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 Boston can be quick, free and private. This guide walks you through it in order: choosing a test, picking a clinic, what happens during the visit, and what the result means.

Boston has several clinics that offer HIV testing at no cost or on a sliding scale. Some offer a rapid HIV test, which gives a result during the same visit. Others send a blood sample to a lab and call you back with the result.

Everyone is welcome to test, whatever your gender, orientation, relationship status or insurance. Testing is a routine health step, and clinic staff do it every day.

What You Need Before You Go

You do not need much. This short list covers most visits.

A phone. Several clinics ask you to call first, and you will want the number handy.
A photo ID, if you have one. Check with the clinic on what it asks for. Codman Square Health Center says it offers testing and treatment regardless of citizenship status.
Your insurance card, if you have one. Fenway Health bills insurance when you have it. Several clinics also have free or low-cost options if you do not have coverage.
A few notes about timing. Jot down roughly when your most recent possible exposure was. The date helps a clinician choose the right test.
A list of questions. Examples: Is this test rapid? Do I need to come back? How will I get my result?
About an hour. The test itself is short. Check-in and counseling take extra time.

Step 1: Understand the Types of HIV Tests

Not every HIV test looks for the same thing. The CDC describes three main types, and the type affects how soon after an exposure a test can find HIV.

Antibody tests

Antibody tests look for the antibodies your body makes in response to HIV. Most rapid tests are antibody tests. The CDC says antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days after an exposure to detect HIV. The CDC adds that tests using blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner than tests using blood from a finger stick or oral fluid.

Antigen/antibody tests

These tests look for both antibodies and an HIV protein called p24, which appears earlier. The CDC says an antigen/antibody lab test on blood from a vein can detect HIV 18 to 45 days after an exposure. The CDC says an antigen/antibody rapid test done with a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days.

Nucleic acid tests (NATs)

A NAT looks for the virus itself in the blood. The CDC says a NAT can detect HIV 10 to 33 days after an exposure. NATs are not usually the first choice for routine screening. A clinician may suggest one after a recent, specific exposure or when other results need clarifying.

The CDC calls the time before a test can find HIV the window period. A test taken inside the window can come back non-reactive even when HIV is present. This is why timing matters, and why a clinician may suggest a repeat test.

Step 2: Decide Between a Rapid Test and a Lab Test

Both kinds are reliable when used at the right time. The choice usually comes down to how fast you want to hear back and which clinic you choose.

Rapid HIV test. A finger stick or oral swab, with a result in a short visit. The CDC notes that a reactive rapid result needs follow-up testing (see Step 7).
Lab-based test. A blood draw sent to a lab. Fenway Health says its results take 3 to 5 business days.

If you want a result the same day, ask when you book whether the clinic offers a rapid HIV test that day. Not every site lists one.

Step 3: Pick a Boston Clinic

The clinics below are the ones with published information. For a longer, organized list, see the local testing list. Hours and walk-in rules can change, so call before you go.

Boston STD Clinic at Boston Medical Center

The clinic is at 725 Albany St., 9th Floor, Suite 9C (BMC Shapiro Center), Boston, MA 02118. The phone number is 617-414-2803. The clinic's page says routine testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C is free, and that cost assistance is available for people without insurance. It also lists PrEP and PEP services.

Appointments are made by phone or MyChart for established patients. The page lists Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but it also lists Tuesday with the 9 to 4 days. Please confirm by phone. The page does not say whether walk-ins are accepted.

Fenway Health Sexual Health Clinic

Fenway is at the Ansin Building, 1340 Boylston Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02215. Call 617-267-0159 (main line 617-267-0900).

Fenway lists walk-in hours, first come, first served: Tuesday 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesday 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday 3 to 7 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is by appointment only. Check-in closes 30 minutes before the end time.

The clinic bills insurance if you have it, and Fenway says patients without insurance can be seen free through grant funding. Fenway also says Quest Labs bills insurance directly, and patients are responsible for Quest charges. Fenway's page is aimed at gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse people, and their partners.

X-Clinic at Codman Square Health Center

The X-Clinic is at 637 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124. The phone number is 617-822-8350. Codman lists rapid HIV testing, and says express visits (no symptoms and no known exposure) are walk-in during operating hours. Telehealth and appointments are also offered.

Codman accepts all insurance and uses a sliding fee schedule. Its two web pages list different schedules, so call to confirm hours. Coverage help is available at 617-822-8162.

TrueCare@MAC testing (Multicultural AIDS Coalition)

MAC is at 9 Palmer Street, Roxbury, MA 02119. The phone number is 617-442-1622. Its page lists free HIV testing, and says you can come with or without an appointment.

Posted hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (testing 10:30 to 4), Wednesday 12 to 7 p.m. (testing 12:30 to 6) and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (testing 11:30 to 3). Sunday is not listed.

Other listed options

Boston Public Health Commission, 774 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, phone 617-534-3976. The CDC GetTested directory lists free HIV testing there by blood draw. The directory does not list hours or confirm walk-ins. This is a different provider from the Boston Medical Center clinic on the same street.
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Health Center, 1055 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, phone 617-295-7235. The CDC GetTested directory lists rapid HIV testing, a sliding scale and appointment required. It also says the center accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.
DotHouse Health, 1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122, phone 617-288-3230. The CDC GetTested directory lists rapid HIV testing, a sliding scale, and Medicaid and Medicare. The directory lists an appointment as required, while Codman's resource list mentions walk-in testing through urgent care. Call to ask which applies.

You can also browse the CDC's directory at gettested.cdc.gov. If you are not sure where to start, the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050 offers free, confidential, multilingual health information and referral, according to the City of Boston.

Step 4: Call or Check In

For a clinic that takes appointments, call and say you would like HIV testing. You do not have to explain your reasons. Ask these questions:

Is the HIV test free for me, or is there a fee?
Is the test rapid, or is it sent to a lab?
How and when will I get my result?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?

For a walk-in clinic, arrive well before the closing time. Fenway, for example, closes check-in 30 minutes before its end time.

Step 5: Know Your Privacy and Consent Rights

HIV testing in Massachusetts is confidential. Under M.G.L. c. 111, s. 119, venereal disease reports and records are non-public. They may be disclosed only on a judicial order or to officials whose duties entitle them. The Massachusetts Legislature also states, in M.G.L. c. 111, s. 111, that cases are reported to local boards of health under Department of Public Health rules. A clinic can explain how this works in practice.

If you are under 18, M.G.L. c. 112, s. 12F says a minor who reasonably believes they are at risk of exposure due to sexual activity may consent to care to diagnose or treat the disease. The statute also covers HIV prevention care for minors who are sexually active, and it does not require a parent's consent. The City of Boston's Getting Tested page tells people 13 or older they can get a confidential STI test without parental permission. Under s. 12F, records are confidential between the minor and the provider, with one exception: the provider must notify a parent or guardian if the minor's life or limb is seriously endangered.

Step 6: Take the Test

At the visit, a staff member will usually ask a few questions about your health and recent exposures. They are there to choose the right test and to offer prevention options. You can answer only what you are comfortable with.

Then comes the sample:

A rapid test typically uses a finger stick or an oral swab.
A lab test uses a blood draw from a vein.

For a rapid HIV test, you usually wait in the clinic or a nearby room for the result. Ask the staff how long that will be, since the time can vary by test.

Step 7: Understand Your Result

The words below follow how the CDC describes results. A clinician can tell you what your own result means.

A non-reactive (negative) result

A non-reactive result generally means the test did not detect HIV at the time of testing. How much weight to give it depends on timing. If your most recent possible exposure was within the window period for that test, a clinician may suggest testing again later. Ask them when. They can also talk with you about prevention, including PrEP.

A reactive (preliminary positive) result

A reactive result on a rapid test is not a final diagnosis. The CDC says a reactive screening result needs follow-up testing to confirm. Only the follow-up testing and a clinician can say whether HIV is present.

If confirmed, HIV is not curable, but the CDC says it is treatable. A clinician can prescribe HIV medicine. The CDC says people with HIV who take medicine as prescribed and keep the virus at very low levels can stay healthy and have effective protection against passing HIV to partners. Boston has clinics that offer HIV care. Several of those listed above offer treatment services.

An unclear or invalid result

Sometimes a test cannot be read or needs to be repeated. This is a common lab or device issue, and it is not a sign of anything about you. The clinic will tell you the next step.

If you need results by phone or portal

For lab-based tests, ask which method the clinic uses and which phone number it will call from. Fenway says results take 3 to 5 business days. For other clinics, ask directly, since the pages above do not list result times.

Step 8: Plan the Next Step

Before you leave, ask what comes next.

If you may need a repeat test, ask for a date and write it down.
If you want to talk about prevention, ask about PrEP. The clinics above that list PrEP include Boston Medical Center, Fenway, Codman, Planned Parenthood and DotHouse.
If an exposure was very recent, ask about PEP. The CDC says PEP must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure to be effective, so call a clinic or go to an emergency department promptly. A clinician decides whether PEP is right and what to prescribe.
If you also want other STI tests, ask while you are there. Boston Medical Center lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C testing along with HIV.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

Call ahead, even for walk-in sites. Hours on different pages can disagree, as Codman's do.
Bring a friend if it helps. Many people feel calmer with company. Ask the clinic if they can come into the room.
Ask for the plain-language version. You can ask any staff member to repeat or explain anything.
Ask for an interpreter or your language. The Mayor's Health Line is multilingual, and DotHouse Health lists English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Test on a regular schedule if it fits your life. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once, and that people with more risk factors get tested more often. A clinician can help you decide how often is right for you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Testing once and assuming it settles everything. If you tested inside the window period, ask whether a repeat test makes sense.
Skipping the question about test type. The type determines how early HIV can be detected, so ask which one you are getting.
Treating a reactive rapid result as final. The CDC says it needs follow-up testing.
Waiting for a perfect time. If you are unsure, a call to a clinic costs nothing.
Assuming walk-in everywhere. Some of the clinics above do not confirm walk-ins. Calling first saves a trip.
Not asking about cost. Prices differ by clinic and insurance. Ask before the visit and ask about assistance if cost worries you.

What About Free Home or Self-Test Programs?

The City of Boston's Getting Tested page does not list a free home HIV test program. If you hear of one, check with the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5395 or the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050 before relying on it. The CDC's directory at gettested.cdc.gov may also list current options.

What to Expect: A Quick Summary

The visit is usually short, and a rapid HIV test gives a result during the visit.
A non-reactive result generally means HIV was not detected at that time. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test makes sense.
A reactive result needs confirmation before anyone can say what it means.
HIV is treatable, and a clinician can prescribe medicine if it is confirmed.

If you have been putting off HIV testing in Boston, the next step is small: pick one clinic above and make the call. Free HIV testing in Boston is available at several sites, and the staff are used to every kind of question.

Free and Rapid HIV Testing in Boston