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.

Many people want to get tested without anyone else finding out. That is a reasonable thing to want, and it is common. This guide explains what "anonymous" and "confidential" mean, what Reno clinics publish about privacy, and how to keep a visit from showing up where you do not want it.

The steps below are practical. They help you ask the right questions before you book.

Anonymous versus confidential: what is the difference?

The two words sound alike but mean different things.

Anonymous testing means the clinic does not record your name. You may get a code or number instead. Anonymous testing is rare, and it is mostly offered for HIV.

Confidential testing means the clinic knows who you are and keeps your records private. Most testing in the United States works this way. Your information is protected by privacy rules, and the clinic does not share it with family, an employer or a partner without your permission. There are legal exceptions, and Nevada's reporting rules are one of them (see below).

So if you are asking "is STD testing confidential?", the usual answer is yes, with a few exceptions you can plan around. If you are asking about truly anonymous STD testing in Reno, the answer is less clear. The clinic listings we reviewed do not say whether any Reno clinic offers name-free testing. Ask each clinic directly before you go.

What you will need

You do not need much. Gather these before you call:

A phone number you are comfortable being reached at, or a plan to call the clinic yourself for results.
Your insurance card, only if you decide to use insurance.
A short list of questions about privacy (the steps below give you ones to use).
A rough list of dates and kinds of exposure, so the clinician can choose the right tests.
A way to get to the clinic during open hours. Some Reno clinics do not publish hours, so call first.

Step 1: Decide which kind of privacy you need

Start by asking yourself what you want to avoid. Different worries lead to different choices.

You do not want your name on any record. You need to ask about anonymous options.
You do not want a partner, parent or housemate to see paperwork or a bill. You need to manage mail, phone calls and insurance statements.
You do not want anyone at work or school to know. Confidential testing is usually enough, as long as you do not use a shared insurance plan that sends statements to someone else.

Most people need the second or third kind of privacy. That is good news, because those are easier to arrange.

Step 2: Understand Nevada's reporting rules

Some infections must be reported to public health. This is not the same as telling your family or employer. It is a record for the health authority, which tracks disease in the community.

Here is what Nevada law says, in plain words, based on the Nevada Legislature's published statutes:

Under NRS 441A.150, a health care provider who treats a person with a reportable communicable disease must report it to the health authority. Laboratory directors must also notify the health authority.
Under NAC 441A.225, a case or suspected case is reported on the first working day after it is identified, unless a shorter time applies.
NAC 441A.040 treats conditions that CDC lists as nationally notifiable as communicable diseases, and it lists HIV. NAC 441A.235 requires medical laboratories to report certain HIV results.

These are summaries of the statutes and rules. The exact wording is on the Nevada Legislature's website, linked in the Sources list below. The state sources we reviewed do not publish a list of which infections have a different reporting deadline, so ask the clinic or Northern Nevada Public Health if you want that detail.

One more Nevada rule is worth knowing. NRS 441A.315 requires physicians, hospitals and certain providers to ask patients 15 and older whether they want STD testing, including HIV, in emergency and primary care settings, with exceptions. Being asked is an offer. You can say yes or no.

What does reporting mean for your privacy? A report goes to the health authority, not to your employer, school or family. If you want to know how a clinic handles reports and who sees them, that is a fair question to ask when you call.

Step 3: Check what the Reno clinics publish

Reno has several places that list STD testing. The details below come from CDC directory listings and the Nevada Legislature. Clinics can change services and prices, so confirm by phone.

Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

This is the local public health clinic, at 1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512. The phone number is 775-328-2470. The CDC GetTested listing shows a free HIV test and a free STI test, plus insurance, Medicaid and a sliding scale. It says to contact the organization about eligibility. The CDC listings do not publish hours, so call before you go.

The CDC NPIN listing names on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing, plus conventional and rapid HIV testing. The clinic is listed as walk-in. Neither listing says whether it offers anonymous testing.

Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center

This health center is at 790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502. The CDC NPIN listing gives the main line as 800-787-2568 and hours of Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Per that listing, appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. It accepts insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale. See the NPIN listing for details.

Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic

This clinic is at 580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503, phone 775-786-4673. The CDC GetTested listing shows a free HIV test and a free hepatitis C test, with a sliding scale. It lists an appointment as required. Contact the clinic about eligibility.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center

The center is at 8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511, phone 775-688-5555. The CDC GetTested listing shows HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests, and says insurance and Medicaid are accepted. An appointment is required. The listing does not publish a price, so ask the center about cost.

Community Health Alliance

Community Health Alliance has two Reno sites that share one phone number, 775-329-6300. The North Valleys Health Center is at 280 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Suite 107, Reno, NV 89506. The Nell J Redfield Health Center is at 3915 Neil Rd, Reno, NV 89502. Both list a sliding scale, accept insurance and Medicaid, and require an appointment. Hours are not published on the CDC listings.

For the full list in one place, see the Reno testing list. For costs and how to choose between places, read where to get tested in Reno and what it costs.

Step 4: Call and ask the privacy questions

A short call can answer most of your worries. You do not have to give your name to ask general questions. Try these:

"Do you offer testing without recording my name, or is testing confidential only?"
"If I pay myself or use a sliding scale, will anything be mailed to me or anyone else?"
"How will I get my results: phone, patient portal, in person?"
"What number or address do you have on file, and can I use a different one?"
"Who sees my results besides me and my clinician?"
"Which results does the clinic report to the health department?"

Write the answers down. If a clinic cannot answer, that is useful information too.

Step 5: Protect yourself from insurance statements

This is the most common way a private visit becomes not so private. When you use health insurance, the insurer usually sends an explanation of benefits, often called an EOB. It lists the date of service, the provider and sometimes the type of service. It is typically mailed or posted online to the main policyholder, who may be a parent, spouse or partner.

Here are ways to lower that risk:

Ask about a free or sliding scale visit. The CDC listings show free HIV and STI testing at Northern Nevada Public Health and free HIV testing at Northern Nevada HOPES, with eligibility to be confirmed. If you do not bill insurance, no EOB is created.
Ask if you can pay yourself. Some clinics offer a self-pay or sliding scale price. Ask what it is, because the listings do not publish prices.
Ask your insurer about confidential communications. Many plans let a covered adult ask that statements go to a different address or email. Call the number on your card and ask how to make that request.
Check your online portal settings. A family plan may show claims to the policyholder online as well as by mail.
Ask the clinic what a bill will look like. A billing code or clinic name can appear even if details do not.

Step 6: If you are under 18

Nevada has a law about this. According to a summary of NRS 129.060 on the Nevada Legislature's website, a minor may give consent to examination or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases by a health officer, licensed physician, physician assistant, registered nurse or clinic. The law also covers STD prevention services. Separately, NRS 129.030 lets a minor consent to services in some situations, such as living apart from parents or facing a serious health hazard.

These are summaries, and the sources we reviewed do not say how each clinic applies them. The insurance advice in Step 5 matters even more for a young person on a parent's plan. Ask the clinic about its own policy before your visit.

Step 7: Get tested and ask about results

On the day of your visit, you can expect a few things. A clinician will ask about your health and your recent exposures. Questions are meant to pick the right tests, not to judge. You may give a urine sample, a swab or a blood sample, depending on what is being tested.

Ask how and when results will come back. Timing depends on the test. The CDC listings for several Reno clinics mention rapid HIV testing, which can give a result during the visit. Other tests usually take longer. Ask the clinic how long you will wait and how it will contact you.

Timing of the test also matters. The CDC says each infection has a window period, the time after exposure when a test may not yet detect it. Your clinician can tell you what applies to you and whether a repeat test makes sense.

What to expect from results

A negative result means the test did not detect that infection at the time of testing. It does not tell you what happened before the window period ended. A clinician can explain what a result means for your situation.

If a test is positive, the next step is a conversation with a clinician. Bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and trichomoniasis, are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV and herpes are not curable, but they are treatable and manageable with care from a clinician. A positive result is a medical finding, not a judgment about you.

Clinicians can also talk about prevention. The CDC listings for Northern Nevada Public Health mention PrEP, PEP and doxy PEP (doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of some bacterial infections, per CDC's 2024 guidance). Whether any of these fit you is a decision for you and a clinician.

Tips and common mistakes to avoid

Do not assume a clinic is anonymous. Most are confidential, not anonymous. Ask.
Do not use insurance without checking the statement. The EOB is the most common leak.
Do not skip the phone number question. A voicemail or text from a clinic can be seen by others on a shared phone.
Do not rely on old hours. Several Reno clinics do not publish hours in their directory listings. Call first.
Do not stop at one test if you were tested very soon after an exposure. Ask a clinician whether a repeat test is useful.
Do not guess at costs. Many listings say "contact the organization for eligibility" without a price. A quick call answers it.
Do not skip follow-up. If a clinic asks you to come back or call, do it.

Where to find more options

The CDC runs GetTested, a directory where you can look up testing sites by location and see which services each lists. Use it to compare options before you call, then confirm details with the clinic.

If you feel nervous, that is normal. Testing is a routine health step, and the staff at these clinics handle these visits every day. A call is a low-pressure way to start.

Anonymous and Confidential STD Testing in Reno