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.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, time matters, and there is a clear path to follow. PEP HIV care is available in New York City, including a hotline that answers around the clock.

This guide walks through what PEP is, what to bring, and how to get it step by step. It also covers follow-up testing and the mistakes that cost people time.

You can do this. Most of it is a phone call and a visit.

What PEP is, in plain words

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It is emergency HIV medication that a clinician prescribes after a possible exposure to HIV. The goal is to lower the chance that HIV takes hold.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says PEP must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure. Sooner is better. The CDC describes a full PEP course as 28 days.

PEP is not a substitute for ongoing prevention. It is for emergencies. It also does not work the way a vaccine does, and no medicine or test is perfect. A clinician can explain what PEP can and cannot do in your situation.

Situations where people ask about PEP

People seek PEP after many kinds of events. A condom breaks. Someone is unsure whether a partner has HIV. Sex was not consensual. A needle or other sharp object was shared or caused an injury. Medical staff can also need PEP after a work injury.

You do not have to decide whether your exposure "counts." A clinician can assess it with you. That is their job, and it is done without judgment.

Why the 72-hour window matters

The CDC sets 72 hours as the outer limit for starting PEP. After that, the CDC does not recommend it for most situations, because the benefit drops. Every hour inside the window helps.

If you are close to the 72-hour mark, call right away. If you are past it, still call. A clinician can talk through other options and next steps.

HIV is a real concern in New York City, and it is also treatable. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 1,791 new HIV diagnoses citywide in 2024. People who start treatment and stay in care can manage HIV, but it is not curable.

Materials and information to have ready

You do not need everything below to get help. Do not delay a call to gather items. If you can, have these with you:

A phone, charged, with the number for the PEP hotline saved.
Your best estimate of when the exposure happened. A rough time is fine.
A short description of what happened, in your own words.
A list of any medicines you take, and any allergies or health conditions.
Insurance information, if you have it. Not having insurance does not stop you from being seen at the city clinics listed below.
A photo ID if you have one. Check with the clinic whether one is needed.
A way to get to the clinic or hospital, and a plan to return for follow-up visits.

Step-by-step: how to get PEP in New York City

Step 1: Note the time, then act

Write down when the exposure happened. Then count forward 72 hours. This gives you your deadline, and it helps the clinician.

Do not wait for symptoms. The CDC notes that HIV often causes no early symptoms, and PEP works best when started early.

Step 2: Call the 24/7 PEP hotline

The NYC Health Department lists a PEP Hotline at 844-373-7692. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the fastest way to find out where to go at any hour, including nights, weekends and holidays.

Ask where you can be seen right now and whether you should go to a clinic or an emergency department.

Step 3: Choose where to go based on the time

During clinic hours. The NYC Health Department runs Sexual Health Clinics that list PEP among their services. Most services are walk-in. Clinics can close early once they reach capacity, so go early in the day.

Clinic	Address	Hours listed by the Health Department
Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic (Manhattan)	303 9th Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10001	Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Express Clinic is open Mon, Wed-Fri 8:30-3:30 and Tue 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic (Manhattan)	2238 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10037	Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic (Brooklyn)	295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201	Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Express Clinic is open Mon, Wed-Fri 8:30-3:30 and Tue 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic (The Bronx)	1309 Fulton Avenue, Second Floor, Bronx, NY 10456	Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic (Queens)	90-37 Parsons Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11432	Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic (Queens)	34-33 Junction Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11372	Mon-Wed and Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Thu 8:30 a.m.-7:15 p.m.

The Health Department clinic hotline is 347-396-7959, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Health Department does not list a separate phone number for each clinic. Details are on the NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics page.

The Health Department says that its Crown Heights and Riverside clinics are closed until further notice. It also lists no open Health Department sexual health clinic on Staten Island. If you live on Staten Island, call the PEP hotline and ask where to go.

Community health centers. Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, an LGBTQ+ health center, lists PEP at its Chelsea site, 356 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011. The phone number is 212-271-7200. Callen-Lorde says sexual health visits are by appointment Monday to Friday with limited walk-in, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is walk-in, first come, first served. It says it provides services regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Check its PEP page for current details.

Young people. The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, at 312-320 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128, serves people ages 10 to 26. Mount Sinai says its services are completely free and that it offers walk-in visits Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 212-423-3000. Its listed services include PEP and same-day rapid HIV testing.

Nights, weekends and holidays. The clinics above keep daytime hours. Outside those hours, the PEP hotline is the right first call. It can tell you where to be seen. A hospital emergency department is another option for urgent care, because the 72-hour clock keeps running. The Health Department pages do not list individual emergency departments that give PEP, so ask the hotline, or call the hospital before you go, and confirm that PEP is available there.

Step 4: Talk with the clinician

A clinician will ask what happened, when it happened and about your health history. Expect questions about sex and drug use. They are asked to give you the right care, and clinicians are used to hearing honest answers without judgment.

The clinician will usually offer an HIV test and may offer other STI testing. The CDC says an HIV test is done before PEP starts, so there is a baseline. The clinician decides whether PEP is right for you. Only a clinician can prescribe it.

Step 5: Ask about cost before you leave

The NYC Health Department says its Sexual Health Clinics are low-cost or no-cost. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, with no proof of income required. The Health Department says no payment is collected at the clinic and that no one is turned away for not being able to pay.

The pages reviewed do not publish a price for the PEP medication itself. Ask the clinic or the pharmacy how your prescription will be covered, and say clearly if cost is a worry.

Step 6: Start the medication and finish the course

The CDC describes a PEP course as 28 days. The clinician or pharmacist will explain how to take it. Follow their directions, and do not stop early without talking to them first.

If you have side effects such as an upset stomach or tiredness, call the clinic before you stop. They can often help.

Step 7: Book follow-up testing

CDC guidance calls for follow-up HIV testing after PEP. The usual schedule is a test about 4 to 6 weeks after the exposure and another about 12 weeks after. Your clinician will confirm what applies to you and set the dates.

Follow-up often includes other checks too. Many people get tested for other STIs at the same visit. For a list of places to test, see where to get STD tested in New York City.

Tips that make this easier

Call first, even at 3 a.m. The 24/7 hotline exists for exactly this.
Go early on clinic days. The Health Department says clinics can close early when they reach capacity.
Bring a friend if it helps. Support makes the visit easier.
Ask for a written follow-up plan. Put the test dates in your phone calendar.
Tell the clinician about all your medicines. Some can interact with PEP.
Ask about PrEP. If you may face exposures again, PrEP is ongoing prevention. NYC Health says its clinics offer PrEP, and that adolescents can get PrEP without a parent's permission. The NYS PrEP Assistance Program, at 1-800-542-2437, covers PrEP-related care and lab costs for people who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover some PrEP services. It does not cover the medication itself.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting to see if symptoms appear. The CDC notes that HIV often causes no early symptoms. The window closes whether or not you feel anything.
Waiting for a clinic to open without calling. If a clinic is closed, call the hotline to find where to go now.
Assuming it is too embarrassing. Clinicians see this every day. Nobody will judge you.
Stopping the course early. Feeling fine does not mean the course is done. Talk to the clinician first.
Skipping follow-up tests. Follow-up is part of PEP. Without it, you will not get the full picture.
Using someone else's medicine. Only a clinician can prescribe PEP for you.
Confusing PEP with doxy-PEP. The CDC's 2024 doxy-PEP guidance is about preventing certain bacterial STIs after sex. It does not prevent HIV. Several NYC clinics list doxy-PEP among their services, so ask if it is relevant to you.

Expected results

The CDC says PEP can lower the chance of HIV infection when it is started quickly and taken as prescribed. It does not work in every case, and no one can promise an outcome. Follow-up testing is how you and your clinician find out what happened.

A test result does not change the plan to treat you with respect. If a follow-up test is negative, your clinician can explain what that means and when to repeat it. If it is positive, HIV is treatable and manageable with care from a clinician. Many people go on to live long, healthy lives with treatment.

Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you what is true for you. This page cannot.

Your rights and privacy in New York

The NYC Health Department says its Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status. New York Public Health Law section 2305 lets a licensed physician diagnose and treat a person under 21 who has been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, without parental consent or knowledge.

The Health Department also notes that certain infections must be reported to it, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. HIV infection must be reported to the state under Public Health Law section 2130. Ask the clinic how your information is handled if you have questions.

Next steps

If you are within 72 hours of an exposure, call the 24/7 PEP Hotline at 844-373-7692 now. If you are past 72 hours, call anyway and ask what is available.

For free or low-cost testing, use the clinics above. You can also find other testing sites at gettested.cdc.gov. NYC residents can also get free HIV self-test kits through Community Home Test Giveaway partner agencies listed on the NYC Health Map, by calling 311, or by texting TESTNYC to 55676, according to NYC Health. The Health Department does not list a free at-home STI kit program.

PEP in New York City: Emergency HIV Prevention Within 72 Hours