NYC Dept of Health STD

Now only doing HIV testing (but at least they do that for free) because the budget was cut. A lesson to everyone to exercise their votes regarding budget allocation…
:(

My HIV test results took over 3 weeks to come back (negative). I’ve never had to wait more than 4 days with other labs. Neither the clinic nor the NYC Health Department notified people waiting for results that snow and ice had somehow delayed the results.
If you go here, be prepared to spend a few hours at the clinic, and then possibly have to wait 3 weeks or more for your HIV lab to be posted, regardless of if it’s positive/​negative

3.5 stars…
I always had an idea in my head about what a free STD clinic would look like, smell like, and the people who’d go to one. Images of skid row or old school hell’s kitchen come to mind. Yes the place wasn’t the most modern or the cleanest and not all the people I encountered were the friendliest but I was pleasantly surprised. I came here because I had blood work done with my regular doctor and she wouldn’t give me results over the phone and I didn’t have time to go back so I opted to just come here instead. It’s a really easy location to get to in Chelsea, isn’t sketchy at all, and you’ll see a regular mix of people here (though I suppose the ages were mostly in the 20s to mid 30s). Yes it’s completely free and I was shocked to find out that they tell you your HIV test results before you even leave. They also test for other major STDs and those results you get within a week via website or calling in. In addition to the free testing they also provide free HIV counseling and free condoms. No appointment is necessary but the hours can occasionally be a little weird so it’s a good idea to check the website before going. They have their ultra busy times (like right after they’ve been closed for Christmas) where you’ll wait for hours and hours, and the ultra slow times. I went when it was really busy and didn’t want to wait so I came back and it was slower (though not slow as it can get from what I hear). Here’s the procedure and my times:
1:40pm Entered center (back left office of ground floor): picked up a card, time stamped it, and filled it out
1:45pm My # (on the card) was called into 1^st office where a lady asked me a few questions and gave me a second piece of paper
2:00pm # was called into 2^nd office where I was registered in system and more questions were asked, was given more papers and sent to the 2^nd floor for the actual testing
2:20pm # was called, entered 3^rd office and was given the pee test tube and a folder was generated for me. Was sent off to create and drop off a sample.
2:30pm was called in to have blood drawn from my arm and also my finger was pricked for the other test for some reason (not sure why they couldn’t have just swabbed my arm for this other test).
3:40pm after waiting 70 minutes in a classroom type room watching early 90s bad community college type sex ed videos piped in through an old dusty 15″ crt tv bolted to the corner of the room I was called (by name for the first time) by the first super personable guy to get my results. I was negative on the HIV (btw you have to wait about 3 months after the sex in question for a reliable result) and after about a week I checked the website to find I was negative on everything else as well.
Sure I waited 2 hours here but it was amazing to have the city provide this service for free and it saved me from taking a day off from work to go out to my doctor and pay $ 20 just to hear the results (which I already paid $ 20 to see her the first time and had to pay a $ 100 lab fee I didn’t plan on encountering for the blood work as well).