Electric Van Brings Free STI Testing to South Florida

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections just became easier and more accessible across South Florida, thanks to a new mobile clinic that comes to you.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation unveiled "Wellness on Wheels" in August 2026, a first-of-its-kind fully electric mobile testing vehicle. The service offers free STI testing, HIV care connections, and access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) through onsite telehealth visits.

This isn't just a simple testing van. Packed inside a vehicle slightly larger than a standard delivery truck is a complete medical suite: an exam bed, phlebotomy services, a full bathroom, vaccination area, centrifuge, processing station, and medical-grade refrigeration.

"Our other units were smaller," explained Samantha Vega, AHF's deputy director of testing programs. "We didn't have components like restrooms or lab chairs and things like that to conduct STI and PrEP services."

The mobile unit represents a significant expansion from AHF's previous vehicles, which only offered HIV testing. Now the organization can provide comprehensive sexual health services wherever they're needed most.

Anyone without insurance can use the service completely free. Even better, communities can request the vehicle to set up at locations throughout South Florida, bringing healthcare directly to neighborhoods that might lack easy access to testing facilities.

The Ripple Effect

This mobile clinic addresses a critical healthcare gap. Transportation barriers and lack of nearby clinics often prevent people from getting regular STI testing, even though early detection and treatment are crucial for both individual and community health.

By eliminating these obstacles, "Wellness on Wheels" makes preventive care accessible to populations who need it most. The electric vehicle design also means the service operates without adding emissions to the communities it serves.

The initiative's success could reshape how organizations deliver healthcare to underserved areas. AHF plans to launch a similar vehicle in Las Vegas later this year, suggesting this model could expand nationwide.

South Florida's new mobile clinic proves that healthcare innovation can be both high-tech and human-centered, meeting people exactly where they are.