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 tested is a routine part of health care. It is the only way to learn what is going on with your sexual health, and it is how infections get found early, when treatment is simplest. This guide covers STD testing in Reno from start to finish: the clinics that offer it, how the visit works, what is usually included, what to ask for, how cost works, and what comes after a result.

Many people now say STI instead of STD. The two terms are used for the same thing here. STI testing in Reno works the same way no matter which word a clinic uses.

Key takeaways

Reno has a public health sexual health clinic, community health centers, a Planned Parenthood health center and a federally qualified health center that all list STD or HIV testing.
The CDC's GetTested directory lists a free HIV test and a free STI test at Northern Nevada Public Health. Eligibility is set by the clinic, so confirm when you call.
Most Reno clinics use a sliding scale or accept insurance and Medicaid. Many published listings do not give a price, so ask when you book.
Not every test is included by default. Tell the clinician about your recent partners, your body and your symptoms so the right tests are chosen.
Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable.
Nevada law lets minors consent to STD examination and treatment at certain providers. Ask the clinic about its own policy.

In this guide

Where to get STD testing in Reno
What a testing visit involves
What gets tested, and what to ask for
What testing costs and how to lower it
Timing, window periods and getting results
Privacy, minors, pregnancy and Nevada law
After the result: treatment, prevention and next steps

Where to get STD testing in Reno

You have several kinds of places to choose from. The right one depends on cost, how quickly you want an appointment, and whether you also want services like PrEP or vaccines. For a quick look at the local options in one place, see the list of Reno testing locations.

The details below come from the CDC's GetTested and National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) directories. These directories are secondary listings, and hours and services can change. Call before you go.

The public health sexual health clinic

Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic is the local health department's clinic. It was formerly part of the Washoe County Health District. It is at 1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512. The phone number is 775-328-2470.

The CDC's NPIN directory lists on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing, plus conventional and rapid HIV testing. It also lists PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and PrEP navigation. CDC GetTested lists vaccines for hepatitis A, adult hepatitis B, HPV and mpox. GetTested also lists a free HIV test and a free STI test. It says to contact the organization for eligibility, and it lists a sliding scale, insurance and Medicaid.

The listings describe this clinic as accepting walk-ins. The CDC listings do not publish clinic hours, so call 775-328-2470 to confirm when to come in.

Community health centers

Community health centers are nonprofit or federally supported clinics that offer primary care on a sliding fee scale. They are a good fit if you want testing and a regular place for other health care.

Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic, 580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503, phone 775-786-4673. CDC GetTested lists rapid HIV testing, plus hepatitis B, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing. It lists a free HIV test and a free hepatitis C test, and PrEP for uninsured patients. It also lists a sliding scale, and acceptance of insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. Appointments are required. The clinic's website lists hours of Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the page 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, phone 775-329-6300.
Community Health Alliance, Nell J Redfield Health Center, 3915 Neil Rd, Reno, NV 89502, phone 775-329-6300. For both Community Health Alliance sites, CDC GetTested lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing, hepatitis A, B and C testing, and herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. It also lists adult hepatitis B, hepatitis A and HPV vaccines. Insurance and Medicaid are accepted, PrEP is listed for uninsured patients, and a sliding scale applies. Appointments are required, and the clinic sets eligibility.
Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center, 790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502. The main line listed by CDC NPIN is 800-787-2568. NPIN lists on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and conventional HIV tests, adult hepatitis B and HPV vaccines, PrEP and STI treatment. The listing says appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. Hours are listed as Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. It accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, and offers a sliding scale.

Several of these clinics offer PrEP, which is medicine that helps prevent HIV. If you are interested, you can raise it at the same visit as testing.

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center is at 8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511. The phone number is 775-688-5555. CDC GetTested lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing, and herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. It also lists adult hepatitis B and HPV vaccines. Insurance and Medicaid are accepted. The listing says appointments are required and to contact the organization about eligibility. The CDC listing does not publish a price or a sliding scale, so ask about cost when you book.

Urgent care and your regular doctor

Urgent care centers and primary care offices in Reno may also order STD tests, especially if you have symptoms or already see that provider. The published listings reviewed for this guide do not name specific urgent care or primary care offices in Reno, so this guide does not list any. If you want to use your own doctor, call and ask whether they test for the specific infections you are concerned about. Not every office tests for everything, and some do not do a full panel unless you ask.

Nevada also has a law, NRS 441A.315, that asks physicians, hospitals and certain providers to ask patients who are 15 or older whether they want STD testing, including HIV, in emergency and primary care settings, with some exceptions. This is based on a summary of the Nevada Administrative Code page. If a provider offers, you can say yes.

At-home testing

At-home testing is an option some people consider for privacy or convenience. The published local listings reviewed here do not identify a free at-home testing program in Reno, and this guide does not recommend specific kits or companies. If you want to know whether the health department or a clinic offers take-home or mailed options, ask when you call. A clinic can also tell you how a home test result is confirmed and what follow-up care would look like.

Using the CDC's GetTested directory

The CDC runs GetTested, a national directory of testing sites. Most of the Reno clinic details above come from it. It is a good place to double-check what a clinic offers and to see whether a free test is listed.

What a testing visit involves

A testing visit is usually shorter and less intimidating than people expect. Here is the typical flow.

Before you go

Call first. Several Reno clinics require appointments. Even clinics that welcome walk-ins can have wait times.
Ask about cost. Ask what the visit will cost with your coverage, or without it. Ask whether a free test is available and what the eligibility rules are.
Bring what you can. A photo ID and your insurance card, if you have one, help. If you do not have either, say so when you call. A clinic can tell you what it needs.
Think about your history. You will be asked about recent partners and the kinds of sex you have had. You do not need to have exact numbers or dates.

At the visit

A staff member or clinician will usually start with a short, private conversation. Expect questions about:

Any symptoms you have noticed, such as discharge, sores, pain, itching or burning.
When you last had sex, and what kinds of sex you have (vaginal, anal, oral).
Your recent partners, and whether any of them have told you about an infection.
Past tests, vaccines, pregnancy status and medicines you take.

These questions are not a judgment. They help the clinician choose which tests make sense for your body and your risk. You can tell the clinician about any sexual activity, with any gender of partner, and they should respond without shaming you. If you are ever treated poorly, you have the right to ask for a different clinician or go elsewhere.

How samples are collected

Depending on what you are tested for, the sample may be:

Urine. A urine sample can test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Swabs. A swab may be taken from the vagina, throat or rectum, depending on the kinds of sex you have had. Many clinics let you collect a vaginal swab yourself in private.
Blood. A blood draw or fingerstick is used for HIV, syphilis and sometimes hepatitis or herpes tests.
A look at a sore or rash. If you have a visible sore, a clinician may swab it for testing.

The whole visit often takes under an hour, though blood tests sent to a lab take longer to come back. Rapid HIV tests, which some Reno clinics list, give results in minutes to an hour, depending on the clinic.

What gets tested, and what to ask for

There is no single test that checks for every infection. A clinician picks tests based on your symptoms, the kinds of sex you have had, and recommended screening guidelines. It is fair to ask which infections are being tested for, and which are not.

Common tests

The Reno clinic listings include these tests:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Both are bacterial infections that are curable with treatment from a clinician. Many people have no symptoms, which is why screening matters.
Syphilis. A blood test. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is curable with treatment from a clinician.
HIV. Available as a rapid test, a fingerstick, or a blood draw at a lab. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable, and people on effective treatment can stay healthy.
Herpes. Listed at Planned Parenthood and Community Health Alliance. Herpes is not curable, but it is manageable. A blood test for herpes is not always part of routine screening, so ask the clinician about whether it makes sense for you.
Hepatitis B and C. Listed at Northern Nevada HOPES and Community Health Alliance (hepatitis A, B and C).

Trichomoniasis, a curable infection, and HPV, which is not curable but is manageable and often clears on its own, are not named in the Reno listings reviewed here. If you want to be checked for either, ask the clinic directly.

Who the CDC says should be screened

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and USPSTF recommendations describe who benefits from routine screening. In general:

The CDC recommends everyone aged 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once, and more often if there are ongoing risks.
The CDC recommends yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25, and for older women with risk factors such as a new partner or a partner with other partners.
The CDC recommends at least yearly screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis for sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, with more frequent screening for some people. The right interval is a decision to make with a clinician.
The CDC recommends syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B screening for all pregnant people.
The CDC recommends that people with a new partner or more than one partner talk with a clinician about how often to test.

These are screening recommendations, not a statement about any one person's health. A clinician can tell you what applies to you.

What to ask for

Many people find it helpful to have a few questions ready:

Which infections will you test me for today, and which are not included?
Should I have throat or rectal swabs based on the kinds of sex I have had?
Should I be tested for herpes, hepatitis or HPV?
When will I get my results, and how will you reach me?
Is there a cost for the visit, and is there a free or sliding-scale option?
Can you talk to me about PrEP, doxy-PEP or vaccines?

If you have symptoms, say so clearly, even if you are not sure they are related to an STI. Symptoms are a reason for a clinician to look, and testing is how they find out what is going on.

Why testing matters in Reno

Bacterial STIs are common in Nevada. The figures below come from different years and sources, so they should not be compared with each other.

For Washoe County in 2021, Stacker, using CDC AtlasPlus data, reports 497.0 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people (2,452 cases) and 213.6 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 (1,054 cases). The same source reports 45.8 syphilis cases per 100,000 (226 cases), counting all non-congenital stages. Stacker is a secondary source.
For Nevada as a whole in 2023, America's Health Rankings, using CDC AtlasPlus data, reports a chlamydia rate of 493.6 per 100,000, ranking 32nd among states. It reports a congenital syphilis rate of 232.0 per 100,000 live births, ranking 45th among states.

These numbers are reported cases, and they only count infections that were found. They show why routine screening is useful: many infections cause no symptoms, so the only way to find them is to test. The numbers are not a reason for fear.

What testing costs and how to lower it

Cost is one of the most common reasons people put off testing. The honest answer for Reno is that the published listings often do not give a price. They do tell us how each clinic handles payment.

Free testing

CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test and a free STI test at Northern Nevada Public Health, and a free HIV test and a free hepatitis C test at Northern Nevada HOPES. The listings add that you should contact the organization for eligibility. That means a free test may depend on factors the clinic decides, so confirm by phone before you go.

Sliding scale and insurance

A sliding scale means the price depends on your income and household size. These Reno clinics list a sliding scale: Northern Nevada Public Health, Northern Nevada HOPES, Community Health Alliance (both locations) and Nevada Health Centers. Ask what documents they need to place you on the scale.

Insurance and Medicaid are listed as accepted at all of the clinics above. Nevada Health Centers and Northern Nevada HOPES also list Medicare. Planned Parenthood Mar Monte lists insurance and Medicaid, and says to contact the organization about eligibility.

Under the Affordable Care Act, many insurance plans cover STI screening that the USPSTF recommends, such as HIV screening and syphilis screening for people at increased risk, at no copay. Plans differ, so check with your insurer or ask the clinic's billing staff before the visit.

What is not published

The directories reviewed for this guide do not list dollar prices for individual tests at any Reno clinic. This guide does not give a price range for that reason. When you call, ask:

What will the total cost be, including the visit fee and any lab fees?
Is there a free test, and what are the eligibility rules?
Is there a sliding scale, and what proof of income do you need?
Will I get a separate bill from an outside lab?

If cost is a barrier, the health department's sexual health clinic is a good first call. If a clinic cannot help, ask them where else to go.

A note on insurance and privacy

If you are on a parent's or partner's insurance, an explanation of benefits may be mailed to the policyholder. If that is a concern, tell the clinic when you book. They can explain your options, including free or sliding-scale testing that does not run through insurance.

Timing, window periods and getting results

A test can only find an infection once there is enough of it in the body to detect. The time between exposure and when a test can reliably detect an infection is called the window period. If you test too early, a negative result may not be the final answer.

HIV window periods from the CDC

The CDC gives these general ranges for HIV, which vary by test type:

A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test done on blood drawn from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test done on a fingerstick can take longer, about 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV.

If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, tell a clinician right away. The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a medicine a clinician prescribes, must be started within 72 hours to work. Northern Nevada Public Health lists PEP in the CDC NPIN directory.

Other infections

The CDC does not give one window period that applies to chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and the other infections. Timing depends on the infection and the test. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, whether to repeat the test later, and how long to wait. If you were recently exposed, say so at the start of the visit.

Getting your results

Rapid HIV tests may give a result during your visit. Other results usually come back in a few days, but clinics differ. Ask how and when you will hear: by phone, through a patient portal or in person. Ask what number they will call from, so you recognize it.

If a result is positive, a clinician will explain the next steps. A positive screening test sometimes needs a second test to confirm it. A negative result tells you about the infections that were tested for at that time. It does not cover infections that were not tested for, or anything that happened after the test.

Retesting

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines recommend that people treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea be retested about three months after treatment, because repeat infection is common. Ask your clinician whether and when to schedule this.

Privacy, minors, pregnancy and Nevada law

A few Nevada laws affect testing. The summaries below are plain-language overviews. For the exact wording, read the statutes at the Nevada Legislature website or ask the clinic.

Consent for minors

Under NRS 129.060, as described on the Nevada Legislature's website, a minor may give express consent to examination or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases by a health officer, licensed physician, physician assistant, registered nurse or clinic. The same law covers STD prevention services and contraceptive services from those providers, or from a pharmacist. A separate law, NRS 129.030, allows a minor to consent to care in certain situations, such as living apart from parents, being married, being a parent, or facing a serious health hazard. The published sources reviewed here do not state a minimum age or describe any individual clinic's policy, so if you are under 18, ask the clinic what to expect when you call.

Reporting

Under NRS 441A.150, health care providers who treat a person with a reportable communicable disease must report it to the health authority, and laboratories must notify the health authority too. Reports to the health department are how local public health tracks infections and offers partner services. They are handled as health information. If you are worried about what a report means for you, ask the clinician before you are tested.

Pregnancy

Under NRS 442.010, a syphilis test is required at the first prenatal visit, or as soon as practicable, and again in the third trimester, between the 27th and 36th week of gestation or as soon thereafter as practicable. Testing at delivery applies in certain situations. A person who objects is not tested, and the refusal is documented. Untreated syphilis in pregnancy can pass to the baby, which is why the CDC recommends screening and treatment. If you are pregnant or planning to be, tell the clinic when you book.

Partner notification and treatment for partners

Nevada has no law specific to expedited partner therapy, which is when a clinician provides treatment for a patient's partner without examining the partner. The CDC's page on the legal status of EPT in Nevada notes that Nevada's rules adopt CDC STD guidance. Whether a clinic offers it is the clinic's decision, so ask. Either way, partners should be tested and treated, and a clinician can tell you how to let partners know, including options that do not reveal your name.

After the result: treatment, prevention and next steps

If a test finds an infection

Finding an infection is common and treatable. A clinician will explain the next steps. In general:

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. Take what your clinician prescribes, and ask when it is safe to have sex again.
HIV is not curable, but it is treatable. The CDC says people with HIV who take medicine as prescribed and keep the virus undetectable can stay healthy and cannot pass HIV to partners through sex.
Herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are manageable. A clinician can discuss ways to reduce symptoms and lower the chance of passing them on.

Treatment decisions belong to a clinician. This guide does not give medicine names, amounts or schedules, because they depend on the infection, your health and other factors.

Telling partners

It can be hard to tell a partner. Many people find it easier to be direct and factual: "I tested positive for an infection and wanted you to be able to get tested too." Health department staff can often help with partner notification. Ask the clinic what support it offers.

Prevention options

PrEP. A medicine a clinician prescribes to help prevent HIV. Reno clinics that list PrEP include Northern Nevada Public Health, Northern Nevada HOPES, Community Health Alliance and Nevada Health Centers. Northern Nevada Public Health also lists PrEP navigation. Community Health Alliance and Northern Nevada HOPES list PrEP for uninsured patients.
PEP. A medicine started within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure. Northern Nevada Public Health lists it.
Doxy-PEP. In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of bacterial STIs for some people, including gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. It is a decision to make with a clinician, who can explain who it is for and what to watch for. Northern Nevada Public Health lists doxy-PEP in the CDC NPIN directory, though the separate CDC doxy-PEP directory lists only PrEP navigation for the clinic, so call to confirm.
Vaccines. Vaccines for HPV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B are listed at several Reno clinics, and Northern Nevada Public Health also lists a mpox vaccine.
Condoms and dental dams. Used correctly, they lower the chance of many infections. They do not remove it entirely, because some infections spread through skin contact in areas they do not cover.

A simple plan for your first call

Pick one clinic from the list above. If cost matters most, start with Northern Nevada Public Health at 775-328-2470.
Ask about a free test, eligibility, walk-in times and what to bring.
Ask which tests are included, and say what you would like added.
Ask when and how you will get results.
Book it. A short visit now saves a longer worry later.

Wanting to be tested is a good sign that you take care of yourself and the people around you. Clinicians in Reno see people of every age, gender and orientation, and testing is a normal, expected part of their day.

STD Testing in Reno: Where to Get Tested, What It Costs and What to Expect