physical exam.
The speed at which you receive your STD testing results depends on where you get tested. Before you choose your location, find out how long testing results will take.
At-home STD testing results are usually 3-5 business days, depending on the manufacturer of your test. You also need to take into account the amount of time it takes to receive the test or pick one up, perform the test, and ship it back, before the lab can analyze your results and report back to you.
If you test at a public facility such as a neighborhood clinic, you may have to wait a week, if not more for the results, which could delay treatment. If you test through a private facility, they have the fastest turnaround within 1-3 business days.
SaferSTD has researched and identified the most accredited and most reputable testing locations. Click here to find a preferred location near you.
Some STD testing clinics offer same-day walk-in options without an appointment. Below are nearby preferred locations that offer this option.
The cost of STD testing depends on whether you select private, public, or at-home testing, as well as the type of test(s) you need.
Several at-home STD options and public testing locations can cost up to $250, with most on the higher end, depending on the brand and type of testing. Public testing fees also vary based on income and welfare eligibility.
With private testing, you may save money on a low-cost comprehensive 10-test panel that tests for the most common bacterial and viral STDs in the United States.
SaferSTD has researched and identified reputable locations that offer upfront pricing without hidden fees. Click here to find a preferred location near you.
Order a home-test kit onlineThe test takes just 5 minutes and then mail in your sampleReceive your lab results in 2 to 5 daysFDA approved technologyEnjoy free shipping
Hope Pregnancy Centers is a non-profit organization that was established in 1980 to provide quality healthcare services to women, teenagers, and men in central Texas. The clinic has qualified physicians who provide services such as pregnancy testing, STD screenings, post-abortion care, parenting classes, and childbirth support.
AIDS Services of Austin is a non-profit organization that has been providing HIV/AIDS healthcare services to residents of central Texas and surrounding regions for more than 30 years.
The clinic has board-certified medical practitioners who provide services such as STD testing, behavioral health, PrEP/PEP medication, sexual wellness, and HIV/AIDS specialized services to PLWHA.
Planned Parenthood - Mary Ruth Duncan Health Center is a sexual healthcare services provider to residents living in Harker Heights and the surrounding regions. The clinic has modern equipment and board-certified medical practitioners who provide services such as pregnancy testing, abortion care, STD/HIV screening, men’s health, LGBTQ, women’s health and birth control.
Bell County Health Department has qualified medical practitioners and certified laboratory analysts who provide medical services such as immunizations, family planning, tuberculosis testing and treatment, and STD/HIV screenings to residents in Bell County and the surrounding regions.
AFC Urgent Care Temple is staffed by board-certified medical practitioners to provide quality non-emergency urgent care services such as drug screening, digital X-ray, immunizations, treatment of minor injuries, and STD testing. The medical staff is dedicated and competent in providing these services to patients in an average time of one hour.
Express Emergency Room Harker Heights is an urgent care health services provider in, Harker Heights, Texas. The clinic has board-certified medical practitioners who provide services such as pediatric care, sports injuries, heart attack, STD testing, physical checks, and drug screenings.
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Description: Order online and receive a doctor's order to visit this lab to get tested in as little as 15 mins. Get your results privately within 1-2 business days and speak with a doctor over the phone if your test results come back positive. Doctors may prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialist if needed.
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Description: Getting an STD test at a clinic near you has never been easier. When you choose this location, you can get a doctor's requisition to get tested in as little as 15 minutes. Following your test, you receive your results privately within 2 business days, and can speak to a doctor over the phone with confidence, should results come back as positive.
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Description: Why go to a public clinic? Get convenient and fast STD testing that is 100% confidential. Individual tests under $50. Order online and visit this lab the same day for a quick 15 min test. Get your results online within 1-2 business days, and view them privately. Doctor consultation available over the phone, should results come back as positive.
Result: 1-2 business days 15 min test Book Online Doctor Prescription (if needed)
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These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
Description: Get Fast, Easy and Affordable testing at this location. Results come back within 2 business days and be in and out of the lab in less then 20 minutes.
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Description: AIDS Service Organization.
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Show only locations where they offer the HIV RNA Early Detection Test for people who think they may have been recently exposed to the HIV virus
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Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Please call for availability of rapid HIV testing. Appointments are preferred.
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Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Fees are based on family size and income, according to a sliding fee scale.
The health center welcomes sexually active individuals seeking free STD/HIV testing services regardless of their ability to pay, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability, or marital status.
Hope Pregnancy Centers provides encouragement, counseling, and support to patients seeking STD testing and treatment services. It also participates in community outreach programs to provide sex education and preventive healthcare information to residents.
Moreover, it has a mobile unit to reach individuals living in remote areas and medically underserved communities with free ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, and STD services.
1211 Florence Rd, Killeen, TX 76541, USA
The clinic welcomes sexually active individuals for free STD/HIV testing regardless of their sexual orientation, marital status, ability to pay, social class, disability, race, color, or religious affiliation.
AIDS Services of Austin has competent, kind, and passionate medical staff who provide counseling and comprehensive HIV/AIDS healthcare services. The clinic fights to reduce the stigma faced by PLWHA in the community through its outreach programs and urges the public to utilize the free STD/HIV testing services.
7215 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78752, USA
The clinic does not turn away sexually active individuals seeking sexual healthcare services due to their financial status, religious affiliation, disability, race, color, social class, or sexual orientation. It also accepts patients with Medicaid insurance cover and offers suitable self- pay rates to uninsured patients.
Planned Parenthood - Mary Ruth Duncan Health Center is a major provider of sex education and reproductive health in Texas. Additionally, patients can access healthcare services and information through the Planned Parenthood Direct app.
700 W Hwy 6 Suite B Suite B, Waco, TX 76712, USA
Sexually active individuals seeking STD/HIV testing services are not turned away due to their sexual orientation, age, race, religious affiliation, ability to pay, social class or marital status. These services are offered at a sliding scale fee program that suits uninsured patients. Clients with insurance medical cover are also accepted at the clinic.
Bell County Health Department has dedicated, kind, caring, and friendly practitioners who assure the patient of total confidentiality regarding their medical information. The clinic offers translation services to non-English speakers.
309 N 2nd St, Killeen, TX 76541, USA
The clinic welcomes sexually active individuals regardless of their sexual orientation, race, color, financial status, disability, religious affiliation, or social class to seek STD testing and treatment services. It accepts insured patients with medical cover from common insurance providers and offers suitable self-pay rates to uninsured patients.
The on-site laboratory at the clinic ensures that there is minimal waiting time for test results, diagnosis, and treatment. Additionally, the clinic is bound by the law to protect patients' information regarding STD testing and treatment.
3614 SW H K Dodgen Loop f, Temple, TX 76504, USA
The health center welcomes sexually active individuals for STD testing and treatment regardless of their sexual orientation, financial status, disability, religious affiliation, ethnicity, or military status. It also accepts individuals with medical cover from most insurance providers, and discount rates are available to uninsured patients.
Express Emergency Room Harker Heights has compassionate medical staff who are kind, compassionate, and most are bilingual, thus able to serve non-English speaking patients. It also has an on-site laboratory staffed with CLIA certified lab analysts who provide accurate, reliable, and confidential test results in the shortest time possible.
980 Knight's Way building 1 ste 100, Harker Heights, TX 76548, USA
With the increased number of infections in STDs within Heights, the health community has joined hands with the federal government and nonprofit organizations to ensure proper sex education is delivered to the locals.
Since the 1990s all middle and high schools within the city had employed the teaching of abstinence only plan. This instills that it’s only through abstaining from sex that you can prevent STD infection and unwanted pregnancies. Abstaining should be also practiced till marriage. Though the system worked for sometime in the control of the spread of HIV/AIDs, nowadays the system is ineffective. This has led for many people to call for another alternative due to the increasing rates of STD infection within the city.
The abstinence plus system. This is also known as comprehensive sexual education. With comprehensive sexual education, students are taught a variety of issues pertaining sexuality including:
With all the above traits taught in these classes some school stakeholders, parents and non governmental organizations are pushing for the introduction of the abstinence plus system as it equips the youth with the right information for making informed sex decisions. Most schools have already adopted the system in their middle schools from grade 6 through 12.
Outreach programs to sensitize the youth and the general public on the need for sexual education, contraception methods and STD prevention methods have been staged by different organizations within the city. With exhibitions on the right usage of condoms among other prevention tool kits, the locals have easy access to accurate sex information and can make sound sex decisions.
The population of Harker Heights has several distribution characteristics. Constituting of more than five races and five religions, the resident’s practices, norms and values differ. These difference in values and practices greatly influences the increase of STD infection within the city.
Social crimes like rape and prostitution is one of the most active factor that has led to increase in STD infection. According to a 2017 survey, there are more than 48 sex offenders living in Heights. This means that in every 580 residents within Heights, there is 1 sex offender. With such high chances of the existence of sex offenders within the city, the rate of STD infection is bound to increase.
Unemployment within the city is another factor that influences the growth of STD infection. With the city’s unemployment rate being higher than the State’s, many youths are idle without jobs. Coupled with poverty which has a rate of 6% within the city, the unemployment rate of 4.8% is a great setback to the city’s fight against STDS. With most of the youths despairing due to the challenge of securing a job and extreme low standards of living, this drives them into drugs and ignorance about their health needs. This greatly increases STD infection within the city.
The city’s rich racial makeup has also contributed to the increase of STDs in Harker Heights. The population which is distributed as:
With the above different races, there exists different practices and values. Some of these practices necessitate the growth of STDs within the city.
Existence of different religions with the city is another contributing factor to the increase of STDs in Heights. Religions in the city include:
With the above different religions there exists different beliefs. This difference in beliefs constitutes to different practices and some of the practices facilitate increase in STD infection. Along with religion and race contributing to the increase in STD infection, the qualitative and quantitative state of STD testing testing resources is another factor that has led to increased STD infection in Heights. There are no enough facilities within the city to cater comprehensive STD testing.
Along with the above factors contributing to the growth of STDs, outreach programs and exhibitions are gradually fighting off STD infection by education the youth and the locals about sexuality and hence empowering them with the right knowledge.
With the alarming increase in STDs within Heights, the County’s health community along with the State’s Health Department have joined hands to fight the spread of STDs. Their main aim is to equip and increase the standards and accessibility level of health facilities within the city. They have delved into ensuring that all private and public health facilities have met the required health standards to deliver adequate and quality STD services.
Bell County Health Department Health Center is one of the public facilities within the city. Established long ago during the incorporation periods of the city, the health facility has had a reputation of offering medically accurate, private and confidential STD testing services. HIV/AIDs testing in the facility is free for all United States citizens. Their services are appointment basis and offer client friendly costs for testing all other STDs. Metroplex Health center is another public health facility within Harker Heights. Equipped with specialized and experienced doctors in all types of STDS, the health center offers one of the medically accurate and time conscious STD testing. They offer referrals on request and have stood the test of time in STD testing, treatment and management. They also offer individual and family STD therapies on request.
Seton Medical Center is a private health facility in Heights. The health center offers appointment basis services that are private and confidential. Equipped with experts in all types of STDs and specialists in client handling, they offer quality individual STD services. They also offer family therapies upon client’s request. Scott & White Clinic is another private health facility within the city. It offers time conscious, appointment basis STD services. Along with offering personalized contraception and family therapies, they also offer referral services upon client’s request. They also offer home therapies, where doctors attend to you from your home.
AFC Urgent Care Washington Heights is an urgent care center within Heights. This is a walk in basis facility that handles emergency STD testing and treatment services. With several branches across the city, this facility boasts specialized experts in all types of STDs. Operating within different time frames of the day, this health care facility serves all United States citizens regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. PlushCare Urgent Care is another urgent care within Heights city. It is a walk-in basis facility that offers private and confidential STD testing services. They offer very fast, medically accurate STD testing and treatment.
Audre Rapoport Parenthood Center is one of the renown parenthood centers within the city. The facility handles females in all ages. Specializing in women’s health, they offer time conscious, appointment basis STD testing and contraception services. The facility offers medically accurate, private and confidential STD services. Downtown Austin Parenthood Center is another parenthood center clinic within Heights. The facility is an appointment basis clinic that renders medically accurate and confidential STD testing. Their STD testing is done by experts who also deliver counselling to their clients.
Incorporated in the 19th century, Harker Heights is one of the oldest cities in Texas. With the increased social media use and influx of people in Heights, the rates of STD infection has been a nightmare to most residents. WIth STD infection rates rising with time, the future of the city seems to be uncertain. Though hardly fought in all fronts by the health community in the city the numbers of STD infection have been consistently rising. With the abstinence only education faltering in its attempt to curb the rates, the city has embarked on comprehensive sexual education.
The introduction and adoption of comprehensive sexual education in school’s curriculum is viewed as the only redemption from the STD infection havock. Along with equipping and improving the standards of health facilities within the city, comprehensive sexual education forms the base for reducing the rates of STD infection in Heights city.
Each page below contains a detailed report of the local area, location STD statistics and clinic reviews of some the top STD testing locations. The content is curated by our very own editors and medical experts.
Your preferred location: 300 W Central Tx Expwy Harker,TX 76548 Harker Heights Change Location
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