Free and Anonymous HIV & STI Testing in Rome: Where to Go and How It Works
Anonymous, free HIV testing with no ID required, ART therapy for everyone, NHS-covered PrEP, and emergency PEP within 72 hours. A complete guide to HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Rome.
In a Nutshell
In Rome you can get an HIV test for free and anonymously — no ID, no residence permit needed. Testing for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is also free through dedicated services. If you've had a risky sexual encounter, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is an emergency treatment you must start within 48–72 hours. If you are HIV-positive, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is free for everyone, no exceptions.
At a Glance
| Cost | HIV test: free and anonymous. STI screening: free (exemption code O01). ART therapy: always free, including undocumented migrants. PrEP: covered by Italy's NHS from 2024. PEP: free in A&E. |
| Timeline | Rapid test: 15–30 minutes. Standard blood test: 24–72 hours. HIV window period (4th-gen test): 20–30 days. |
| Where in Rome | Spallanzani, San Gallicano, Policlinico Umberto I, Gemelli, local ASL family clinics, NGOs (Anlaids, Mario Mieli, LILA). |
| Documents needed | For anonymous HIV test: none. For ART therapy: Tessera Sanitaria (Italian health card) or STP card. |
HIV Testing: Anonymous, Free, No Documents
Italian law guarantees that HIV testing is anonymous and free for everyone (Legge 135/1990). At dedicated centres you receive a numeric code — no personal data is recorded, and no one can share your result with family members, employers or schools.
You can choose between:
- Rapid test (finger-prick blood sample or oral swab): result in 15–30 minutes. Reliably conclusive 90 days after possible exposure.
- Standard blood test (venous draw, ELISA + Western Blot): result in 24–72 hours. Reliable from 30–60 days post-exposure.
- 4th-generation combination test (Combo Ag/Ab): can detect infection as early as 20–30 days after exposure.
In every case, there is a pre-test consultation (to assess your risk level and the relevant window period) and a post-test consultation (to go through the result together and, if positive, start care immediately).
Where to Get Tested in Rome
INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani — Italy's national infectious-disease reference centre:
- Via Portuense 292, 00149 Roma
- Anonymous HIV test (CAT unit): 06 5517 0667/0681 — Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00, walk-in, no appointment needed
- A&E (24/7): 06 5517 0700
- Website: inmi.it
Istituto San Gallicano IRCCS — the main STI reference clinic in Rome:
- Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Roma
- STI outpatient clinic: 06 5266 5304
- Website: ifo.it
Policlinico Umberto I:
- Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma
- HIV Test Centre / STI clinic: 06 4997 0865
Policlinico Gemelli:
- Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma
- HIV/STI outpatient clinic: 06 3015 4519
NGOs (free rapid tests, including evening appointments):
| Organisation | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Anlaids Lazio | Via Ostiense 169 | 06 4825999 |
| Circolo Mario Mieli | Via Efeso 2A | 06 5413985 |
| LILA Roma | Viale Trastevere 251 | 06 8841446 |
National freephone helpline: Telefono Verde AIDS-IST ISS — 800 86 11 61 (Mon–Fri 13:00–18:00, anonymous, free of charge).
STI Screening: Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and Others
For a full STI panel — syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, hepatitis B and C, HPV — San Gallicano is the go-to clinic, alongside the STI units at Policlinico Umberto I and Spallanzani. ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale — your local public-health authority) family clinics also offer STI prevention, Pap smears and HIV screening during pregnancy.
With exemption code O01 (Decreto Ministero Salute 1/02/1991) the screening is free if you've had a possible risk exposure. Otherwise you need a referral from your GP.
Had a Risky Encounter? PEP Can't Wait
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a 28-day course of three antiretroviral drugs that, when started within 48–72 hours of a risky contact, significantly reduces the chance of HIV infection. It is completely free of charge.
Where to go urgently:
- A&E — INMI Spallanzani — Via Portuense 292 — 24/7
- A&E — Policlinico Umberto I — ask specifically for the infectious-disease specialist (infettivologo)
- A&E — San Camillo-Forlanini — Circonvallazione Gianicolense 87
Don't wait until tomorrow. Every hour lost reduces PEP's effectiveness.
If You Are HIV-Positive: ART Is Your Right
An HIV-positive diagnosis is life-changing news, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) today allows for a normal life expectancy. These drugs suppress the virus until it becomes undetectable in the blood — and when that happens, the virus is no longer transmissible to partners (the U=U principle: Undetectable = Untransmittable).
ART is free for everyone, regardless of nationality or immigration status: it falls within the essential healthcare guaranteed even to undocumented migrants (D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 35). Medication is collected from the hospital pharmacy. Follow-up appointments are every 3–6 months.
PrEP: Prevention Before Exposure
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a daily medication (Truvada or Descovy) for HIV-negative people at high risk of exposure. Since 2024 it is covered by Italy's SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale — Italy's national health service) (Determina AIFA agosto 2023). To access it you need a visit with an infectious-disease specialist, a negative HIV test, an STI screening and a risk-factor assessment. The cycle repeats every 3 months.
PrEP centres in Rome: Spallanzani (PrEP clinic: 06 5517 0455), Policlinico Umberto I, San Gallicano, Policlinico Tor Vergata.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Never pay for an HIV test. It is always free at public facilities and NGOs. If a private lab charges you without explaining you have a right to a free test elsewhere, walk away.
- Don't delay PEP. It only works if you start it within 48–72 hours. Once that window closes, it is no longer effective.
- Don't stop ART. It doesn't eliminate the virus, but it makes it untransmittable and protects your immune system. Stopping treatment is dangerous.
Special Cases
Undocumented migrant? You have full rights to both testing and treatment. The HIV test is anonymous — no documents needed. To access ART, you only need an STP card (Straniero Temporaneamente Presente — a free card available from any ASL for non-EU migrants without a residence permit, renewable every 6 months). The law explicitly prohibits healthcare staff from reporting you to immigration authorities simply because you sought medical care (D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 35 c.5).
Pregnant? HIV testing during pregnancy is mandatory and free (code M50). If you are positive, ART reduces the risk of transmission to your newborn to under 1%.
Victim of sexual violence? The Centro Soccorso Violenza Sessuale at Policlinico Umberto I (Viale del Policlinico 155 — 06 49972489, 24/7) provides priority access, immediate PEP, full STI screening and free psychological support.
Under 18? The 2024 ISS guidelines protect a minor's autonomy regarding sexual health: you can request an HIV test and counselling without parental consent if you are capable of understanding and making decisions.
Official Sources
- Ministry of Health — HIV
- INMI Spallanzani
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità — AIDS
- Uniti Contro l'AIDS (Ministry of Health)
- Policlinico Umberto I — Infectious Diseases
- Policlinico Gemelli — Infectious Diseases
- IFO — San Gallicano
- Salute Lazio — Infectious Diseases
- AIFA — PrEP Determination
Legal references: Legge 135/1990, DM 9/04/1990, Decreto Min. Salute 1/02/1991 (exemption code O01), DPCM 12/01/2017 (LEA), D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 35, Determina AIFA 03/08/2023 (PrEP), Linee Guida ISS 2024.