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where can you get a quick test in SF?

topic posted Tue, June 20, 2006 - 12:45 PM by  Paul
Hey,

Does anyone know where in SF to get a 24 hour test? The place I usually go takes two weeks and I don't have that long.
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Paul
offline Paul
SF Bay Area
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  • Sama...
    Samantha
    offline 56

    Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

    Mon, November 13, 2006 - 10:34 PM
    This was a while back, but I'm sure quick testing is still relevant to someone out there.

    ca.tstd.org

    It's not 24 hours, but it's anonymous and you can get an appointment right away with results within 3 days. I'm about to use this service for the first time ... I'll let everyone know if its as hassle-free as it seems.

    The fee is $249, but it's not like insurance covers STD testing and I think this is as cheap as it gets unless you go to a clinic (and I can't find a clinic that does HIV testings for females - who are considered by default low-risk in SF).
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    • Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

      Mon, November 13, 2006 - 10:43 PM
      Come to the Haight Ashbury Free clinic. Thats where I work, and I know they offer HIV testing for women. It usually only takes about 3 days for the results to come back, but you have to go into the clinic to get results (as is the standard for HIV testing, due to confidentiality laws). It will cost a small fee.....certainly not $249......unless you sign up for Family Pact, and then you can get your testing for free.
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      • Sama...
        Samantha
        offline 56

        Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

        Tue, November 14, 2006 - 1:50 PM
        I love HAFC. I used to go there for routine stuff when I had no insurance and everyone is super helpful and informative, more so than any doctors I've run into since, sadly.

        Unfortunately though, I just called and was told you lost your funding for HIV testing. I think its been happening to all the clinics. I'll just count my lucky stars that I can actually afford to be sexually responsible this year and hope that our national mentality shifts from funding for abstinence and moral propaganda (aka sex ed) to funding for individuals who do their best to curb the spread by getting tested regularly.
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        • Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

          Tue, November 14, 2006 - 1:58 PM
          We lost our funding? Major bummer! I haven't worked over on the medical clinic side for a little while, and have been working primarily in the detox clinic. Thats really disappointing to hear. Its getting harder and harder for those without health insurance to receive adequate health care. :-(
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          • Sharon
            Sharon
            offline 341

            Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

            Thu, November 16, 2006 - 11:26 AM
            This is a truly disturbing trend! And in San Francisco of all places. I just hope this trend doesn't spread, but I suppose it will. It just seems like a really bad message to be sending to women: statistically speaking, your risk isn't significant enough for us to care about your health welfare. I recently got tested at the Valley Clinic in the LA area, and when I told the clinician about this new policy in SF (which I dealt with personally during a visit to SF this past winter), he was shocked. And by the way, the test they offer here, which is free, gets you results in just half an hour. I am thankful I live somewhere that I can still get decent, affordable, judgment-free healthcare.
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            • Star
              Star
              offline 103

              Re: where can you get a quick test in SF?

              Sat, November 18, 2006 - 11:15 PM
              HIV Rapid Testing is free at the Berkeley Public Health Clinic on 5th and University on Wed 6p-8p. And you can do it anonymously.

              Planned Parenthood tests men, too! My clinic in Sac does Rapid Tests, but they are private pays only, and cost $60. All other testing is scaled to your income. And Family Pact will cover those who wish to maintain confidentiality.

              GC/CT (gonorrhea/chlamydia) tests are pee-in-the-cup
              RPR and HIV are blood draws.
              You have to privately pay $48 for an HSV (herpes) blood test that will differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2.

              Results are generally back within a week. Yay!

              And syphilis is on the rise again. I've seen it a few times this year already, which is REALLY rare for our neck of the woods.
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