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.

Free STD testing in Tucson exists, and you do not need to be an expert to use it. You need a short list of places, a phone number, and a plan for the visit.

This guide walks through the free and sliding-scale options in Tucson one step at a time. It covers who each place serves, what to bring, and how to check current hours before you leave the house. Where a detail is not published, the guide says so and tells you who to ask.

Wanting a test is a routine health step. Clinics see people of every age, gender and orientation, and nobody there needs a reason beyond wanting to know.

Why free and low-cost testing matters in Pima County

The Pima County Health Department lists a chlamydia rate of 555 per 100,000 people in Pima County for 2023, citing national surveillance data from NCHHSTP. Its gonorrhea rate for the same year is 172 per 100,000. Its primary and secondary syphilis rate is 26.1 per 100,000.

The county's own HIV and STI page also says that syphilis is on the rise in Pima County. Reported congenital syphilis cases in the county reached 53 in 2024, according to AZPM News.

These numbers are not a reason to worry. They are a reason testing is a normal, expected part of health care here. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe screening as a routine way to find infections that often cause no symptoms.

That last point is why testing is separate from how you feel. Many infections cause no symptoms at all, so a test is the way a clinician learns what is going on.

What you need before you start

This is the short list of materials. Most clinics ask for very little.

A phone. Several clinics ask you to call or book ahead, and the published hours do not always agree with each other.
A photo ID, if you have one. Policies vary by clinic, so ask when you call. Do not skip a visit because you are unsure about ID.
Insurance information, if you have it. Some clinics accept insurance and Medicaid. Others do not need it at all. Having a card handy does not commit you to using it.
A short list of your questions. For example: which infections do you want tested, are you pregnant, are you taking or interested in PrEP.
A rough timeline. A clinician may ask when your most recent possible exposure was, because timing affects which tests make sense.
A way to get results. Know which phone number or portal the clinic will use, and whether it is safe for you to receive messages there.

You do not need to bring payment in advance for the county clinics. The Pima County Health Department says that fees follow a sliding scale based on income and that nobody is turned away for inability to pay.

Step 1: Decide which kind of visit fits you

Free STD testing near you in Tucson falls into four types. Knowing which one you want makes the rest easier.

County public health clinics. Income-based fees, with HIV, STI testing, treatment and PrEP services.
A community HIV organization. Free HIV testing, with STI testing listed in a CDC directory.
A federally qualified health center. Sliding scale fees, often with a primary care relationship.
A student health service or reproductive health center. Fixed or varying fees, with some eligibility rules.

You can also compare the places side by side on the local testing list.

Step 2: Understand the county clinics first

The Pima County Health Department runs two sites that offer HIV and STI services, including testing, treatment and PrEP navigation. Its HIV and STI page lists PrEP Starter Packs at both.

Theresa Lee Public Health Center

Address: 1493 W. Commerce Court, Tucson, AZ 85746. Phone: 520-724-7900.

The county's Clinic Hours page lists HIV and STI testing here as by appointment only. The county's HIV and STI page, however, says clients are seen on a walk-in basis and that wait times can vary. The two county pages do not agree.

The safe move is to call 520-724-7900 before you go and ask which applies on your day. The Clinic Hours page also says there are no services from noon to 1 p.m. daily, that the clinic is closed on Saturday, and that county clinics are closed on the first Thursday of every month.

Pima County Northwest Clinic

Address: 1010 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson, AZ 85705. Phone: 520-724-2880.

The Clinic Hours page lists HIV and STI testing here but does not give hours for that service. It says walk-in services are available as capacity allows. The same noon to 1 p.m. break and first Thursday closure apply. Call the clinic to confirm what is open that day.

Cost and age at the county clinics

The Pima County Health Department states that it uses a sliding fee scale based on income and that nobody will be turned away for inability to pay. It does not publish a price list on those pages, so ask for the fee when you call.

The county also says that minors do not need parental consent. This matches Arizona law. A.R.S. 44-132.01 says a minor who may have a venereal disease can consent to medical care for its diagnosis or treatment, and a parent's consent is not required.

Step 3: Consider the community HIV organization

Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, also called SAAF Health, is at 375 S. Euclid Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719. Phone: 520-628-7223, or toll-free at 800-771-9054.

The CDC GetTested directory lists free HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests here, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. It says appointments are required. It also says insurance and Medicaid are accepted and that a sliding scale applies. Contact SAAF to confirm who qualifies.

SAAF's own testing page says that making an appointment is your best option. It describes a rapid HIV antigen and antibody test with results in approximately 20 minutes.

Its testing hours are:

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (last appointment 11:15)
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:15 to 5:00 p.m. (last appointment 4:15)
Wednesday, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., walk-in only

SAAF's own testing page does not list STI tests, so the STI testing detail rests on the CDC directory. Ask when you call whether the STI tests you want are available on the day you plan to come.

Step 4: Look at El Rio Health

El Rio Health is a federally qualified health center, which means it serves people regardless of ability to pay. The CDC GetTested directory lists two Tucson locations with testing.

Congress Street: 839 W Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85745. Phone: 520-670-3909. The CDC listing shows appointment required, with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. It also lists PrEP navigation, and it says insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale are accepted. Contact El Rio for eligibility.

Southeast Campus: 6950 E Golf Links Rd, Tucson, AZ 85730. Phone: 520-670-3909. The CDC listing shows appointment required, with HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests, and PrEP for uninsured patients. No fee amounts are published. The El Rio website lists general health center hours of Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but those are not STI-specific hours.

The CDC directory says hours may change and tells you to verify with the organization. Both sites share one phone number, so one call can sort out which location fits you.

Step 5: Know the other options and their limits

Planned Parenthood Southern Arizona Regional Health Center

Address: 2255 N Wyatt Dr, Tucson, AZ 85712. Phone: 520-408-7526.

The 211 Arizona listing shows STI and HIV testing, PrEP, PEP and HPV vaccine services, with fees listed as varying. It lists walk-ins as accepted and hours of Monday, Tuesday and Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as last verified on April 1, 2026.

Other directories show a different phone number and different hours. Confirm by phone, and ask about cost before you book, since fees vary and no amount is published.

University of Arizona Campus Health Service

This is not a public clinic. The university's Express STI Testing is for students only. It covers gonorrhea and chlamydia for people without symptoms, for a flat fee of $65 that is not billed to insurance, with no appointment needed. That makes it low-cost for a student, not free. Call 520-621-9202. The page does not describe HIV testing.

Free at-home HIV test kits

Get Tested AZ, run by HIV AZ and Aunt Rita's with the Southwest Center, offers free at-home HIV test kits with an oral swab and results in about 20 minutes. You answer a short survey first, and it decides which free test you qualify for.

The site does not mention Tucson or Pima County and does not state eligibility rules. It lists no at-home STI kit. Free STI testing through the program is in person at Sonora Quest Laboratories, and eligibility may apply.

Free testing events

No free testing events or special walk-in days for Tucson were confirmed for this guide. If you see one announced, check it against the county's Clinic Hours page or call the host organization before you plan around it.

Step 6: Call and ask the right questions

A two-minute call saves a wasted trip. Here is a simple script you can follow.

Say you would like STI or HIV testing and ask whether you need an appointment or can walk in.
Ask what days and hours testing is offered, and whether there is a midday break or a closure that week.
Ask what the visit costs, and what happens if you cannot pay that day.
Ask which infections are included, and which would be extra.
Ask how and when you will get results, and who contacts you.
Ask whether treatment or PrEP can be started there if a clinician recommends it.

Remember the county rule: closed the first Thursday of every month. Check the date before you plan.

Step 7: Prepare for the visit

Bring ID and insurance information if you have them.
Eat normally and drink water. Most testing uses a urine sample, a swab or a blood draw.
Write down your questions, and your last possible exposure date if you know it.
If you take medicines, bring the list.
Plan time for the visit. Wait times can vary, and the county says so itself.

It is fine to ask for the tests you want by name. A clinician will usually go over what is recommended for you, based on your history and on guidance from the CDC and the USPSTF.

What gets tested, and why timing matters

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend that sexually active women under 25 be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea each year. They also recommend screening based on risk for others. The CDC also recommends that everyone from 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once.

Timing matters because a test looks for evidence an infection leaves behind, and that can take time to appear. This is called the window period. It differs by infection and by type of test. Ask the clinician what the CDC window period is for the test you are having, and whether a repeat test makes sense later.

Arizona law also requires syphilis testing during pregnancy. A.R.S. 36-693 says a physician tests a pregnant woman's blood for syphilis at the first prenatal examination, and that the state laboratory performs the test without charge.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call early in the week. Clinic staff often have more answers before a busy afternoon.
Ask about a bundle. You may be able to get HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing in one visit.
Ask about PrEP and PEP. The county, SAAF, Planned Parenthood and the University of Arizona list them. PEP is for possible recent exposure and is time-sensitive, so call right away if that applies.
Ask about partners. Arizona allows a clinician to prescribe for a partner in some cases. The CDC describes the legal status of expedited partner therapy in Arizona on its website.
Keep records. Ask for a copy of your results for your own files.

Common mistakes to avoid

Showing up without calling. The county's own pages disagree about walk-ins at Theresa Lee. Call first.
Going between noon and 1 p.m. County clinics do not provide services during that hour.
Forgetting the first Thursday. County clinics are closed that day each month.
Assuming a directory is current. The CDC and 211 directories both say hours can change. Treat them as a starting point.
Skipping a visit over cost. The county says nobody is turned away for inability to pay. Ask about fees rather than guessing.
Assuming a student-only service is open to you. The University of Arizona Express STI Testing is for students.
Waiting for symptoms. Many infections cause none, so a test is the way to find out.

What to expect afterward

Results timing depends on the test. A rapid HIV test can give a result in about 20 minutes, according to SAAF. Other tests, such as urine, swab or blood samples sent to a lab, usually take longer. The clinic should tell you when to expect them.

If a result comes back negative, that generally means the test did not find the infection it looked for. A clinician can explain whether a repeat test is worth doing based on timing. If a result comes back positive, that is information, not a judgment. Your clinician can explain the next steps and what care is available.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment prescribed by a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable and manageable with care from a clinician. In every case, a clinician decides what treatment fits you.

Arizona law, A.R.S. 36-621, requires certain infectious diseases to be reported to a health department. Pima County directs providers to its own reporting process. If you are concerned about what happens to your information, ask the clinic how results are handled before you test.

More ways to find a place

The CDC runs a free directory at gettested.cdc.gov that lists HIV, STI and hepatitis testing sites by ZIP code. Several Tucson places above appear there. Treat it as a starting point and call to confirm details.

For county services, the Pima County Health Department's HIV and STI page lists clinics, PrEP navigation and provider information. Its Clinic Hours page is the best place to check for closures. The county page also lists Banner University Medical Center and the University of Arizona Petersen HIV Clinics at 520-626-8598 for PrEP, PEP and HIV care, and the Banner Emergency Department at 1501 N. Campbell Ave for urgent PEP after a possible recent exposure.

A simple plan to start today

Pick one option from the list above that fits your situation.
Call the number and ask the questions in Step 6.
Put the appointment or the walk-in plan on your calendar, away from noon and the first Thursday.
Gather ID, insurance details if any, and your questions.
Go, ask for what you want, and ask when results will arrive.

Free STD testing in Tucson is available, and a first call is the hardest part. After that, it is a routine health visit.

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