Free and low-cost testing in Reno:Free testing near you: see where to go
STD Testing Reno Find testing

Free and Rapid HIV Testing in Reno

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

Free and Rapid HIV Testing in Reno

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 Reno is a short, practical process. You choose a clinic, call or walk in, take a quick test, and talk through the result with a staff member. This guide walks through each step so you know what to expect before you go.

HIV testing is routine health care. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine care. The CDC also recommends testing at least once a year for people with a higher chance of exposure, and more often if a clinician advises it. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65, and for younger and older people at increased risk. It also recommends screening for all pregnant people.

A rapid HIV test returns a result during the same visit, often in about 20 minutes. Several Reno clinics list rapid testing, and two list a free HIV test in CDC directories. The details below come from those directories and from Nevada law. We point out anything you should confirm by phone.

What You Need Before You Go

You do not need much. If you are missing something on this list, the clinic can tell you what it actually requires.

  • A way to contact the clinic. A phone is enough. Several Reno clinics ask for an appointment, so a quick call can save a trip.
  • Photo ID, if you have one. Ask whether it is required. The CDC directory listings do not say.
  • Insurance information, if you have it. Some clinics accept insurance or Medicaid. Others offer a free test or a sliding scale. You can still ask about testing without a card.
  • A short list of questions. Note when your last test was, whether you had a recent exposure, and anything you want to know about prevention.
  • A rough timeline. If you are testing after a specific exposure, note how many days ago it happened. This affects which test makes sense.
  • About an hour. The test is quick. Check-in, counseling and questions add time.

Step-by-Step: How to Get an HIV Test in Reno

Step 1: Decide what kind of visit you want

Think about what you need. Some people want a routine screening. Others want a test after a possible exposure. Others want a test plus a conversation about PrEP, an HIV prevention option that a clinician prescribes.

Say so when you call. Staff can point you to the right test and tell you whether the clinic offers a rapid HIV test or a blood draw sent to a lab.

Step 2: Pick a clinic that fits your schedule and budget

Reno has several options. The list below uses CDC directory listings (CDC GetTested and CDC NPIN). Services, hours and eligibility can change, so confirm by phone. The local testing list on this site has more detail.

  • Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, 1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512. Phone: 775-328-2470. CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test and a free STI test here. It also lists insurance, Medicaid and a sliding scale, and says to contact the organization about eligibility. CDC NPIN lists conventional and rapid HIV testing, plus PrEP and PEP. The listings describe walk-in access. The CDC pages do not publish hours, so call first.
  • Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic, 580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503. Phone: 775-786-4673. CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test, rapid HIV testing, and PrEP for people without insurance. It lists a sliding scale and says an appointment is required. The nnhopes.org site shows clinic hours of Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but it does not say which clinic those hours apply to. Confirm them when you call.
  • Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center, 8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511. Phone: 775-688-5555. CDC GetTested lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing. It says insurance and Medicaid are accepted, an appointment is required, and eligibility should be confirmed with the organization. The listing does not publish a price or hours.
  • Community Health Alliance, with sites at 280 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Suite 107 (North Valleys) and 3915 Neil Rd (Nell J Redfield). Phone for both: 775-329-6300. CDC GetTested lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing, a sliding scale, and PrEP for people without insurance. Appointments are required.
  • Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center, 790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502. Main line listed by CDC NPIN: 800-787-2568. NPIN lists conventional HIV testing, other STI tests, PrEP and STI treatment, with a sliding scale. It says appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. Listed hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. The listing mentions conventional HIV testing, not rapid, so ask if you want a same-visit result.

The CDC also runs a national directory at gettested.cdc.gov, which you can use to double-check a clinic's current listing.

We could not find a free home self-test program for Reno in the sources we reviewed. If you want one, ask the health department or a clinic whether any program is running.

Step 3: Call and ask the right questions

A short call saves time. Ask these things:

  1. Do you offer a rapid HIV test, a lab test, or both?
  2. Is the test free, or is there a fee? If there is a fee, do you have a sliding scale?
  3. Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
  4. What are your hours this week?
  5. Do I need to bring ID or proof of income?
  6. If my result needs follow-up, who contacts me and how?

If a clinic's page does not list a price, ask. Staff can explain eligibility for free or reduced-cost testing. Do not assume a cost from a directory listing alone.

Step 4: Choose the right test for your timing

The best test depends partly on how long ago a possible exposure happened. Each HIV test has a window period. That is the time between an exposure and when the test can reliably detect HIV. The CDC describes these types:

Test typeWhat it looks forCDC window period
Nucleic acid test (NAT, an RNA test)The virus itself in blood10 to 33 days after exposure
Antigen/antibody test, lab blood drawA viral protein and antibodies18 to 45 days after exposure
Antigen/antibody test, rapid fingerstickA viral protein and antibodies18 to 90 days after exposure
Antibody test, including most rapid testsAntibodies only23 to 90 days after exposure

These ranges come from the CDC. Bodies respond at different speeds, which is why each range is wide. A rapid HIV test using a fingerstick or an oral swab is convenient. If you test soon after an exposure, a clinician may suggest a repeat test or a different test type to cover the full window.

If an exposure happened in the last 72 hours, tell staff right away. The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), HIV medicine that a clinician prescribes, works best when started as soon as possible and within 72 hours. CDC NPIN lists Northern Nevada Public Health as offering PEP. Call that clinic first if timing matters.

Step 5: Go to your visit

Arrive a few minutes early and check in. You may fill out a short form about your health history, including recent partners and any symptoms. Staff ask so they can choose the right test and give useful prevention advice, not to judge. You can answer in your own words and skip anything you are not comfortable sharing.

Nevada law matters for younger patients. NRS 129.060 lets a minor give express consent to examination or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases from a health officer, licensed physician, physician assistant, registered nurse or clinic. The Nevada Legislature page we reviewed does not give a minimum age that we could confirm, so ask the clinic how it handles consent and privacy.

Nevada law (NRS 441A.315) also directs certain providers in emergency and primary care settings to ask patients 15 and older whether they want STD testing, including HIV. If a provider offers you a test during an unrelated visit, that is routine care.

Step 6: Take the test

A rapid HIV test usually uses a drop of blood from a fingertip or a swab of the mouth. A lab test uses a small blood draw from a vein, and the sample goes to a lab. Either way, the process takes only a few minutes.

With a rapid test, you wait in the room or lobby while the result develops. Staff may sit with you or step away. Use the time to jot down questions. If you feel nervous, that is common, and it is fine to say so.

Step 7: Talk through your result

A staff member will explain the result in plain language. Ask them to explain anything unclear. The sections below describe what each kind of result can mean.

Step 8: Plan your next step

Before you leave, ask what comes next. Depending on your situation, that might be a repeat test after the window period, a follow-up visit, a conversation about PrEP, or a referral to HIV care. Write down the date and the phone number to call.

What Your Result Can Mean

Results are discussed with a clinician or test counselor. The descriptions below explain how tests work in general. They cannot tell you what your own result means.

A non-reactive (negative) result

A negative result means the test did not detect HIV at that moment. If your test was done inside the window period for that test type, a clinician may suggest testing again later. The CDC window periods in the table above explain why. If you may have another exposure in the future, ask about prevention options such as PrEP, condoms, and regular testing.

A reactive (preliminary positive) result

A reactive result on a rapid test is called preliminary. It means the test found a sign that needs a second test to check. It is not a final answer on its own. The CDC recommends a follow-up lab test to confirm. Staff at the clinic will explain how that works and when you will hear back.

If the follow-up test confirms HIV, a clinician can connect you to care. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable and manageable. The CDC says people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and reach and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of passing HIV to a partner through sex. Treatment is something a clinician prescribes and monitors.

Nevada law requires health care providers to report certain communicable diseases to the health authority. This is covered by NRS 441A.150 and NAC 441A. Reports go to public health, not to employers or landlords. Ask the clinic how your information is handled.

An invalid or unclear result

Sometimes a rapid test does not produce a clear result. Staff will usually repeat the test or send a sample to a lab. This does not tell you anything about your health. It only means the test needs to be run again.

Tips for a Smooth Visit

  • Call first. Several Reno clinics need an appointment, and published hours are limited.
  • Ask about cost before you go. The CDC lists free HIV tests at two Reno organizations, but eligibility is confirmed with the clinic.
  • Bring your timeline. A date for the possible exposure helps staff pick the right test.
  • Ask about other tests. Many of the same clinics list chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing. Some also list herpes, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing, and HPV vaccine.
  • Ask about PrEP and PEP. Northern Nevada Public Health, Northern Nevada HOPES, Community Health Alliance and Nevada Health Centers all list PrEP in CDC directories.
  • Bring a friend if it helps. Support is fine, and you can ask to speak privately at any time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Testing too soon and stopping there. A test inside the window period may not show a recent exposure. Ask whether you should repeat it.
  • Assuming a clinic is walk-in. The CDC lists Planned Parenthood, HOPES and Community Health Alliance as appointment-required.
  • Skipping the follow-up. If a result needs a confirmation test, finishing that step matters.
  • Waiting too long after an exposure. If PEP could apply, the CDC says to start within 72 hours.
  • Relying on a directory alone. Listings can lag behind real hours, prices and services. A phone call is the check.
  • Letting worry stop you. HIV testing is common and routine, and staff see people of every gender, orientation and background every day.

Expected Results and What to Realistically Expect

Most rapid HIV tests give a result within about 20 minutes. A lab test can take longer, and the clinic will tell you when and how you will hear back. A negative result suggests that the test did not detect HIV at that point in time, though a repeat test may still be advised if the test was within the window period. A reactive result needs confirmation before anyone can say what it means. No test is perfect, and a clinician is the right person to interpret any result for your situation.

Next Step

Pick one clinic from the list above, call, and ask for an HIV test. If cost is a concern, start with the clinics that list a free HIV test, Northern Nevada Public Health at 775-328-2470 or Northern Nevada HOPES at 775-786-4673, and ask about eligibility. You can also look up other options at gettested.cdc.gov.

Sources