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 for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a routine part of health care. In Miami, several clinics offer free or low-cost testing, and some offer it without an appointment.

This guide walks you through the process in order. You will see which options exist, who they are meant for, what to bring, and how to confirm the details before you travel. Everything local comes from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, the clinics themselves, or the CDC's GetTested directory.

Why free STD testing in Miami is worth knowing about

Many STIs cause no symptoms, so a test is often the only way a person can find out their status. A test cannot be replaced by guessing, and only a clinician or a lab result can tell you what is going on.

Local numbers show why testing matters here. According to FLHealthCHARTS from the Florida Department of Health, Miami-Dade County reported a chlamydia rate of 471.5 per 100,000 people in 2025, compared with 410.8 per 100,000 statewide. The same source lists a gonorrhea rate of 250.5 per 100,000 in the county, compared with 156.5 statewide.

FLHealthCHARTS also lists 668 new HIV diagnoses in Miami-Dade in 2025, a rate of 23.7 per 100,000, compared with 15.0 per 100,000 for Florida. These figures describe the community. They say nothing about any one person, and they are not a reason for worry. They are a reason to make testing an ordinary habit.

The CDC recommends that everyone from 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once, and that people with higher chances of exposure test more often. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) also describe routine screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea for some groups, such as sexually active women under 25. Your clinician can tell you which tests fit your situation.

What you need before you start

You do not need much. Gather these items first:

A phone to call the clinic and confirm hours, cost and whether you need an appointment.
A photo ID, if you have one. Ask the clinic what it requires, because policies differ and are not listed in the sources used for this guide.
Insurance information, if you have it. Several clinics accept insurance but also offer free or sliding-scale options.
A short list of notes about your symptoms (if any), the date of your last test, and any medicines you take.
A list of questions for the clinician, such as how and when you will get results.
Transportation and time. Some clinics close at midday on certain days, so plan for the morning.

You do not need to explain or justify your reasons for testing. Clinicians see people of every gender, orientation and relationship status every day.

Step-by-step: how to get free or low-cost STD testing in Miami

Step 1: Decide which kind of test you are looking for

Start by asking what you want to be tested for. Common tests include HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Other infections, such as hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, herpes and HPV, are tested in different ways or only in certain situations.

Not every clinic does every test. For example, the CDC GetTested listing for Jessie Trice Community Health System's main center shows HIV (blood draw), chlamydia and gonorrhea, but does not list syphilis. If you want a specific test, ask about it when you call.

If you are unsure what to ask for, say so. A clinician can talk through your situation and suggest tests based on CDC guidance. The clinician decides, with you, what makes sense.

Step 2: Choose the option that fits your situation

Use this overview to narrow things down. Details for each place follow in Step 3.

Option	Cost as listed	Appointment
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade STI clinics	"Low or no-cost testing" per the health department	Call to schedule
Care Resource, Midtown Miami	Free per CDC GetTested; sliding fee scale for uninsured or underinsured	Not required per CDC GetTested
Borinquen Medical Centers	Free HIV and STI tests per CDC GetTested	Not required per CDC GetTested
Jessie Trice Community Health System	Sliding scale; no free services listed	Not required per CDC GetTested
UM Rapid Access Wellness Clinic	Free HIV, hepatitis and STI tests per CDC GetTested	Required
Pridelines (Miami Beach)	Free HIV testing per Pridelines	Check with the center
Free HIV home test kits	Free	Order online or by phone

Costs and policies can change. Treat this table as a starting point and confirm with the clinic.

Step 3: Review each option and its details

Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County STI clinics

The health department runs STI clinics at two sites. Its STI page states, "We offer low or no-cost testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV." Its HIV Prevention page says the department provides "free prevention education and testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis." Because the two pages word this differently, ask about the cost for your visit when you call.

Health District Center: 1350 NW 14th St., Suite 350, Miami, FL 33125. Hours listed: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with closing at noon on the 1st and 3rd Fridays.
West Perrine Health Center: 18255 Homestead Ave., Miami, FL 33157. Hours listed: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with closing at noon on 3rd Fridays.
Scheduling line for both sites: 305-575-3800. The page says to call this number to schedule an appointment. It does not state a walk-in policy, so ask.

The health department's disease control line is 305-470-5660, and its HIV testing line is 786-792-5269. Both come from the department's own pages.

Care Resource

Care Resource is a federally qualified health center. Its Midtown Miami location is at 3510 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137, phone 305-576-1234. Care Resource lists testing hours of Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test and a free STI test and says no appointment is required. Care Resource also says that additional screenings are available on a walk-in basis in its prevention department.

For people who are uninsured or underinsured, Care Resource says it provides services on a sliding fee scale. It also says most insurance plans are accepted.

Its Little Havana site is at 1800 S.W. 1st Street, Miami, FL 33135, with the same phone number and testing hours. That page describes no-cost rapid HIV testing and wellness screenings. It does not state whether STI testing is offered there, so call before you go if you want more than an HIV test.

Borinquen Medical Centers

The main office is at 3601 Federal Hwy, Miami, FL 33137, phone 305-576-6611. CDC GetTested lists HIV and STI tests as free, says no appointment is required, and lists insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale. It also lists PrEP for uninsured patients. Hours are not given in the sources used here, so ask when you call.

Jessie Trice Community Health System

The main center is at 5361 NW 22nd Ave, Miami, FL 33147, phone 305-637-6400. CDC GetTested lists insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale, and does not list free services. It says no appointment is required. This is a good choice if you want a fee based on your income rather than a free visit.

UM Rapid Access Wellness Clinic and PrEP Program

This University of Miami Miller School of Medicine clinic is at 1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136, phone 305-243-2584. CDC GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests as free and says an appointment is required. Plan to call ahead.

Pridelines in Miami Beach

Pridelines is an LGBTQ+ community center at 1130 Washington Ave, First Floor, Miami Beach, FL 33139, phone 305-571-9601. Its Thrivelines page describes HIV testing as "fast, free, and confidential." Please note that this location is in Miami Beach, not the City of Miami. Pridelines also does mobile testing across Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. The sources do not state a walk-in policy, so call first.

Free HIV home test kits

If you want to test in private, two local programs list free HIV home tests:

The health department offers a free HIV home test kit for Miami-Dade County residents only, according to its HIV Prevention page.
Care Resource lists a no-cost HIV home test for people ages 14 and older who live in Miami-Dade or Broward, who are not HIV-positive and who have not tested in the last three months. You can order online or call 305-576-1234, extension 352, per its Testing Hours and Locations page.

The CDC also lists Together TakeMeHome, a national program that sends free HIV self-tests by mail. A home test covers HIV only. It does not check for other infections.

Step 4: Call the clinic and confirm the details

Hours, services and fees can change. Several of the listings above come from CDC GetTested, which notes that hours may change. A short call saves you a trip.

Here are questions worth asking:

Are you doing STI testing today, and which tests do you offer?
What will this visit cost me? Is there a free or sliding-scale option?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
What are your hours this week? Are you closing early?
What should I bring?
How and when will I receive my results?

You can also use the CDC's GetTested tool at gettested.cdc.gov to look up sites by ZIP code. Our local testing list gathers the Miami clinics covered in this guide in one place.

Step 5: Go to your visit

Arrive a little early. You will likely fill out forms and talk with a staff member or clinician about your health and sexual history.

Be as open as you comfortably can. The questions help the clinician choose the right tests. They are not a judgment. Depending on what you discuss, testing may involve a urine sample, a swab, a blood draw or a finger-stick rapid test.

You can ask for the reason behind any test. You can also ask the clinician to explain what each result would mean before you leave.

Step 6: Learn how you will get results

Ask before you leave whether results come by phone, through a patient portal or at a follow-up visit. Rapid HIV tests may give a result during the visit, while other tests are sent to a lab and take longer. The clinic can tell you the timing.

Make sure the clinic has a phone number that is safe for you to use. If you will not be reachable, tell the staff so they can arrange another way to share results.

Step 7: Follow up on the next steps

If a test is positive, your clinician will explain what comes next. 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.

If a result is negative, ask when you should test again. The right timing depends on the specific test and on when an exposure may have happened. The CDC publishes window period information for each infection, and a clinician can apply it to your situation.

Florida lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as reportable conditions for practitioners, according to the Florida Department of Health's reportable diseases list. That means clinics and labs report certain results to the health department, as required by Florida law.

Who qualifies for free or low-cost testing

The sources used for this guide do not publish a full eligibility checklist for every clinic. Here is what they do say:

Health department clinics: The STI page does not state income or residency rules. Ask when you call 305-575-3800.
Care Resource: Free testing is listed by CDC GetTested. A sliding fee scale applies for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
Borinquen and Jessie Trice: Both list insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and sliding-scale options.
Free HIV home test from the health department: Miami-Dade County residents only.
Care Resource home test: Ages 14 and up, living in Miami-Dade or Broward, not HIV-positive, and not tested in the last three months.

If a clinic's income rules are not listed, do not assume you are ineligible. Ask the front desk. Many clinics have staff who help people work out the cost.

Testing if you are under 18

Under Fla. Stat. section 384.30, from the Florida Legislature's Online Sunshine site, a minor of any age may consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmissible diseases. The statute also says a minor's consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and may not be disclosed directly or indirectly, such as by billing a parent or guardian, except as provided in section 384.29.

The law applies to the health department, licensed physicians and certain other licensed professionals, and qualified public or private health facilities. If you have questions about billing and privacy, ask the clinic before your visit.

Free testing events and walk-in days

The sources behind this guide do not list a schedule of free testing events or special walk-in days. The health department does say it offers free, confidential HIV and STI testing at an organization's location, and Pridelines does mobile outreach testing in the region. If you run a group or community organization, you can ask the health department whether this service is available to you.

For current events, check the health department's STI page and the clinic websites directly. Do not rely on an old flyer or social media post for hours or dates.

Tips for a smoother visit

Go early in the day. The listed health department hours end at 3:30 p.m., and several sites close at noon on certain Fridays.
Ask about PrEP and PEP. Care Resource, Borinquen, Jessie Trice and the UM clinic list PrEP in their services. The health department also links to a PrEP and nPEP provider locator from its HIV/AIDS page.
Bring a friend if it helps. Some people feel calmer with company, though you can always be seen on your own.
Write down what you hear. It is easy to forget details, so note the clinician's instructions and your follow-up date.
Ask about partners. A clinician can explain options for telling partners and, in Florida, may be able to discuss expedited partner therapy under the law described by the CDC.
Keep a record. Save your results somewhere private, so you can share them with future clinicians if you choose to.

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping the confirmation call. Hours and services change, and a few clinics require appointments.
Assuming one test covers everything. An HIV test is not a test for chlamydia or syphilis, and a home HIV kit checks HIV only.
Assuming "free" applies to every service. A visit may be free while a follow-up or a medicine has a separate cost. Ask what is covered.
Going to the wrong location. Pridelines is in Miami Beach, and Care Resource's Little Havana site lists HIV testing but does not list STI testing.
Testing too soon after an exposure. A test taken too early may not give a reliable result. Ask the clinician about timing based on CDC guidance.
Letting worry delay a visit. Testing is routine, confidential care. Clinics expect these visits and treat them the same as any other.

What to expect afterward

Results and timing depend on the test and the clinic. Some rapid HIV tests may give a result during the same visit. Lab tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis usually take longer, and the clinic can tell you how long.

A negative result may mean that no infection was found by that test at that time. It may not reflect a very recent exposure, which is why clinicians sometimes suggest a repeat test. A positive result is a starting point for care, and a clinician will explain the choices available.

No test is perfect. Your clinician can tell you how reliable each test is and whether anything should be repeated.

Where to go from here

Free and sliding-scale STD testing in Miami is available at health department clinics, community health centers, a university clinic and an LGBTQ+ community center, plus free HIV home kits. Pick the place that suits your schedule, call to confirm, and book your visit.

For a broader search by ZIP code, use the CDC's GetTested directory. For health department information, visit the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County STI page.

Free STD Testing in Miami: Every Free and Sliding-Scale Option