HIV testing in Indiana — where to get tested, free options, what to expect

13,700 people are living with HIV in Indiana, and 41% of new diagnoses in 2022 were among Black residents. Getting tested is the first step — the CDC recommends at least one HIV test for every adult 13-64, and annual testing for anyone sexually active with more than one partner or injecting drugs. Rapid tests return results in about 20 minutes from a fingerstick; laboratory tests take a few days but catch infections sooner after exposure (as early as 10 days with a nucleic-acid test).

Where to test for free in Indiana: every county health department runs an STI / HIV testing clinic, and Indiana Department of Health, Division of HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis contracts with community-based organizations to operate walk-in rapid testing with evening and Saturday hours. No ID or insurance is required at these sites. Confidentiality is protected — state law requires public-health HIV testing results to stay out of your medical record unless you authorize release, and anonymous testing (no name collected) is available at most community sites.

What to expect: a pre-test conversation about risk and what a positive result would mean, the test itself (either fingerstick or blood draw), and post-test counseling. If the rapid test is reactive, the counselor draws blood for a confirmatory Western blot or antigen/antibody test. If you're positive, you'll be linked to a Ryan White Part C clinic for same-week HIV primary care and ADAP enrollment if you qualify by income.

The Indiana HIV info line is 1-317-233-7432; staff can point you to the nearest free testing site, schedule PrEP, and help you navigate insurance or no-insurance options. Long-time Black residents name Eskenazi Health LifeCare Clinic and Damien Center as the local institutions that show up consistently — both are listed below.

Eskenazi Health LifeCare Clinic. The LifeCare Clinic at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis is Indiana's largest Ryan White Part C grantee, serving about 4,200 people living with HIV; LifeCare hosts the Damien Center peer-navigation program for Black clients transferring in from jail or incarceration.

Damien Center. The Damien Center in Indianapolis is Indiana's oldest HIV service organization, operating the state's Ryan White Part B case-management contract and the PrEP-linkage clinic on North Park Avenue with walk-in evening hours.