The Short Version

Porto has its own GAT testing centre offering free, anonymous rapid testing for gay and bisexual men. For bacterial swab testing, you will need to go to Hospital São João or a private lab — the same principle as Lisbon.

GAT Porto

Operator: GAT (Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos) Website: gat.pt Location: Rua de Camões 90, Porto (check gat.pt for any address updates) Hours: Check gat.pt for current schedule

GAT Porto offers the same core services as CheckpointLX in Lisbon:

  • Rapid HIV test (result in 20 minutes)
  • Rapid syphilis test
  • Rapid hepatitis C test
  • Counselling and referrals
  • PrEP and PEP navigation
  • Condoms and lube

Free and anonymous. No SNS number required.

CAD Porto (Centro de Aconselhamento e Detecção)

The CAD (Counselling and Detection Centre) at Hospital Santo António offers HIV counselling and testing with a more clinical structure. This is an SNS service — it is not anonymous but it is free. The CAD is useful if you want to be formally registered for follow-up care or if you are seeking a referral into the PrEP programme.

Hospital Santo António: Largo Professor Abel Salazar, Porto Phone: 222 077 500

The Three-Site Testing Gap

As in Lisbon, rapid tests at GAT Porto cover HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C. They do not cover bacterial STIs that require swabs.

A complete screen for gay and bisexual men requires:

  • Zaragatoa faríngea — throat swab (gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the throat)
  • Zaragatoa retal — rectal swab (gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the rectum)
  • Zaragatoa uretral — urethral swab (gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the urethra)

These are especially important because throat and rectal gonorrhoea and chlamydia are usually symptomless.

For bacterial swab testing in Porto:

  • Hospital São João — Doenças Infecciosas outpatient; Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro; free with SNS referral
  • Hospital Santo António — via CAD or Dermatovenereologia
  • Private labs — Synevo or Germano de Sousa branches in Porto; no referral needed; roughly €60–120 for a full panel

GAT Porto staff can advise on which route makes most sense for your situation.

Practical Summary

For rapid HIV/syphilis/HCV: GAT Porto — free, anonymous For full bacterial panel: Hospital São João or private lab For referrals into PrEP: GAT Porto or CAD Santo António

See also: Testing in Lisbon | PrEP access