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 in Boston involves more than finding a clinic. Several public programs and Massachusetts laws shape what the visit looks like, who can go, what it costs and who sees your results. This guide walks through those protections step by step so you can use them.

It covers std testing boston ma residents can reach through the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), community health centers and state law. It does not replace a clinician's advice about your own situation.

Why public programs matter for STD testing in Boston

Suffolk County, which contains Boston, ranked first in Massachusetts for chlamydia. The figures are from 2021 CDC county data, as republished by Boston 25 News. They were 807.8 cases per 100,000 people (6,230 cases) for chlamydia and 298.0 per 100,000 (2,298 cases) for gonorrhea. These are county numbers, not city-only numbers, and the source is a news report of the CDC data.

Many STIs cause no symptoms. That is why public health programs make routine testing easy to reach. Testing is a normal part of health care, and nobody needs a reason to justify it.

What you need before you start

You do not need much. Gather these before you call or walk in:

A phone, since most clinics here schedule or confirm by phone.
Your insurance card, if you have one. If you do not, say so when you call. Some clinics have free or reduced-cost options.
A short list of questions, such as cost, hours and how results are delivered.
A rough timeline of your last sexual contact or any symptoms, so a clinician can choose the right tests.
A safe way to receive results, such as a phone number you trust or a patient portal.

The clinic can tell you whether it asks for photo ID or other paperwork. Ask when you call instead of guessing.

Step 1: Start with the city's free information line

If you are not sure where to begin, call the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050. The City of Boston describes it as free, confidential, multilingual health information and referral. The City of Boston's Getting Tested for STIs page is another starting point.

The BPHC Infectious Disease Bureau can be reached at 617-534-5395. It is a public health office. For testing, use the clinic phone numbers below.

Step 2: Choose a program that fits your situation

Boston has several public and community options. Each clinic's own page or phone line has the final word on hours and services.

Boston STD Clinic at Boston Medical Center

This clinic is at 725 Albany St., 9th Floor, Suite 9C (BMC Shapiro Center). Its page describes free routine testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C, plus cost assistance for people without insurance. Call 617-414-2803 to make an appointment. The page does not say whether walk-ins are accepted, and it lists the Tuesday hours inconsistently, so confirm by phone.

Fenway Health Sexual Health Clinic

Fenway Health is at the Ansin Building, 1340 Boylston Street, 4th floor. Its page lists walk-in hours (first come, first served) on Tuesday from 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is by appointment only. Check-in closes 30 minutes before the end time. The clinic says results take 3 to 5 business days.

Fenway bills insurance if you have it. Its page says uninsured patients can be seen free through grant funding. Its page is aimed at gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse people, and their partners. The listed services also include PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP. Call 617-267-0159 for details.

X-Clinic at Codman Square Health Center

The X-Clinic is at 637 Washington St. in Dorchester. Codman says express visits (no symptoms and no known exposure) are walk-in during operating hours. It also offers telehealth and appointments. It accepts all insurance, uses a sliding fee schedule, and says it provides testing and treatment regardless of citizenship status. Codman's two pages list different schedules, so call 617-822-8350 to confirm hours.

TrueCare@MAC testing

The Multicultural AIDS Coalition is at 9 Palmer Street in Roxbury. Its page lists free STI, HIV and hepatitis C testing, with or without an appointment. Testing runs on most days, including Wednesday evening and Saturday. Call 617-442-1622 to check the current schedule.

Other listings

The CDC GetTested directory also lists the BPHC site at 774 Albany St (617-534-3976), Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts at 1055 Commonwealth Ave (617-295-7235), and DotHouse Health at 1353 Dorchester Avenue (617-288-3230). The directory does not list hours for these. Call before you go, because appointment rules differ.

For a side-by-side view, see the local testing list. For cost detail, see our guide on where to get tested in Boston and what it costs.

Step 3: Know your privacy and consent rights

These protections apply to everyone, and they matter most to people who worry about who will find out.

Minors can consent to STI care

Massachusetts General Laws chapter 112, section 12F lets a minor who reasonably believes they are at risk of exposure through sexual activity consent to care to diagnose or treat the disease. A sexually active minor can also consent to HIV prevention care. No parent's consent is needed. The statute says records are confidential between the minor and the physician. The exception is that a provider must tell a parent or guardian if the minor's life or limb is seriously endangered.

The City of Boston tells people age 13 and older they can get a confidential STI test without parental permission. That age is the City's guidance. The statute as we read it does not state a minimum age. The law does not cover abortion or sterilization.

Reports and records are not public

Under M.G.L. chapter 111, section 111, reports of venereal disease go to local boards of health under Department of Public Health rules. Section 119 makes those reports and records non-public. They can be released only on a judicial order or to officials whose duties entitle them to see them. Ask your clinic how it handles reporting and what it shares with insurers.

Insurance can create a paper trail

Fenway's page notes that its clinic and Quest Labs bill insurance directly, and that the patient is responsible for Quest charges. Billing through insurance can produce statements sent to the policyholder. If that worries you, ask about free or sliding-scale options before you book.

Step 4: Book or walk in

Pick one or two clinics. Match your schedule to the hours above and consider the neighborhood.
Call first. Ask whether you need an appointment, what the visit costs, and what to bring.
Say what you want. You can ask for routine screening, or describe symptoms or a possible exposure. A clinician will then decide which tests fit.
Ask about timing. Some infections do not show up on a test right after exposure. The CDC explains how long this takes for each infection. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or both.
Ask how results arrive. Find out whether you will get a call, a portal message or a visit, and how long it takes.

Step 5: At the visit

A clinician will ask about your health and sexual history. Questions are meant to pick the right tests, not to judge you. Depending on what you discuss, testing may involve a urine sample, a swab or a blood draw. The BMC and BPHC listings name HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among the available tests.

You can ask what each test looks for and why. You can also ask about vaccines and prevention. Several listed clinics offer PrEP or PrEP navigation. Planned Parenthood and DotHouse list HPV vaccine. In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of some bacterial STIs. Fenway lists doxy-PEP as a service. Whether it fits you is a clinician's decision.

Step 6: Follow up on results and partners

Do not skip the follow-up. If a result needs treatment, a clinician will prescribe it. According to the CDC, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable with care.

Massachusetts has a program that helps partners get treated. M.G.L. chapter 111, section 121B directs the Department of Public Health to allow clinicians to prescribe and dispense drugs to partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia. The CDC's page on the legal status of expedited partner therapy in Massachusetts lists chlamydia only. Ask your clinician how it works in your case, and what to tell partners, who should also be seen for testing.

Tips and common mistakes to avoid

Going without calling. Hours differ between pages and change often. A short call saves a trip.
Assuming one clinic's rules apply to all. Fenway offers walk-in hours. BMC does not confirm walk-ins. Planned Parenthood lists appointments as required.
Mixing up similar addresses. The Boston Medical Center STD clinic and the BPHC testing listing are both on Albany Street but are different providers.
Skipping questions about cost. A free service at one site may bill insurance at another. Ask plainly.
Waiting on a worry. If you are concerned about a recent exposure, call and ask a clinician about timing instead of waiting to feel certain.
Not asking about sharing. Ask who can see your results and how the clinic contacts you.
Testing once and stopping. A new partner or a new exposure can mean testing again.

What results may look like

Results often come back within days, though timing differs by test and clinic. Fenway lists 3 to 5 business days. A negative result may mean the infection was not found at the time of the test. It may not rule out a very recent exposure. A positive result usually leads to a conversation about treatment or ongoing care, and a clinician will explain next steps. Tests are very useful, but no test is perfect, so a clinician can help you read your result in context.

Many people feel relieved after a visit, simply because they have clear information and a plan. If you feel nervous, that is normal and common.

Where to go for more help

If a clinic page does not answer your question, ask the clinic directly or call the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050. The BPHC and the City of Boston pages are the best places to check for updates on programs and prices that may change.

STD Testing in Boston, MA: State Programs and How They Help