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.

Getting an HIV test in New York City is a short, routine health visit. Many sites offer it at no cost or on a sliding scale. A few offer rapid results the same day.

This guide walks through it in order. You will see what to bring, how to pick a test, where to go in the five boroughs, and what the results mean. It also covers what happens after a reactive result.

HIV testing is a normal part of sexual health care for people of every gender and orientation. Nobody needs a special reason to ask for it.

Why HIV testing matters

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. The CDC also recommends more frequent testing for people with ongoing chances of exposure.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65. It also recommends screening for younger adolescents and older adults at increased risk, and for people who are pregnant.

NYC Health reports 1,791 new HIV diagnoses in New York City in 2024 (NYC DOHMH, HIV in NYC 2024). Testing is how people learn their status. HIV is treatable, and a clinician can prescribe HIV medicine that helps people stay healthy for many years.

HIV is not curable, but it is manageable with care from a clinician.

What you need before you go

You do not need much. Here is a short list.

Your insurance card, if you have one. NYC Health says adults 19 and older at its Sexual Health Clinics are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee. The same page says no proof of income is required, no payment is collected at the clinic, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.
A phone or a calendar. Some sites take walk-ins and others work by appointment. Hours can change, so check before you travel.
A rough timeline. Think about the date of any possible exposure. It helps you and the clinician pick the right test.
A few questions. Write them down so you remember them in the room.
Time. NYC Health says clinics may close early once capacity is reached. Arriving earlier in the day is a sensible plan.

For care at an NYC Health clinic, you do not need to bring proof of immigration status. NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status.

Step 1: Understand the types of HIV tests

Knowing the basic test types makes the visit easier. The CDC describes three main kinds of HIV tests.

Antibody tests

These look for the antibodies your body makes in response to HIV. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests. According to the CDC, antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days after an exposure to detect HIV. The CDC notes that tests using blood from a vein detect HIV sooner than tests using blood from a finger stick or oral fluid.

Antigen/antibody tests

These look for both antibodies and a viral protein called p24. The CDC says an antigen/antibody lab test using blood from a vein can detect HIV 18 to 45 days after an exposure. An antigen/antibody rapid test using a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days.

Nucleic acid tests (NATs)

A NAT looks for the virus itself in the blood. The CDC says a NAT can detect HIV 10 to 33 days after an exposure. These tests are used less often. A clinician may order one after a recent, specific exposure, or when other test results need clarifying.

What "rapid" means

A rapid HIV test gives a result in about 20 minutes, according to the CDC. It usually uses a finger stick or a swab of oral fluid. The test type, antibody or antigen/antibody, determines how soon after an exposure it can detect HIV.

A standard lab test sends a blood sample out for analysis. Results can take longer. At the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic main site, NYC Health says to expect results in seven days.

Step 2: Think about timing

The window period is the time between a possible exposure and the point when a test can detect HIV. The CDC window periods above are the ones to use. A test taken inside the window may not detect an infection that is there.

If you test inside the window, a clinician may suggest testing again later. That is standard practice and not a sign anything went wrong.

If your possible exposure was within the last 72 hours, ask about PEP. PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis, medicine a clinician prescribes to lower the chance of HIV after an exposure. The CDC says it must be started within 72 hours. In New York City, the NYC Health 24/7 PEP Hotline is 844-373-7692.

Step 3: Choose where to get tested

New York City has several options. Some are free, some use a sliding scale, and some offer same-day rapid HIV tests. The local testing list on this site gathers clinics in one place. Here are the main options from the city's own records.

NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) runs Sexual Health Clinics that offer HIV testing, STI testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, and treatment. They are low-cost to no-cost. Most services are walk-in only. Locations listed by NYC Health:

Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic, 303 9th Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10001. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Chelsea Express Clinic has Tuesday hours until 7 p.m.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10037. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic, 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Express Clinic has Tuesday hours until 7 p.m.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic, 1309 Fulton Avenue, Second Floor, Bronx, NY 10456. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic, 90-37 Parsons Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11432. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic, 34-33 Junction Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11372. Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

The Sexual Health Clinic Hotline is 347-396-7959, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. NYC Health does not list a separate phone number for each clinic.

NYC Health also notes that the Crown Heights and Riverside clinics are closed until further notice. There is no NYC Health sexual health clinic on Staten Island in its open list. Staten Island residents can ask the hotline about the closest option.

The NYC Health pages do not say whether rapid HIV tests are offered at these clinics. The Chelsea and Fort Greene Express Clinics have a Quickie Lab with rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results, which is a different test. If you want a rapid HIV test specifically, ask the hotline before you go.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

Callen-Lorde is an LGBTQ+ community health center. It offers HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, and doxy-PEP, with services provided regardless of ability to pay. It uses a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Visit co-pays range from $0 to $100, according to Callen-Lorde.

Callen-Lorde Chelsea, 356 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, 212-271-7200. Sexual health visits are by appointment Monday to Friday with limited walk-in. Saturday walk-in is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., first come, first served.
Bronx, 555 Bergen Ave, 4th Floor, 718-215-1800.
Brooklyn, 40 Flatbush Ave Ext, 3rd Floor, 718-215-1818.

Callen-Lorde's sexual health page names only the Chelsea site. Call the Bronx or Brooklyn site to ask what is offered there.

Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center

This center serves young people ages 10 to 26 at 312-320 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128. Mount Sinai says its services are completely free. It lists HIV testing, including same-day rapid testing.

It offers walk-in visits Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and scheduled appointments. The phone number is 212-423-3000.

Free HIV self-test kits

NYC Health says NYC residents can get free HIV self-test kits through Community Home Test Giveaway (CHTG) partner agencies. Partner agencies are listed on the NYC Health Map. You can also call 311 or text TESTNYC to 55676.

NYC Health did not list a free at-home STI kit program on its pages. If you want other STI tests, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis, plan to visit a clinic.

The CDC also runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov. Enter a ZIP code to find HIV testing sites in any borough.

Step 4: Take the test

Here is what usually happens at the visit.

Check in. You may be asked for your name, contact details, and insurance if you have it. NYC Health clinics ask adults for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, and say no one is turned away for inability to pay.
Talk with staff. A counselor or clinician may ask about your health and your recent exposures. These are medical questions. They are not a judgment.
Give a sample. This is a finger stick, an oral fluid swab, or a blood draw from a vein, depending on the test.
Wait for results. A rapid test is usually ready in about 20 minutes, according to the CDC. A lab test takes longer, and the site will tell you how they share results.
Ask about next steps. This is a good time to ask about PrEP, PEP, other STI testing, and when to test again.

If you use a self-test kit, read the instructions that come with it. The kit's instructions control how long to wait and how to read the result. A free kit through a CHTG agency is also a good chance to ask the agency staff how to get follow-up care.

Step 5: Understand your result

If the result is non-reactive (negative)

A non-reactive result means the test did not detect HIV at the time of testing. It may be reassuring. It does not rule out an infection that occurred inside the window period. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test is a good idea based on your timeline.

If the result is reactive (preliminary positive)

A reactive rapid test is a preliminary result. It is not a final diagnosis on its own. The CDC says a follow-up test is needed to confirm. A clinician will usually run a lab-based test on a blood sample.

If the follow-up confirms HIV, a clinician can connect you with care. HIV is treatable. A clinician prescribes HIV medicine, and the CDC says people who take it as prescribed and keep their viral load very low can stay healthy and protect their partners. A clinician will explain the plan and answer your questions.

A reactive self-test works the same way. It needs a follow-up test at a clinic. The CHTG partner agency, 311, or the NYC Health clinic hotline can help you find one.

If the result is unclear

Sometimes a result is not clear. The clinician may suggest repeating the test or using a different test type. This is a standard step and does not mean you did something wrong.

Tips and common mistakes to avoid

Testing too soon and stopping there. If the exposure was recent, ask when to test again. The CDC window periods above are a guide to the conversation.
Not asking which test is being used. Antibody, antigen/antibody and NAT tests detect HIV at different points after an exposure. Ask which one you are getting.
Assuming rapid means every site. The NYC Health pages do not list rapid HIV testing at its Sexual Health Clinics. Confirm before you go if rapid results matter to you.
Arriving late in the day. NYC Health says clinics may close early once capacity is reached. Mornings are safer.
Skipping other tests. HIV testing is often offered with tests for syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Ask whether you should add them.
Waiting too long after a recent exposure to ask about PEP. The CDC says PEP has to start within 72 hours. Call the 24/7 PEP Hotline at 844-373-7692.
Going without a plan for a reactive result. Know in advance that a reactive result is followed by a confirmatory test and a clinician visit. Support is available.

Privacy and consent in New York

Under N.Y. Public Health Law § 2305, a licensed physician may diagnose, treat or prescribe for a person under 21 who is infected with or exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, without parental consent or knowledge. The statute sets no minimum age. In practice, NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent.

New York law requires clinicians and laboratories to report HIV infection to the state health commissioner (N.Y. Public Health Law § 2130). That is a public health reporting step. You can ask the clinic staff how reporting works and how your information is handled.

Adults can also ask about PrEP once testing is done. NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics offer PrEP initiation and counseling, and adolescents can get PrEP without a parent's permission. The NYS PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP) helps people who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover some PrEP services with health care and lab costs. It does not cover the medication itself. The number is 1-800-542-2437, and you must use a participating provider.

What to expect from the whole process

Most people find the visit shorter and easier than they expected. Many will leave with a clear result and a plan for follow-up. Some will leave with a lab test pending and a date for results.

If a result is reactive, a confirmatory test and a conversation with a clinician usually come next. Results and timing vary by site and test. Ask the staff how and when you will hear back.

Next steps

Pick a site from the NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics page or the clinics above.
Call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959 to confirm hours and ask whether rapid HIV testing is offered.
Use gettested.cdc.gov for a national locator.
If you want a free self-test kit, call 311 or text TESTNYC to 55676.

Free and Rapid HIV Testing in New York City