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.

Waiting for answers is often the hardest part of getting tested. The good news is that some tests can give a result during your visit. Others need a lab and take a few days.

This guide explains which is which, how to plan a visit, and what to expect. It also covers the free and low-cost options available in Fort Lauderdale. If you want to see the clinics first, the local testing list has them in one place.

The short answer: what "same day" can and cannot mean

Same day std testing in Fort Lauderdale usually means one of two things. You can be tested the same day you walk in, or you can get a result before you leave. These are not the same thing.

Walk-in testing is common here. A result on the spot is available only for certain tests.

Often available the same day: rapid HIV tests. Some places also offer rapid syphilis tests. Ask whether a site has them.
Usually sent to a lab: chlamydia and gonorrhea tests. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) as the recommended way to test for these infections. NAAT samples typically go to a lab, so results often take one to three days.
Varies by clinic: herpes, hepatitis B and C, and trichomoniasis testing. Ask how the clinic handles each one.

So how long do std test results take? It depends on the test and the clinic. A rapid test can take minutes. A lab test can take days. Your clinic can give you its own timeline when you sign in or call.

Materials you will need

You do not need much. A short checklist helps the visit go smoothly.

A photo ID, if you have one. Ask the clinic whether it is required. Some sites may not need it.
Your insurance card, if you have insurance. Several local sites accept insurance, Medicaid or both, but free options exist for people without it.
A phone number where you can be reached privately for lab results.
A short list of the dates and types of recent exposures. You do not need to share more than you want to, but a clinician can pick tests more accurately with some context.
A list of any medicines you take, including PrEP or doxycycline if a clinician prescribed it.
A note of any symptoms and when they started.
About an hour of flexibility. Walk-in clinics can have a line.

Step-by-step: how to get tested in Fort Lauderdale

Step 1: Decide which tests you want to ask about

A clinician can help you choose. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) list the infections that are commonly tested for, depending on age, body parts exposed, and partners. Common ones include HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

You can ask for a full panel. You can also say, "I would like to know what you recommend." Both are fine.

Step 2: Think about timing

Every infection has a window period. This is the time after an exposure when a test may not yet detect the infection. A test taken too early can come back negative even if an infection is present.

The CDC gives these windows for HIV, depending on the test type:

A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after an exposure.
A lab antigen/antibody test using a blood draw from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after an exposure.
Rapid antigen/antibody tests done with a finger stick can take longer, usually 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests, including most rapid tests and self-tests, can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, ask a clinician or check the CDC's STI pages for current guidance. If your exposure was recent, a clinician may suggest testing now and again later. That is a normal part of care, not a sign that something went wrong.

If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last few days, tell the clinic right away. The CDC describes post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as a medicine a clinician can prescribe that must be started quickly after an exposure. The Florida Department of Health offers a PrEP and PEP locator, linked from the DOH-Broward HIV pages.

Step 3: Choose a place and check the hours

Walk-in versus appointment is the biggest practical difference between sites. Here is what is published for Fort Lauderdale. Hours and policies can change, so call before you go.

Site	Walk-in or appointment	Cost as published	What is published
Broward Wellness Center, 750 SE 3rd Ave., 1st Floor, Fort Lauderdale (DOH-Broward free walk-in STI clinic)	Walk-in	Free	DOH-Broward lists free walk-in testing and treatment, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV testing. Phone 954-767-0273.
Care Resource, 871 W Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale	Walk-in listed; appointment not required	Sliding scale	The CDC GetTested listing shows rapid and blood-draw HIV tests, plus herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. Phone (954) 567-7141.
Fort Lauderdale Health Center (DOH-Broward), 2421 SW 6th Ave	Appointment required	Free tests listed; accepts insurance, Medicaid and sliding scale	The CDC NPIN listing says HIV testing hours vary, so call for details. Phone 954-467-4700.
CAN Community Health, 315 S.E. 14th Street, Fort Lauderdale	Not published	Not published	The clinic's page lists STD testing and treatment and PrEP. Phone (754) 701-6920. Ask about cost and walk-in policy.
Planned Parenthood Pembroke Pines Health Center, 263 N University Dr, Pembroke Pines	Walk-in listed; appointment not required	Not published	This is outside the city. The CDC GetTested listing shows rapid HIV testing and tests for hepatitis B and C, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Phone (954) 989-5747. Contact the clinic about eligibility.

For the Broward Wellness Center, DOH-Broward lists these hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday. DOH-Broward asks visitors to sign in one hour before closing. Other pages list different hours, so confirm by phone. The STD Line is 954-298-6585.

CAN Community Health lists Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Care Resource and Planned Parenthood listings do not show hours, and the CDC page says to check the organization's website.

You can also browse other options at gettested.cdc.gov, the CDC's testing locator.

Step 4: Make a short call before you go

A two-minute call can save a trip. Here are good questions to ask:

Do you take walk-ins today, or do I need an appointment?
Which tests do you offer, and which give results during the visit?
How long do lab results take, and how will you share them?
What will it cost, or is there a sliding scale?
What are the hours today, and when should I arrive?

Step 5: Get tested

At the visit, a staff member will usually ask a few questions about your health and recent exposures. They are there to choose the right tests, not to judge you.

Depending on the test, you may give a urine sample, a swab, a finger stick or a blood draw. Swabs can be taken from the throat, rectum or genitals, depending on what you have been exposed to. The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend testing the body sites that were exposed, so it helps to be open about this.

Step 6: Ask how you will get your results

Before you leave, confirm how and when the clinic will reach you. Ask whether they will call, text or ask you to return. Give a number where you can speak privately.

A rapid test may be read before you leave. Lab results arrive later. Either way, the clinic will tell you what the result means and what comes next.

Step 7: Plan for follow-up

If a test is positive, a clinician can explain next steps. The CDC says bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment from a clinician. HIV and herpes cannot be cured, but both are treatable and manageable with care from a clinician.

If your result is negative, ask whether you should test again later because of the window period. Also ask about prevention options such as vaccines or PrEP.

What to expect from your results

Results look different depending on the test. Here is what you may see.

A rapid HIV test: Results may be ready in about 20 minutes or less, according to the CDC. A negative result may mean no HIV was detected at that time. A reactive (preliminary positive) result needs a follow-up test to confirm.
A lab test: Results may take a few days. For chlamydia and gonorrhea NAATs, one to three days is typical, though it can vary by lab and clinic.
An inconclusive or unclear result: This can happen. A clinician may ask for another sample or a repeat test later.

No test is perfect, and timing matters. A clinician is the right person to explain what your particular std test results mean for you.

Tips for a smoother visit

Go early in the day. Walk-in clinics can fill up. Remember the sign-in cutoff at the Broward Wellness Center is one hour before closing.
Bring a list of questions. It is easy to forget them once you are there.
Ask about all your options. Some sites offer PrEP, HPV vaccine and hepatitis vaccines. The CDC GetTested listing for Care Resource shows hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV vaccines.
Ask about partner notification. DOH-Broward lists confidential counseling and partner notification for its clinic.
Consider a home option for HIV and syphilis. DOH-Broward offers free HIV and syphilis self-testing kits. Call 954-847-8132 or complete the request form on the DOH-Broward HIV Counseling and Testing page. Florida DOH also points to knowyourhivstatus.com for a free at-home HIV test. The page does not describe mail-order details, so check them yourself.

Common mistakes to avoid

Testing too soon after an exposure. A test taken inside the window period may not detect an infection. Ask a clinician when to repeat it.
Assuming one test covers everything. A single HIV test does not test for syphilis or chlamydia. Ask which infections are included.
Skipping sites of exposure. A urine test alone may miss infections in the throat or rectum. Tell the clinician where you may have been exposed.
Not confirming hours. The Broward Wellness Center's hours differ across published pages. A quick call avoids a wasted trip.
Leaving without a plan for results. If a lab result comes by phone, make sure they have a number that works.
Waiting on a positive result. Prompt care helps. The CDC notes that bacterial STIs can be cured, so there is a clear path forward.

Privacy, minors and Florida law

Florida law gives minors some room to get care. Under Florida Statute 384.30, the Department of Health, licensed physicians, certain licensed nurses and health facilities may examine and treat minors for sexually transmissible diseases without parental consent. The statute states no minimum age. It also says a minor's consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and must not be disclosed directly or indirectly, such as by sending a bill to a parent or guardian, except as provided in section 384.29.

Clinicians and labs must report certain infections to the health department. Florida Statute 384.25 requires anyone who diagnoses or treats a sexually transmissible disease, and any lab with a positive result, to report to the Department of Health within a period set by rule, not to exceed two weeks. This is a public health function. It is how health departments track and respond to infections.

For pregnant people, Florida Statute 384.31 and Rule 64D-3.042 of the Florida Administrative Code call for testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis at the first prenatal exam and again at 28 to 32 weeks. A person may decline in writing.

Expedited partner therapy, covered by Florida Statute 384.27(7), allows certain licensed practitioners to provide treatment for a partner in specific situations. Ask your clinician whether it applies to you.

If you were recently exposed or have symptoms

Do not wait for a convenient day if you have symptoms or a recent high-risk exposure. Call the DOH-Broward STD Line at 954-298-6585 or the main line at 954-467-4700. Staff can direct you to the right site.

The CDC's 2024 guidance on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) describes it as an option that a clinician may prescribe for some people at higher risk for certain bacterial STIs. It does not replace testing. Ask a clinician whether it is a fit for you.

Bottom line

Same-day testing is realistic in Fort Lauderdale, especially at walk-in sites. A result before you leave is most likely with rapid HIV testing. Chlamydia and gonorrhea results usually come from a lab in a few days.

Plan a short call, bring a few basics and ask about timing and follow-up. Free and low-cost options exist, and the local testing list and gettested.cdc.gov can help you pick a site.

Same-Day STD Testing in Fort Lauderdale: Rapid Tests and Quick Results