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 Salt Lake City is a simple errand once you know the steps. This guide walks you through them. It covers choosing a clinic, what to bring, how the main test types differ, and what happens after you get a result.

It is written for everyone, whatever your gender, orientation or relationship status. Testing is a routine part of health care. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine care. The CDC also recommends more frequent testing for people with a higher chance of exposure.

Why HIV testing matters in Salt Lake County

Utah IBIS-PH, the state health data portal, reports that 1,887 people were living with HIV in Salt Lake County in 2020. That is a prevalence of 158.8 per 100,000 population. This figure counts people living with HIV. It is not a count of new diagnoses.

For the state as a whole, Utah IBIS-PH reports 135 new HIV diagnoses in 2021, or 4.0 per 100,000 population. The portal's county-level new diagnosis figures were not available for this guide.

The USPSTF recommends HIV screening for adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65. It also recommends screening for younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk, and for people who are pregnant. Testing is how a person learns their status. HIV is treatable, and early care helps people stay healthy.

What you need before you go

You do not need much. Here is a short checklist.

A clinic choice. The steps below help you pick one. There is also a local testing list with the clinics covered here.
Your calendar. Note the date of any recent possible exposure. This helps the clinician pick the right test.
Insurance or Medicaid information, if you have it. Some clinics bill insurance. The county STD clinic does not (more on that below).
A list of questions. You might ask about window periods, follow-up testing, PrEP or other services.
Payment, if the clinic charges fees. Ask about accepted payment methods when you call.
A little time. Rapid tests are quick, but the visit includes a short conversation and paperwork.

If you are under 18, you may still be able to test on your own. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (via its IBIS site) cites Utah Code 26B-7-214 and says people 14 and older can consent to STI care without a parent. The Salt Lake County Health Department says its clinic tests anyone 14 or older. Ask the clinic what applies to your situation.

Step 1: Understand the types of HIV tests

Not every HIV test works the same way. The type matters because each looks for something different and can detect HIV at different times after an exposure. The CDC describes three main categories.

Antibody tests

These look for antibodies, which your body makes in response to HIV. Most rapid HIV tests are antibody tests. The CDC says antibody tests on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV 23 to 90 days after an exposure. It says tests done with blood from a finger stick or with oral fluid take longer, and the window can run up to 90 days.

Antigen/antibody tests

These look for both antibodies and antigens, which are parts of the virus itself. The CDC says an antigen/antibody lab test on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after an exposure. Antigen/antibody tests done on a finger stick take longer, with a window of 18 to 90 days, according to the CDC.

Nucleic acid tests (NAT, or RNA tests)

These look for the virus directly. The CDC says a NAT can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after an exposure. A NAT is not a routine screening test. A clinician may order one if you have had a recent possible exposure, especially with early symptoms.

These windows come from the CDC. Individual bodies vary. A clinician can tell you which test fits your timeline.

Step 2: Know what "rapid" means

A rapid HIV test gives a result in a short visit, often within about 30 minutes, according to the CDC. The test uses a finger stick or an oral swab. You do not have to wait days for a lab.

Rapid tests are useful when you want an answer during the visit. They have the same window period limits described above. If your possible exposure was recent, a clinician may suggest repeating the test later or using a different test type.

Step 3: Choose where to test in Salt Lake City

Several clinics in the city offer HIV testing. Costs and rules differ, so read the details before you pick. The CDC's GetTested directory is another place to compare locations and services.

Salt Lake County Health Department STD Clinic / Infectious Disease Clinic

This is the clinic to look at first if cost matters. It is at 610 South 200 East in Salt Lake City, and you enter from 200 East. The phone number is 385-468-4242. The STD Prevention Program number is 385-468-4185. The clinic's pages are at saltlakecounty.gov/health/id-clinic/testing and saltlakecounty.gov/health/id-clinic/contact.

Hours: The clinic lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, it is closed until 1:00 PM.
Walk-ins: The clinic says it accepts walk-ins when possible. Appointments shorten the wait.
Who can test: Anyone 14 or older.
Rapid HIV test: The clinic says rapid HIV testing is free to high-risk individuals while grant funds last. The clinic's page does not spell out here who qualifies, so ask when you call.
Published fees: The HIV blood test is $50. There is no office visit fee if you are testing only for HIV. If you add other tests, the office visit is $60 for Salt Lake County residents and $80 for people outside the county. Syphilis testing is $40. Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is $40 per site.
Insurance: The clinic says it cannot bill health insurance.
Other services listed: PrEP, doxy-PEP and treatment.

Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, Salt Lake Health Center

The center is at 654 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102. The phone number is (801) 322-5571. The CDC GetTested listing says an appointment is required, and that insurance and Medicaid are accepted. It lists a sliding scale and says PrEP is available for people without insurance. It lists HIV tests by rapid test and blood draw. The listing does not give hours and says to check the organization's website. Details are on its GetTested page.

Community Health Centers Inc.

This community health center network has two Salt Lake City locations that the CDC GetTested directory lists with HIV testing by blood draw.

Oquirrh View Community Health Center, 4745 S 3200 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84129, (801) 964-6214. The listing says an appointment is required. See its GetTested page.
Ellis R. Shipp Clinic, 4535 S 5600 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84120, (801) 676-4405. See its GetTested page.

Both listings say insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are accepted and that a sliding scale applies. They say to contact the organization about eligibility. Hours are not listed, so call first.

University of Utah Health, Redwood Health Center (HIV PrEP Program)

The center is at 1525 W 2100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84119, and the phone number is (801) 213-9900. The CDC GetTested listing says it accepts insurance, offers PrEP for people without insurance, and lists HIV testing by blood draw. See its GetTested page. Hours are not on the listing, so check with the clinic.

University of Utah Student Health Center

The center is at 555 Foothill Dr, Level 1, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, and the phone number is 801-581-6431. Its HIV and STI testing page says testing is by appointment, with or without symptoms. It says a visit fee and lab charges apply. The page also says Campus Wellness mobile clinics offer free HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for people without symptoms. The page does not say whether people who are not students can use the center, so ask before you go.

Utah Naloxone (Andy's Wellness Center)

This nonprofit harm reduction program is at 525 East 100 South, Suite 4400, Salt Lake City, UT 84102. The phone number is (385) 495-9050. A directory listing from NASEN (the North American Syringe Exchange Network) says it offers HIV testing and education, STI testing and treatment, and hepatitis C testing. The listing gives hours of Monday, Thursday and Friday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It does not state a cost or a walk-in policy, so ask when you call.

Step 4: Call ahead

A short call saves time. Here are good questions to ask.

Do you offer rapid HIV tests, and are they available today?
What will it cost me, and do I qualify for any free testing?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
What do I need to bring?
Which type of test will I get, and how long does a result take?

The Salt Lake City Public Health Center's listing with Utah 211 gives 385-468-4225. It says walk-ins are permitted, but calling ahead to make an appointment is preferred. The Salt Lake County Health Department's main site is slco.org/health.

The county health department's pages did not list a free home HIV self-test program. If you hear about one, check that it comes from the health department or another public source before you rely on it.

Step 5: Take the test

At the clinic, a staff member will explain what happens and ask a few questions. These usually cover the timing of any possible exposure and whether you have had symptoms. You can share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. The questions help the clinician choose a test and give you useful advice.

Then a staff member collects the sample. For a rapid test, that is usually a finger stick or an oral swab. For a lab test, it is a blood draw from a vein. The sample collection takes a few minutes.

You can ask for the visit to be private and respectful. Clinic staff see people of every gender, orientation and background, and the visit is about health, not judgment.

Step 6: Read your result with the clinician

Do not try to interpret a result on your own. A clinician or counselor will explain it. Here is what the main outcomes generally mean, based on CDC guidance.

A nonreactive (negative) result

A nonreactive result means the test did not detect HIV markers in your sample. If the test was done within the window period after a possible exposure, the CDC says follow-up testing may be needed. A clinician can tell you whether to retest and when.

A reactive (preliminary positive) result

A reactive result on a rapid test means the test found a sign that needs another test to confirm. It is not a final answer. The CDC says a reactive rapid test is followed by additional laboratory testing to confirm it. Only that follow-up testing can tell you whether HIV is present.

This is why the confirmatory step matters. The clinic will explain what follow-up testing they use and how long it takes. Ask them to tell you exactly what will happen next, so you are not left waiting without a plan.

An inconclusive result

Sometimes results do not fit neatly into one category. A clinician may suggest repeating the test or using a different test type. This does not mean something is wrong. It means the test needs more information.

Step 7: Plan your next steps

What you do next depends on your result and your situation. Here are the common paths.

If you need confirmatory testing: Schedule it before you leave if you can. Ask who will contact you with the result and how.
If follow-up care is needed: HIV is treatable. The CDC says HIV treatment, called antiretroviral therapy, is prescribed by a clinician. The CDC also says that people who take it as prescribed and reach an undetectable viral level do not transmit HIV to partners through sex. HIV is not curable, but it is manageable with care.
If you want to prevent HIV: Ask about PrEP, which a clinician prescribes. The county STD clinic, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and the University of Utah Health Redwood Health Center list PrEP among their services.
If you had a recent exposure: Ask a clinician about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The CDC says it is time sensitive and must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure. A clinician decides whether it is right for you.
If you want other tests: Many of these clinics also test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Utah IBIS-PH reports 2022 rates in Salt Lake County of 479.7 per 100,000 for chlamydia, 166.4 per 100,000 for gonorrhea, and 13.7 per 100,000 for primary and secondary syphilis. Asking about a fuller panel at the same visit can save a trip.

Partners may also want to be tested. A clinician can talk with you about how to share news and where partners can get care.

Tips for a smoother visit

Go early in the day. A clinic with walk-in hours can get busy, so earlier visits may mean shorter waits.
Check the Wednesday schedule. The county STD clinic is closed until 1:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Ask about timing. If your possible exposure was very recent, ask which test makes sense now and when to retest.
Bring someone if it helps. A friend or partner can wait with you. Some people prefer to go alone. Either is fine.
Ask for a written summary. This helps you remember next steps.
Store the clinic number. Save it in your phone so you can call with questions after the visit.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming "free" applies to everyone. The county clinic says its rapid HIV test is free to high-risk individuals while grant funds last. Ask how the clinic defines that and whether funds remain.
Counting on insurance at the county clinic. The county STD clinic says it cannot bill insurance. If you want your insurance to pay, a clinic that accepts it may be a better fit.
Ignoring the window period. A test taken very soon after a possible exposure may not detect HIV. Ask a clinician about retesting.
Treating a reactive rapid test as a final answer. It needs confirmatory testing.
Skipping the call. Hours, appointments and funding can change. The GetTested listings say hours may change.
Waiting out of worry. Many people feel nervous before a test. Clinic staff handle these visits every day and are there to help.

What to expect from results, in plain terms

A rapid HIV test can give you information during one visit. It may show a nonreactive result, a reactive result that needs confirmation, or a result that calls for retesting. No test is perfect, and results depend on timing and the type of test used. Your clinician can explain what a result means for you.

Whatever the result, you will leave with more information than you came in with, and a plan for what comes next.

Find a place to test

Start with the Salt Lake City testing list, or use the CDC's GetTested directory to compare clinics and services. If cost is your main concern, call the Salt Lake County Health Department STD Clinic at 385-468-4242 and ask about its published fees and free rapid testing. Clinics that use a sliding scale can also help. Contact them to ask about eligibility.

Free and Rapid HIV Testing in Salt Lake City