Preferred Location: 400 W Lincoln Hwy Merrillville,IN 46410 Merrillville Change location
Preferred Location: 400 W Lincoln Hwy Merrillville,IN 46410 Merrillville Change location
SaferSTD Preferred Location: 400 W Lincoln Hwy Merrillville,IN 46410 Merrillville Change Location
The 9th largest city in Indiana, Gary, has actually experienced some population decline since the 1960s. Down about 55% from their peak population, yet Lake County (where Gary is located) is still one of the highest counties in the state for sexually transmitted disease rates. By the end of 2017, Lake County had a total of 1,214 people living with HIV/AIDS. With 48 of those being newly diagnosed cases for the year.
New cases of chlamydia in 2016, while still high, was the lowest Lake County had seen since before 2012.
2,193 new diagnoses were given out, putting their rate at 449.7 per 100,000 people. It was the same story for gonorrhea, with 2016 having lower numbers than the previous 5 years. The total number of new cases: 567. Rate of occurrence: 116.3 per 100,000 people living in Lake County. Unfortunately, syphilis didn’t get the memo. The Gary area reported 43 new cases of (primary & secondary) syphilis, at a rate of 8.7 per 100K. A higher rate than the last 5 years and double the rate for 2012 (4.3 per 100K).
If you are looking for testing in Gary, the health department is on 5th Avenue. There’s a Planned Parenthood on Broadway. They test for the following STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and HIV. The Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana offers screening for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. While it is often free STD testing, there may be some lab fees. There’s also an HIV testing center over in Hammond called Aliveness Project the NWI.
To find the best services and location for you, use our search tools below to compare location features across Gary 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
Marram Health Center is a health facility that offers compassionate health care to its clients and has a network of health care providers and caregivers that work with clients to meet their needs. Its staff is competent in providing HIV testing and diagnostic services. HIV test results are available in 20 minutes.
e7 Health is a clinic that provides quality and comprehensive medical care to its clients. It offers services in various medical practices including corporate health services, travel medicine, vaccines, student health, and drug testing. The physicians also administer HIV tests, and negative HIV results may be out in 20 minutes whereas results for other STD tests may be available in two to three business days.
Gary Health Center is a Planned Parenthood medical clinic that offers comprehensive health care to residents living in Gary. It has well-trained clinicians who offer STD testing and treatment services. Additionally, they execute rapid HIV tests using mouth swabs, and test results may take about 20 to 30 minutes to be availed.
Chicago Department of Public Health is a public health facility that works with community partners to ensure equal chances of access to health care among all Chicagoans. The facility initiates strategies to promote health, reduce environmental hazards, and prevent the occurrence of diseases. It has medical practitioners who are experienced in providing STD services.
Midwest Express Clinic is an urgent care clinic that promptly offers comprehensive primary health care services to its clients. It provides a range of services which include drug testing, flu shots, and allergy treatment. It has physicians who are well-trained to offer STD testing and treatment services.
Michigan Avenue Immediate Care is an urgent care facility established in 2002 that provides quality health care to clients. It has skilled physicians that provide STD testing, diagnosis, and treatment services. Urine and blood samples are utilized for most STD tests.
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These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
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.
Result: 1-2 business days
15 min test
Book Online
Doctor Prescription (if needed)
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Accredited and Certified
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
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.
Result: 1-2 business days 15 min test Book Online Doctor Prescription (if needed)
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Accredited and Certified
These location types are best for: Privacy and convenience
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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Accredited and Certified
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.
Result: 1-2 business days 15 min test Book Online Doctor Prescription (if needed)
Show only locations where privacy and discretion is taken into importance.
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Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Offer confidential sexually transmitted disease examinations and laboratory testing. Service area includes Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper County. Services are provided at no cost. Free condoms available. There is a $10 administrative fee for Indiana residents and a $25 administrative fee for non-Indiana residents. Closed daily for lunch from 12noon-1pm. HIV testing: Mon-Thurs., 8:30am-11:30am and 1pm-4pm
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Show only locations where you can easily book your test online.
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Description: Social Service Organization. Close at 2pm on the 4th Friday of each month
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Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Free condoms available for East Chicago residents; for non-residents there is a $5/per 2 dozen box. Low cost STD testing.
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Description: Only open every other Saturday. Call for dates
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. Health Department counsels, screens, and treats sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and provides testing for HIV by appointment to anyone 13 years of age or older. The service fee is $10. To make an appointment, call the office. Call for appointment availability
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Description: Social Service Organization. Close at 1pm the 4th Friday of each month
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Description: Need to register as a patient. Also open every 2nd Saturday 8am-2pm
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Description: Please note: Open 2nd & 4th Sat. of the month from 8:30am-1pm
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Description: Need to register as a patient. Open every 4th Saturday of each month from 8am-2pm
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Description: Public Health Department/Social Services Department. Open the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 8am-4pm
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Description: Educational Organization/Institution.
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The facility accepts some insurances to cover for the HIV testing fees. Additionally, clients may qualify for a sliding fee scale or support programs at the facility. For eligibility purposes, details such as social security numbers, proof of sources of income, and photo identifications need to be provided.
Clients may seek HIV testing services via walk-in or by scheduling appointments. Additionally, they are bound to receive confidential services if they visit the clinic. Also, the facility is open for extended hours hence clients with tight schedules may also find time to be attended to.
3229 Broadway, Gary, IN 46409, USA
The facility provides STD testing services to all its clients despite their income levels. However, it doesn’t accept insurance but may include insurance codes on the clients' invoices so that they may forward the same to their providers and receive partial or full reimbursements. The facility also accepts credit card payment.
e7 Health is a non-discriminatory place whose staff serves its clients kindly. The physicians portray good work ethics by offering confidential STD services. Also, test results are anonymously posted on the online platform for easy accessibility by clients.
29 E Madison St Suite 1640, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
Uninsured clients may qualify for a lower fee scale or a state-funded program to pay for STD testing services. The facility charges the fees on a household income basis.
The facility offers language interpretation services when clients call ahead and request. Additionally, the clinicians are cordial and provide confidential STD services. You may schedule an appointment by calling the clinic or booking your appointment online.
1124 Broadway, Gary, IN 46407, USA
The facility offers free STD testing to all clients residing in Chicago despite their income levels, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
STD testing and treatment services are freely discharged to all clients. The health department has outlet clinics that provide its services, therefore, targeting numerous residents. Additionally, clients may see doctors if they schedule appointments.
333 S State St #200, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
The center offers STD testing to women regardless of age or social class. It also accepts some insurances and offers low self-pay rates for clients without insurance.
Clients can see physicians by walking in, and the facility is open every day. Additionally, clinicians provide anonymous STD results to clients. They also offer services to all clients without bias and have access to quality facilities.
5521 Lincoln Hwy #1A, Crown Point, IN 46307, USA
The facility offers STD testing services to persons of all social classes, including students and low-income earners. It accepts some insurances to cover for services the clients receive, while uninsured clients may pay for services using self-pay options such as cash and credit cards.
The physicians conduct STD tests confidentially and store clients' medical records anonymously. Additionally, the facility operates for extended hours to serve clients that may have tight schedules during weekdays. Moreover, it has an amiable and welcoming environment for all.
180 N Michigan Ave #1605, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
There Is no law or policy within the state of Indiana that requires schools to teach sexual health education. The Department of Education has recommended that schools include sexual health education in their curriculum but it is not required. If it is taught, abstinence outside of marriage is required to be the primary focus when discussing prevention. In addition, curriculum must state that a monogamous marriage is the best way to prevent STI’s.
There are many critics that disagree with this form of education. In addition to the threat of STI’s and HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancies are growing. Nearly 50% of these are unintended and critics blame the lack of sexual health education within the school system. Many believe that if students were more informed the numbers would drastically decrease across the board.
Outside the academic arena there are many organizations that are attempting to educate the public about STI’s and HIV/AIDS. One such group is Positive Teen Health, which is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides methods to live a healthy lifestyle to individuals and educators alike. In addition, they have created outreach programs to work teens one on one. Since their beginning in 1993 they have been able to reach over 120,000 teens.
The Planned Parenthood located in Gary has resources available both at their offices Online they offer an educational section which discusses various STI’s as well as HIV/AIDS. Each section approaches the topic from an educational and medical perspective and offers advice for treatment. This Planned Parenthood is also an excellent location to receive free condoms.
In Gary, Indiana women seem to be the most impacted across the board. The only positive demographic for women was that 0,36 more times women graduated than men. Last year there were 564 female graduates in comparison to 205 male graduates.
However, the female demographic is the poorest. Women make 1.39 times less than men with an average salary of $33,705 a year. Gary, Indiana also one of the lowest median household incomes as it falls behind the national, state and county average.
The female demographic was the most impacted in relation to Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. In 2016 there were 1577 cases of women infected with Chlamydia and 300 cases of women infected with Gonorrhea. Black, non-Hispanic women were the race demographic most impacted.
This could possibly correlate with the fact that the Black, non-Hispanic population is the highest race population in Gary. Nearly 80% of the population in the city is Black, non-Hispanic. They are also the poorest demographic with nearly 1,131 Black, non-Hispanics living below the poverty level. The large Black population in correlation with amount that lives below poverty level could possibly play a part in why so many Black, non-Hispanics are affected with STI’s and HIV/AIDS.
There were also fewer Black, non-Hispanic graduates than White, non-Hispanic graduates. In 2015, there were three times more White graduates than there were Black. In the graduating class of that year, there were 462 White students and only 154 Black students.
Finally, poor health care could also play a part in why so many Black women are impacted with STI’s and HIV/AIDS. In Gary, 3,938 non-Black women receive preventive services, while only 857 Black women receive those same services. Most of these women are also older- between the ages of 67 and 69.
There are many locations within Gary, Indiana that offer STI testing. It is generally recommended that you call ahead to confirm whether you will be required to make an appointment. However, you usually can just walk in. When you call you can also verify that they offer the test you require. For example, some clinics may test for HIV but not Gonorrhea. Most clinics also take mainstream insurance plans, but it is recommended you confirm they take yours as well.
One location is the Aliveness Project of Northwest Indiana Incorporated. They are in Merrillville, which is a 20-minute drive south. They are opened Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. They offer Conventional and Rapid HIV testing. They also have a Facebook page with more information on it.
Another option is the East Chicago Health Department which is in East Chicago. It is a 16-minute drive from Gary. They are opened Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. They offer the Hepatitis B vaccine, a test for Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea, HIV testing. Herpes tests, and Hepatitis C tests. Condoms are free for East Chicago residents and $5 per box of two dozen for everyone else.
The Gary Health Center offers testing for all forms of STI’s and HIV/AIDS. They also offer condoms and the HPV vaccine. They provide sexual health education resources as well. They recommend individual call to find out hours and to make an appointment.
The city of Gary, Indiana provides their own clinic for STI and HIV/AIDS testing. They offer confidential examinations and laboratory testing. If test results come back positive they offer counseling services. This clinic serves Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties.
There is a Planned Parenthood located directly in Gary. Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment online. They are opened Mondays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Thursday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. This Planned Parenthood accepts a wide variety of insurances- all of which are listed on their website.
They test for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia using urine samples. Most of their STI tests also require a genital exam. Rapid HIV testing can be done by swabbing the inside of the patient’s mouth and with results in as little as 20 minutes. They offer counseling for those whose tests come back positive.
The city of Gary, Indiana seems to provide acceptable resources, testing, and treatment for the population it has. While there has been an increase in STI’s as well as HIV/AIDS this does not seem to be from a lack of information provided both in the community, though schools seem to be lacking in adequate education. There is a Planned Parenthood within the city limits of Gary, which is an asset considering many towns do not have one. Gary also has several local clinics where testing and treatment is provided.
Demographics and statistics suggest that African Americans are most likely to contract an STI, specifically females and males who have sex with other males. It could be argued that this is a result of the percentage of Black, non-Hispanics who live below the poverty level. Regardless of the statistics, the best way to prevent STI’s is to either remain abstinent or practice safe sex with your partner. Gary also provides several online resources that help educate about STI’s. As always, if you believe you have contracted an STI, please search out a testing center and seek treatment.
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: 400 W Lincoln Hwy Merrillville,IN 46410 Merrillville Change Location
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