UMKC offering free tests for students after alarming STD counts among Missouri students

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of Missouri-Kansas City is taking a proactive approach after the CDC. recently released alarming statistics about the number of Missouri students having sex without protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

The CDC found one in four Missouri college students have an STD, and just 60% of college students say they used protection the last time they had sex. Another alarming statistic: 25% of college students are living with a STD and don’t know it.

Now UMKC is offering free HIV, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and syphilis tests on campus. The college is offering the tests in partnership with the Good Samaritan project in Kansas City.

Scott Thompson, director of student health, says they decided to offer the tests after a large number of students came to them interested in being tested.

"This population is more at a sexually active time in their lives. That's one of the main reasons we wanted to push and offer this free clinic," Thompson explained.

The confidential clinic is held every second Wednesday of the month at the Mind Body Connection Center on campus in the Student Success Center. Tests require a urine and blood prick sample, and results are ready within 15 minutes, according to Thompson.