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.

Privacy is often the deciding factor in whether someone gets tested. This guide is a practical directory of confidential STD testing centers in Boston. It also shows you how to use one, from choosing a clinic to reading your results with a clinician.

You do not need to explain yourself to get care. You only need a little preparation and the right phone number.

What "confidential" means in Massachusetts

Confidential does not mean that nothing is ever recorded. It means your information is protected and shared only in limited ways. Here is what the sources say.

Under M.G.L. c. 111, s. 119, venereal disease reports and records are non-public. They can be disclosed only on a judicial order or to officials whose duties entitle them to see them (Massachusetts Legislature).
Under M.G.L. c. 111, s. 111, cases of venereal disease are reported to local boards of health under Department of Public Health rules. Some positive results may therefore be reported to public health officials. The records stay non-public.
Under M.G.L. c. 112, s. 12F, a minor who reasonably believes they are at risk of exposure through sexual activity may consent to care without a parent's consent. The law also covers HIV prevention for a sexually active minor. Records are confidential between the minor and the clinician, except when the minor's life or limb is seriously endangered.
The City of Boston tells people 13 or older that they can get a confidential STI test without parental permission.

If you have a specific privacy worry, ask the clinic before your visit. Staff can explain how they handle records and billing.

The directory: confidential STD testing centers in Boston

These are the clinics we can point you to. Hours and services change, so call before you go. For a wider look at options and costs, see our guide to STD testing in Boston and what it costs. You can also browse the local testing list.

Clinic	Address and phone	Cost and access
Boston STD Clinic (Boston Medical Center)	725 Albany St., 9th Floor, Suite 9C, Boston, MA 02118. 617-414-2803	The clinic page describes routine testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C as free, with cost assistance for people without insurance. Appointments by phone. The page does not say whether walk-ins are accepted.
Fenway Health Sexual Health Clinic	1340 Boylston Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02215. 617-267-0159	Walk-in hours are listed on the clinic page. Results take 3 to 5 business days. The clinic bills insurance if you have it. Uninsured patients can be seen free through grant funding.
X-Clinic at Codman Square Health Center	637 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124. 617-822-8350	Sliding fee scale. Express visits for people with no symptoms and no known exposure are walk-in during operating hours. Testing and treatment are offered regardless of citizenship status.
TrueCare@MAC testing (Multicultural AIDS Coalition)	9 Palmer Street, Roxbury, MA 02119. 617-442-1622	Listed as free. An appointment is optional.
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Health Center	1055 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215. 617-295-7235	The CDC GetTested directory lists an appointment as required, with insurance accepted and a sliding scale.
DotHouse Health	1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122. 617-288-3230	The CDC GetTested directory lists sliding scale fees and Medicaid and Medicare. Languages listed are English, Portuguese and Spanish. Call to confirm how to book.
Boston Public Health Commission (CDC GetTested listing)	774 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118. 617-534-3976	Listed as free. The CDC page does not list hours and says they may change, so call first.

The Boston Medical Center clinic and the Boston Public Health Commission listing are different providers that share a street. Check the address before you travel.

Fenway Health's clinic page is aimed at gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse people, and their partners. Other clinics on this list serve a broader public.

The Mayor's Health Line, 617-534-5050, offers free, confidential, multilingual health information and referral, according to the City of Boston.

How to use a confidential testing center: step by step

What you will need

A phone and a few minutes to call
A photo ID, if the clinic asks for one (ask when you call)
Your insurance card, if you have insurance and want to use it
A short list of questions about privacy and billing
A private way for the clinic to reach you, such as a phone number you trust

Step 1: Decide what matters most to you

Some people want a walk-in visit. Others want a free visit or one in their own neighborhood. Pick your top priority first. It narrows the list quickly.

If you want a visit without an appointment, the Fenway Health, Codman Square and Multicultural AIDS Coalition listings describe walk-in or optional-appointment testing. If you want to avoid insurance paperwork, look at the clinics listed as free.

Step 2: Call the clinic and confirm the details

Hours differ between sources. The Codman Square pages list two different schedules. The Boston Medical Center page also needs a phone check on Tuesday hours. A short call saves a wasted trip.

Ask these questions:

Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
Which infections does the visit include?
What will it cost me, and is there help if I am uninsured?
How will you contact me with results?

Step 3: Ask how billing and results reach you

This is the step people skip most often. Fenway Health says it bills insurance if you have it, and that the laboratory it uses bills insurance directly. Patients are responsible for those lab charges. If you use insurance, ask the clinic what that means for you and who might see billing paperwork.

If you would rather not use insurance, ask about free or sliding scale options. Several clinics in the directory offer them.

Step 4: Tell the clinician what you want tested and why

You can say as much or as little as you like. Clinicians use your answers to choose tests. Which tests make sense depends on your sexual history, any symptoms, and how recent an exposure may have been.

Timing matters for some infections, because a test may not detect a recent exposure. Ask the clinician what the CDC says about timing for the infection you are asking about. They can also tell you whether a repeat test later is worth considering.

Step 5: Ask about prevention while you are there

Several clinics in the directory list HIV prevention services, including PrEP and PEP. Fenway Health also lists doxy-PEP, which the CDC addressed in its 2024 guidance. A clinician decides whether any of these fit you. You do not have to ask for them, but it is a good time to raise questions.

Step 6: Plan how you will get your results

Fenway Health lists results in 3 to 5 business days. Other clinics may be different. Ask how they will contact you and whether it is safe to leave a message. If you want to avoid voicemail, say so.

Step 7: Follow up on anything that needs it

If a test finds an infection, a clinician can explain the next steps. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. Ask any questions you have. You are the one deciding what to do with the information.

Partners and expedited care

Massachusetts law allows expedited partner therapy for chlamydia. M.G.L. c. 111, s. 121B directs the Department of Public Health to set rules that let clinicians prescribe for partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia. The CDC's page on Massachusetts lists chlamydia only under the state regulation. If you want to tell a partner, ask your clinician what options exist. Whether to tell anyone is your choice.

Tips and common mistakes

Assuming every center is walk-in. Some listings say an appointment is required, and others do not say. Call first.
Relying on old addresses. The Multicultural AIDS Coalition appears under an older Dorchester address on some pages. Use 9 Palmer Street, Roxbury, as shown on the organization's own page.
Skipping the billing question. Privacy concerns often come from paperwork, not the visit itself. Ask before you give an insurance card.
Believing the first ask is the only ask. You can request a different test, or add one, at any point in the visit.
Waiting to start because of privacy worries. The state law on records and minor consent exists so that people can seek care. Call a clinic and ask what they do.
Not saving the clinic's number. Put it in your phone under a name you will recognize, so you can follow up on results.

What to expect afterward

Most clinics will collect a urine sample, a swab, a blood sample, or some mix of these, depending on the tests. A negative result generally means the test did not find that infection at the time of testing. Tests can miss a very recent infection, so a clinician may suggest repeat testing depending on your situation.

A positive result usually leads to a conversation about treatment or management and about next steps. It does not say anything about you as a person. Clinicians see these results every day.

Public health data show why regular testing is common in the area. The CDC's county data, republished by Boston 25 News in March 2024, list Suffolk County's 2021 chlamydia rate at 807.8 per 100,000 (6,230 cases) and gonorrhea at 298.0 per 100,000 (2,298 cases). Suffolk County includes Boston but is larger than the city, so these are not city-only figures.

Where to start

Pick one clinic from the directory, call it, and ask your questions about privacy and billing. If a clinic does not publish a detail, such as a price or hours, the Boston Public Health Commission's Infectious Disease Bureau at 617-534-5395 and the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050 can help you find answers.

Confidential STD Testing Centers in Boston: A Directory