Looking for STD testing in NYC? The city has six NYC Health Department sexual health clinics, plus community groups like GMHC that offer free or low-cost testing. NYC Health clinics bill insurance or charge a sliding-scale fee based on income, and they collect no payment at the clinic. GMHC is free. Same-day results exist, but only for a few tests at a few sites. Last reviewed October 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Free testing: GMHC offers free, confidential HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis C testing, with no income or insurance requirement. NYC Health clinics see anyone 12 or older, and you can still get services if you can't pay.
- Rapid results: GMHC's rapid HIV test takes about 20 minutes. Chelsea Express and Fort Greene Express offer rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results. Other NYC Health results can take 7 to 10 days.
- Anonymous testing: Anonymous HIV testing, which doesn't require you to provide your name, is available at certain public sites. Most other STI testing is confidential, not anonymous.
- Testing too early: A negative result soon after exposure may not rule out an infection. Ask a clinician when to retest.
Not sure which tests you need? Start a free exposure review with August AI. If you need testing or treatment, a board-certified MD takes over for $39, orders the appropriate lab tests, and, when clinically appropriate, sends a prescription to the New York pharmacy you choose. A prescription isn't guaranteed, and medication and lab costs are separate. Syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis need in-person care, and gonorrhea treatment usually means an injection.
Free STD Testing in NYC: What Free Means
“Free” depends on where you go.
- GMHC: Testing is free, with no income requirements and no insurance needed.
- NYC Health clinics: You can use insurance, and a copay may apply. Without insurance, or if you'd rather not use it, a sliding-scale fee based on family size and income applies. No proof is required, and no payment is collected at the clinic.
- Callen-Lorde: Care is provided regardless of ability to pay. Uninsured patients pay on a sliding scale, with copays from $0 to $100.
NYC STD Clinics by Borough
| Clinic | Address | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMHC (Manhattan) | 307 W 38th St, 4th Floor | Mon–Wed 9:30–4:30 (appointment); Thu 9:30–6, Fri 9:30–4 (walk-in) | Free |
| Callen-Lorde (Manhattan) | 356 W 18th St | Mon–Thu 8:15–8:15, Fri 9:45–4:45, Sat 9–3:15 | Sliding scale |
| Chelsea and Chelsea Express (Manhattan) | 303 9th Ave | Mon–Fri 8:30–3:30; Express Tue until 7 | Sliding scale |
| Central Harlem (Manhattan) | 2238 Fifth Ave | Mon–Fri 8:30–3:30 | Sliding scale |
| Fort Greene and Express (Brooklyn) | 295 Flatbush Ave Ext | Mon–Fri 8:30–3:30; Express Tue until 7 | Sliding scale |
| Morrisania (Bronx) | 1309 Fulton Ave | Mon–Fri 8:30–3:30 | Sliding scale |
| Jamaica (Queens) | 90-37 Parsons Blvd | Mon–Fri 8:30–3:30 | Sliding scale |
| Corona (Queens) | 34-33 Junction Blvd | Mon–Wed, Fri 8:30–3:30; Thu until 7:15 | Sliding scale |
NYC Health clinics accept walk-ins for testing-only visits, but cutoffs can be earlier than closing time, so arrive early. Clinics may stop accepting patients when they reach capacity, and holiday closures can affect hours. The Crown Heights and Riverside clinics are closed until further notice. Call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959 before heading out. For other options, call Callen-Lorde at 212-271-7200 or GMHC at 212-367-1100.
NYC Health clinics see anyone aged 12 or older, regardless of immigration status. You don't need parental consent to get tested.
Same-Day STD Testing in NYC
- HIV: GMHC's rapid test gives results in about 20 minutes. Walk-ins are accepted on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Chelsea Express and Fort Greene Express have a Quickie Lab that offers rapid results. The main Chelsea clinic doesn't have this service, so its results may take about seven days.
- Other tests at NYC Health clinics: Results can take 7 to 10 days. You can check them through the patient portal.
- Urgent care: CityMD offers walk-in STD testing, but its page doesn't list prices or turnaround times. Call ahead to ask. Our guide to urgent care STD testing costs explains what to check before booking.
Anonymous STD Testing in NYC
Anonymous testing means you don't give your name. Confidential testing means the clinic knows who you are but keeps your information private.
The New York State Department of Health says anonymous HIV testing is available at certain public testing sites. We couldn't find an NYC clinic that advertises anonymous testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, so expect to provide your name for those tests.
Worried about a test appearing on your insurance statement? Ask the clinic about sliding-scale fees and paying directly rather than billing insurance.
How Much Does an STD Test Cost in NYC?
Private clinics and labs set their own prices. One online lab service, for example, lists panels ranging from $139 for four infections to $259 for seven.
Our full-panel STD test guide explains what each panel includes.
Which Tests to Get, and When
New partner, no symptoms. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, along with HIV and syphilis screening based on your sexual history, may make sense. If you've had oral or anal sex, ask about throat or rectal swabs. A urine test only checks the genital area, so it can miss infections at those sites.
Condomless sex in the last 72 hours. Seek care as soon as possible because HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be started within 72 hours. NYC's 24/7 PEP hotline is 844-373-7692. NYC Health clinics also offer doxy-PEP for eligible patients. Read our doxy-PEP guide to learn who may benefit.
Testing too early can miss an infection. Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests are generally reliable around two weeks after exposure, syphilis testing may need about six weeks, and a lab-based HIV test can usually detect infection 18 to 45 days after exposure. Most rapid HIV tests, including self-tests, can take 23 to 90 days. A clinician may recommend repeating an early negative test. Our STD test near me guide covers lab visits and at-home blood draws.
Testing Without a Clinic Visit
Can't get to a clinic, or unsure which tests you need? Anywhere in New York State, you can start with a free review online. If you need a doctor, the visit costs $39, and the clinician can order tests at a nearby lab and review the results in chat. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and some cases of herpes can be treated with prescription medication when appropriate. Gonorrhea often needs an in-person injection, and syphilis and HIV need referral and follow-up. Our guide to how online STI testing works walks you through the process.
Conclusion
For free or low-cost STD testing in NYC, start with GMHC or an NYC Health sexual health clinic, and call ahead, since clinics can fill up or change hours. For rapid results, GMHC offers HIV testing, and Chelsea Express and Fort Greene Express offer chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. On Staten Island, where no NYC Health clinic is listed, check the NYC Health clinic directory. To decide what to do next without traveling first, August's free review and $39 visit let you start from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
At GMHC, yes, with no income requirement. NYC Health clinics charge on a sliding scale based on income, and no payment is collected at the clinic.
GMHC gives a rapid HIV result in 20 minutes, and the Chelsea and Fort Greene Express clinics offer rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea results. Other tests take longer.
For HIV, certain public sites offer anonymous testing. We found no NYC site that advertises it for other infections.
