HIV testing in New Hampshire, where to get tested, free options, what to expect

1,500 people are living with HIV in New Hampshire, and 17% 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 New Hampshire: every county health department runs an STI / HIV testing clinic, and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control 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 New Hampshire HIV info line is 1-800-852-3345; 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 Dartmouth Hitchcock Infectious Disease & International Health Clinic and Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force as the local institutions that show up consistently, both are listed below.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Infectious Disease & International Health Clinic. The Dartmouth Hitchcock ID Clinic in Lebanon is New Hampshire's largest Ryan White Part C grantee, serving about 800 people living with HIV across the state through the Upper Valley service footprint and a twice-monthly Manchester satellite.

Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force. The Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force in Nashua operates Ryan White Part B case management across Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, which account for roughly 60% of the state's people living with HIV.