How We Help with Prevention

Free, confidential HIV and STI testing is available — no appointment necessary for walk-in testing events. Results are delivered with care, and our team is here to talk through next steps, whatever your result.

Testing Hours

• Monday – 7:30am – 3:30pm
• Tuesday – 7:30am – 3:30pm
• Wednesday – 7:30am – 3:30pm
• Thursday – 7:30am – 6:00pm
• Friday – 7:30am – 12:00pm

Testing options include:

• In-Office rapid HIV testing (results in 20 minutes)
• If-Office STI screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hep C, and Trichomoniasis

The first step to protecting yourself and others against HIV is to get tested. Now, that step is easier than ever with free at-home testing available to South Carolina residents. With OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Kit, you can test yourself for HIV and find out your status in as little as 20 minutes, without ever leaving your home.

To request a At-Home HIV Testing Kit, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a South Carolina resident
• Be 17 years of age or older
• Have not ordered a At-Home HIV Testing Kit in the past 90 days

The HIV test is quick, simple and painless and yet it may be the most important thing you do.

To process your request, you must provide:

• Contact information (including a working cellphone with the ability to text and/or a working email address). This information will be used to send you a home testing kit and provide you with shipping information. Without this information we will not be able to process your request.

Find Palmetto Community Care’s mobile testing van throughout the Lowcountry. You can find us at community festivals, partnered with other organizations and businesses, or just in your neighborhood to bring our health screening and testing capabilities right to your doorstep. Contact our Prevention Department to bring our mobile testing van to an event or neighborhood near you.

Here’s what you need to know and can expect when you come to Palmetto Community Care for a HIV test:

• Tests are free.
• Tests are confidential.
• The test itself involves a simple finger prick to take a blood sample.
• The test is analyzed at our office and results are delivered in about 20 minutes.
• We have staff members available to discuss your results and, even if the test is negative, to talk with you about prevention methods. Free condoms are available at our office.

The HIV test is quick, simple and painless and yet it may be the most important thing you do.

Preventing HIV and STIs looks different for everyone. Whether you’re focused on protecting yourself, supporting a partner, or living with HIV and want to keep others safe — there are real, effective options available to you. From barrier methods and regular testing to powerful medications like PrEP and PEP, prevention is personal. We’ll meet you where you are.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

PrEP is a daily medication that reduces the risk of getting HIV by up to 99%. If you’re HIV-negative and want to stay that way, PrEP may be right for you. Our team can walk you through whether it’s a good fit, help you access it, and support you through the process.

Preventing HIV and STIs looks different for everyone. Whether you’re focused on protecting yourself, supporting a partner, or living with HIV and want to keep others safe — there are real, effective options available to you.

PrEP by Telehealth

Can’t make it in? Telehealth brings PrEP care directly to you through secure video appointments. No call centers. No out-of-state strangers. Just people who know and care about the Charleston community — available from wherever you are.

TelePrEP serves residents of the Charleston tri-county area and beyond.

If you’ve had a possible HIV or STI exposure in the last 72 hours, post-exposure medications can significantly reduce your risk of infection. Time matters — contact us right away.

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a short course of HIV medication taken after a possible HIV exposure. It must be started within 72 hours to be effective.

DoxyPEP is a single dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex that can reduce the risk of certain STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Our team can help you determine if DoxyPEP is right for you.

Free condoms are available at our office five days a week — no appointment and no HIV test required. Just stop by during normal business hours and ask at the front desk.

We carry a full range of options, including latex-free, extra-large, snug, and female condoms, along with free water- and silicone-based lubricant. Condoms are also always available during any testing session.