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.

Waiting for answers is often harder than the test itself. If you are looking for same day std testing in Reno, it helps to know one thing first: some tests can return a result during your visit, and others are sent to a lab and take a few days.

This guide walks you through the process step by step. You will see which tests are usually fast, which are not, how long std test results take, and which Reno clinics to contact.

What "same-day" can and cannot mean

Many people hear "same-day testing" and expect every result before they leave. That is not how most STI testing works.

A rapid test is run on-site and can return a result in a short visit. The CDC describes rapid HIV tests as ones that can give results in about 30 minutes or less. Other tests are sent to a lab, and results come back later.

Here is the usual pattern:

Rapid HIV tests: often available with a result during the visit.
Rapid syphilis tests: offered only at some sites. Ask the clinic whether they have one.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests: usually nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend. These are typically processed by a lab, so results often take about 1 to 3 days.
Herpes, hepatitis and other blood tests: usually lab-based. Timing varies by clinic and lab.

So the most accurate promise a clinic can make is often "same-day testing," meaning you can be tested the same day. Same-day results depend on the test.

What you need before you go

You do not need much. A short checklist helps the visit go smoothly.

A phone number or email where the clinic can reach you with results.
A photo ID, if the clinic asks for one. Call ahead to confirm.
Your insurance card or Medicaid information, if you have it. Several Reno clinics also list sliding scale fees, and Northern Nevada Public Health is listed by the CDC as offering a free HIV test and a free STI test, with eligibility confirmed by the organization.
A list of your questions and a few notes: when you last had sex without protection, any symptoms, and any medicines you take.
Time. Even a rapid test visit includes check-in, a short conversation and paperwork.

You do not need to explain your life or justify why you want testing. Clinicians ask about sexual health so they can pick the right tests, not to judge.

Step-by-step: how to get tested in Reno and get answers quickly

Step 1: Decide which tests you want to ask about

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once. The CDC also recommends yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and for older women with risk factors. For men who have sex with men, the CDC recommends at least yearly screening for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, and more often for some people. A clinician can tell you which schedule fits your situation.

You can ask for a full panel or just a few tests. Say what you want, and the clinic will help you sort out the rest.

Step 2: Choose a clinic that fits your timing

The biggest difference between Reno clinics is whether they take walk-ins. According to the CDC directory listings, here is what is published:

Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic, 1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512, 775-328-2470. Listed as walk-in. The CDC listings include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, conventional and rapid HIV testing. The listings do not publish hours, so call before you go.
Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center, 790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502, 800-787-2568 (main line as listed by the CDC). The CDC listing says appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. It lists Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Its listed on-site tests include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and conventional HIV. The listing does not mention rapid HIV.
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center, 8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511, 775-688-5555. The CDC lists rapid and blood-draw HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. An appointment is required.
Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic, 580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503, 775-786-4673. The CDC lists rapid HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis testing, and a free HIV test. An appointment is required. The HOPES website lists clinic hours of Monday to Thursday, 8am to 7pm and Friday, 8am to 5pm, but does not say which clinic those hours apply to, so confirm when you call.
Community Health Alliance, North Valleys Health Center (280 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Suite 107, Reno, NV 89506) and Nell J Redfield Health Center (3915 Neil Rd, Reno, NV 89502), 775-329-6300. The CDC lists rapid and blood-draw HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests at both. An appointment is required.

For a quick side-by-side view of local options, see the local testing list. You can also check the CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov.

Step 3: Call and ask four specific questions

Directory listings can be out of date, and many do not publish hours. A short call saves a wasted trip. Ask:

Do you take walk-ins today, or do I need an appointment?
Which tests do you run on-site, and which are sent to a lab?
Will I get any result during the visit, and how will I get the rest?
What will it cost, and is there a free or sliding scale option?

If you ask about prices, note that several clinic listings say to "contact the organization for eligibility" and do not publish a price. If a price is not posted, the clinic is the only source for it.

Step 4: Plan your timing

Window periods matter. A window period is the time between an exposure and when a test can reliably detect an infection. If you test too early, a result may not reflect a recent exposure.

For HIV, the CDC says different tests detect HIV at different times after exposure. The CDC lists about 10 to 33 days for a nucleic acid test, 18 to 45 days for an antigen/antibody lab test on blood from a vein, 18 to 90 days for an antigen/antibody test using a finger prick, and 23 to 90 days for antibody tests. Rapid tests are often antibody or finger-prick antigen/antibody tests, so they can have a longer window than a lab test.

For other infections, the right timing varies. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, test now and again later, or start with a different test. If you may have had a recent exposure, say so on the call.

Step 5: Go to the visit and answer honestly

Arrive a little early. A clinician or staff member will ask about symptoms, partners and past testing. Answers like "I am not sure" are fine.

Testing may involve a urine sample, a swab you collect yourself or a clinician collects, a finger prick or a blood draw. Ask which sites are being tested. Depending on the kinds of sex you have, a clinician may suggest throat, rectal or genital swabs, because the CDC notes that infections can occur at more than one site.

Step 6: Ask exactly how and when you will hear back

Before you leave, get a clear answer to these questions:

Who will contact me, and by what method: phone, portal, text or in person?
How many days should I wait before I follow up?
What number do I call if I have not heard back?
Who do I call if I get symptoms before results arrive?

Write the answers down. This one step prevents most of the stress people feel during the wait.

Step 7: Plan for what comes next

A positive result is not the end of the road. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and trichomoniasis, are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with care from a clinician.

Under Nevada law, health care providers report certain communicable diseases to the health authority. The Nevada Legislature's NRS Chapter 441A sets out those duties. Ask the clinic how reporting and partner notification work, so there are no surprises.

How long do std test results take?

This is the question most readers ask. The honest answer is that it depends on the test and the clinic. Here is a general guide based on how the tests work:

Test	Typical timing
Rapid HIV test	The CDC describes results in about 30 minutes or less, sometimes during the visit
Lab HIV test (blood draw)	Often a few days, depending on the lab
Chlamydia and gonorrhea NAAT	Usually about 1 to 3 days
Syphilis blood test	Usually lab-based; a rapid version is offered only at some sites
Herpes and hepatitis blood tests	Varies by clinic and lab; ask when you book

These are common patterns, not promises. A holiday weekend, a busy lab or a clinic's own process can add time. The clinic is the best source for how long your own std test results will take.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call first, even for walk-in clinics. Published hours for several Reno clinics are missing from directory listings.
Go early in the day and early in the week. If a lab sends results by email or phone, a Monday to Wednesday test may mean you hear back before the weekend.
Ask about everything in one visit. Combining tests can save you a second trip.
Bring a list of questions. It is easy to forget them in the room.
Ask about prevention too. Northern Nevada Public Health is listed by the CDC as offering PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP. Community Health Alliance lists PrEP for uninsured patients. Ask whether any of these fit your situation.
Ask about vaccines. Several Reno clinics list HPV and hepatitis vaccines, and the CDC recommends them for many adults.
Keep your phone on. A missed call from a clinic is the most common reason results are delayed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming every test has a same-day answer. Chlamydia and gonorrhea NAATs usually do not.
Testing too soon after an exposure and stopping there. Ask whether a repeat test is useful, using the CDC window periods above.
Treating a clinic's results as complete for every infection. A test only checks what it was ordered to check. Ask which infections were included.
Skipping the follow-up call. If you have not heard back by the date you were given, call the clinic.
Using the wait to make assumptions. Only a clinician reviewing your results can tell you what they mean.
Stopping preventive care after one test. Testing is one part of sexual health, along with vaccines, prevention medicines and regular screening.

What your results may look like

Results are usually described as negative, positive or sometimes inconclusive or indeterminate. A negative result may mean the test did not detect an infection at that time. Whether it can be relied on depends on the test and on how long ago the exposure happened.

A positive rapid HIV result is a preliminary result. The CDC says a follow-up test is needed to confirm it. That is a normal part of the process, and a clinician will explain next steps. Rapid results for other infections may also be followed by confirmatory testing.

If a result is unclear, a clinician may suggest repeating the test after some time. This is routine and not a sign that something went wrong.

If you test positive for a curable infection, a clinician can prescribe treatment, and you can ask about retesting and about telling partners. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend that people avoid sex until treatment is complete and any symptoms have resolved. Ask your clinician what applies to you.

How common are these infections in Reno?

Testing is routine health care in a community where these infections do occur. According to CDC AtlasPlus data reported by Stacker (a secondary source), Washoe County had a chlamydia rate of 497.0 per 100,000 people in 2021, a gonorrhea rate of 213.6 per 100,000 and a non-congenital syphilis rate of 45.8 per 100,000. These are 2021 figures. Rates change from year to year, and the clinics or Northern Nevada Public Health can point you to newer data.

Teens and privacy

The Nevada Legislature's NRS 129.060 says a minor may give consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases from certain providers, including a licensed physician, nurse or clinic. Clinic policies can differ in practice, so ask the clinic how it handles privacy, billing and notices before you book.

Where to start today

If you want an answer as fast as possible, call Northern Nevada Public Health at 775-328-2470 or Nevada Health Centers at 800-787-2568 and ask about walk-in availability and rapid HIV testing. If you prefer an appointment, any of the other clinics above can schedule you, and you can ask about same-day or next-day openings.

Free and low-cost options exist in Reno. The CDC's GetTested directory lists a free HIV test and a free STI test at Northern Nevada Public Health, and sliding scale fees at several other clinics. Confirm eligibility with the clinic before you go.

Same-Day STD Testing in Reno: Rapid Tests and Quick Results