Magnet

Welcome to Magnet

Quality sexual health care means getting access to an entire list of services you need to maintain your health. Magnet, our sexual health clinic in the Castro, has been your place for STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and linkage to care, PrEP services, anal health services and more.

Since 2003, Magnet has served the community believing that we each are able to make our own decisions about health and wellness, that everyone should be able to access health care, that we all have a right to satisfying sex lives free from guilt and shame, and that diversity makes our community stronger.

Magnet is located on the second floor at Strut, 470 Castro Street, San Francisco.

Our Services

Sexual Health & Testing HIV, hep C & STI testing; linkage to treatment, anal health care, hormone level checks, pregnancy tests & more   HIV & STI Testing Free testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at multiple locations across San Francisco   STI Treatment Get care for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, vaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and more   PrEP & PEP Highly effective HIV prevention medication with benefits navigation and insurance support    Condoms & Safer Sex Supplies Free internal and external condoms, lube, dental dams and other safer sex supplies    Anal Health Treatments for anal fissures & anal warts, testing for rectal STIs and info about butt health topics   Trans Health Hormone level checks, social support, PrEP services and more for trans, non-binary, genderqueer, and GNC.   Vaccinations We offer free vaccinations and immunizations, effective ways to prevent the transmission of serious diseases.  
Get your test results & make appointments through our online client portal. If you have not activated your client portal, please call the services navigation team at 415-581-1600 to have it turned on.
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Hours of Operation

  • Monday: 10 am to 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 6 pm
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 8 pm
  • Wednesday: 10 am to 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 8 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 8 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 1 pm, 3 pm to 6 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm to 6 pm
  • Sunday: Closed

Walk-in appointments are accepted until one hour before scheduled closing time. For same-day walk-in appointments, we recommend that you plan to arrive prior to clinic open hours.

Make an Appointment

Drop in for a same-day appointment or make an appointment online. Drop-in appointment times fill up quickly and are not guaranteed.

SEXUAL HEALTH SCREEN APPOINTMENT

Sexual health screen appointments are for people who have symptoms, want to talk to a clinician, are a new client, have been exposed to an STI, want to access anal health services or vaccinations. You can make an appointment online or walk-in for a same-day appointment.


New Clients Existing Clients

PREP APPOINTMENT


PrEP Enrollment PrEP Follow-Up

STI TREATMENT APPOINTMENT

This treatment appointment is for Magnet clients who received a notification from Magnet to schedule a visit. Clients who self-schedule and were not notified to do so will have their appointment cancelled.


STI Treatment

HIV MEDS FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

We can provide HIV medications to people who are running out of medications or otherwise don’t have access to their medication in some circumstances. If you are traveling in the Bay Area, and lose your medication or run out, stop in to see us at Magnet at Strut for assistance.

"I've been to a lot of different places to test and out of them all I really love Magnet and particularly this location in Castro. The counselors are sweethearts and they are very nice and professional here. It's very conveniently located.”
Krishna V.

Magnet Express

Magnet Express is a walk-in service for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. Magnet Express is an available option if you have been to Magnet for testing before and are returning for routine testing. With Magnet Express, your visit will be approximately 10-15 minutes so there’s only a limited time to talk about concerns or ask questions about your sexual health. During your visit, a phlebotomist will draw your blood and you’ll get instructions about how to collect swab samples for STI tests on site.

If you currently have symptoms of an STI or if you’ve recently been exposed to an STI, please visit Magnet for a full sexual health visit. Please call us if you have any questions at 415-581-1600.

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Number of unique Magnet clients served in Fiscal Year 2019

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Number of HIV tests provided in Fiscal Year 2018

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Estimated percentage of PrEP provided in San Francisco through our program

Meet Our Team

Felipe Flores

Associate Director, PrEP and HIV Positive Services

Spanish

Pronouns: He/him/they/them
415-437-3450
prep@sfaf.org

Chris Hall, MD

Christopher Hall, MD, MS, AAHIVS

Vice President, Medical Affairs

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Read Bio

Chris Hall, MD

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Christopher Hall, MD, MS, AAHIVS

Vice President, Medical Affairs

Dr. Christopher Hall provides clinical and administrative leadership for medical services and related research at San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Christopher implements and manages the foundation’s clinically-related strategic priorities and opportunities. He has more than 30 years of experience in the HIV movement as a leader, clinical provider, researcher and policy advocate.

Christopher began working in HIV in the late 1980s when he joined the staff of the National AIDS Network in Washington, DC, which supported the burgeoning network of AIDS service providers in the early HIV epidemic. He then worked with the National Hemophilia Foundation and later, San Francisco's Health Initiatives for Youth (HIFY). He has supported the efforts of the California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center since 2004, having previously served as the center’s medical affairs director, and subsequently (and since) by providing medical consultation for the statewide and regional training center and STD Control Branch of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Between 2010 and 2019, Christopher served as medical co-director and an HIV care physician for East Bay Advanced Care (formerly East Bay AIDS Center or EBAC). Prior to his current role, he had been the medical director of Magnet, the foundation’s sexual health clinic in the Castro.

Christopher attended University of Virginia and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed internal medicine and infectious diseases training at Brigham & Women's Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco, followed by a CDPH STD Fellowship.

DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

You can either make an online appointment or walk-in for a same-day sexual health services including testing for HIV and screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Please call us if you have any questions at 415-581-1600.

DO I NEED A FULL SEXUAL HEALTH EXAM?

If you think you might have symptoms, want to talk to a clinician, are a new client, or have been exposed to an STI, you’ll need a full sexual health visit. You can make an appointment online or walk-in for a same-day appointment.

I’M A NEW CLIENT. HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

New clients can make an appointment online. Please note: The online appointment system will ask you how you will pay. There are no costs associated with your visit, but we are unable to remove this question. Please select “Cash Pay” so that you can book your appointment. There is no charge.

I’M AN EXISTING CLIENT. HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

Existing clients may make appointments by accessing your online patient portal or through the Healow App.

DOES MAGNET TAKE WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS?

Yes, Magnet serves a high volume of walk-ins each day. Clients who arrive first are served first. Appointments cannot be taken over the phone. Due to high demand for our services, appointment slots can fill up quickly, so if you choose to walk in we recommend arriving early in the day before we open to schedule your appointment.

CAN I COME IN FOR A MAGNET EXPRESS VISIT?

Magnet Express is a walk-in-only service. To avoid a wait, avoid early morning walk-in times. Walk-in Magnet Express appointments are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Mondays and Saturdays from 10:30 am – 1 pm, and 2:30 pm – 4 pm
Fridays from 10:30 am – 1 pm, and 3 pm – 4 pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 am – 1 pm, and 2:30 pm – 6 pm

WHEN DO I GET TEST RESULTS?

Results are available 10 business days after your visit. Please do not come back for results before this waiting period. Results of rapid HIV tests are given the same day.

If any of your tests come back positive, we will contact you and ask you to come back for treatment.

Individuals with negative test results are not contacted. You will be able to see your test results in your online patient portal.

I MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO HIV IN THE LAST 72 HOURS. DO I NEED PEP?

For people who have potentially been exposed to HIV in the previous 72 hours, we offer full Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) services with a full month of the medication provided for free. PEP should be considered if you were sexually assaulted, if you were stuck by a needle or if you shared injection drug use equipment with someone of an unknown HIV status, or if you had a condom break or you had condomless anal sex with a person of unknown HIV status or someone with a detectable HIV viral load. People with undetectable viral loads do not transmit HIV.

If you think you need PEP, call us at 415-581-1600 before coming to Magnet so that we can be sure that we can see you. If we are unable to see you, we can refer you to another clinic for PEP. PEP should be taken as soon as possible and within 72 hours after the potential HIV exposure. Every hour counts. Do not wait – call us right away.