Can you imagine? I made this article over 12 years ago and it became the most visited article for HIV in the entire Philippines! This is why I am always updating this article to reflect latest important changes as of 2025.

Recently, HIV is rising fast in the Philippines specially among the youth in Urban areas like Metro Manila. The lack of information on how to get tested is a major contributing factor why HIV is spreading like wild fire. Below are the top 5 best ways to get tested for HIV/AIDS if you are living in the Philippines with #1 being the best and the most recommended.

5. Public Hospitals

This is the first on our list and perhaps the most common method of HIV testing performed in our country. Please do take note however that not all hospitals have the facility to test for HIV so ensure that the hospital that you are going to includes HIV testing as one of their diagnostic services. Click here to see the exhaustive full lists of all 286 HIV testing sites in the Philippines. BE PREPARED, these are all public HIV testing centers so please do take note that in case you will test positive, they will have to record you and ask you about your sexual contacts for contact tracing. This is required under the law stipulated in Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998. So if you are not comfortable telling them your sexual contact history, skip ahead.

PROS: Cheap.
CONS: Privacy issues. Health professionals in public hospitals and hygiene clinics are sometimes judgmental and probing on your sexual history. If you will test positive, you will be recorded, monitored and contact traced as required by law. There was one time when I got tested in San Lazaro and the nurse that is getting a blood sample says to me “Ikaw kasi eh, pag nag negative ka magpakalalaki ka na para hindi ka na nag papa test.” It shocked me at first because I thought, how did she knew I am gay? But I think it was a stereotype and she just assumed that all male patients seeking HIV testing are gay. To be fair, not all testing centers are like this and it was just a personal experience.

4. Free HIV Testing Sites

A “little bit” better than #5. These HIV testing sites are satellite clinics of RITM or Research Institute for Tropical Medicine which is the main HIV research center in the Philippines. Testing is free and staffs are a little bit friendlier than the stressed out staffs in the hospitals but then again, Lines are usually long as they serve hundreds of clients a day and it might take 2 hours before getting tested. Privacy here is worse than in Hospitals not because of the staffs which are very friendly and nice, but because of people like you that is falling in line to be tested. Your are basically screwed if someone you know is there. A small space with 30-50 people at any given time, most of which are men having sex with men, expect some people are going to talk. For more details, contact them at:

LoveYourself Anglo
Unit 5, 3/F Anglo Building, #715-A Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
Mobile: 0997 658 2437

LoveYourself Welcome
858 Blumentritt Road corner Remedios Street, Sampaloc, Manila
Mobile: 0967 207 1976

Victoria by LoveYourself
2/F Torres Building, 2442 Park Avenue, Libertad, Pasay City
Mobile: 0915 831 8715

Lily by LoveYourself x DIOSSA
5/F Pineda Building, #98 Manalac Avenue, Parañaque City
Mobile: 0917 155 5955

LoveYourself White House (Cebu)
6 A. Morales Street, Camputhaw, Cebu City
Mobile: 0961 573 6493

Hero by LoveYourself (Cavite)
EMA Building #5–6, Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Bacoor, Cavite
Mobile: 0956 490 3747

General Contact
Email: info@loveyourself.ph
Mobile: 0998 563 7307

PROS: Free. Friendly and accommodating staffs. Free counseling services.
CONS: Not for the discreet type since there are many people here. I heard horror stories of a discreet guy seeing his dad getting tested before him(Que Horror!!!). Minimum waiting time is 2 hours. Entire testing will take 2 to 3 hours. Please call them first before going there because they are not open everyday. You should also arrive early because they have cut off time.

3. St. Luke’s Medical Center HIV Clinic

If you have 3,000 pesos, then this is better than #5 and #4. You will simply visit their hospital either in Quezon City or Global City between 8 A.M up to 5 P.M only, just go to the information desk and ask for “HIV Testing” they will forward you to an outpatient clinic where you will have to fill up a form with your name, address, etc. etc. and what blood tests do you want to perform.

HIV Testing Process at St. Luke’s Medical Center (Quezon City or Global City)

Go to the Outpatient Laboratory or Front Desk

• Inform them that you want to take an HIV test.
• Present a valid ID.

Payment

• Pay for the test at the cashier.
• Estimated cost is around ₱3,176 (as of 2025).

Receive Laboratory Form

• After payment, you’ll be given a lab request or instruction slip.

Blood Sample Collection

• Proceed to the laboratory area.
• A medical staff will collect your blood sample via vein puncture.

Sample Processing

• The blood sample will be tested in their serology or immunology section.

Result Release

• Results are typically available within 2-3 days. They will text you when results are ready. You can also check results online via the website that they will give to you post test.
• If positive or reactive, you may be referred to their infectious disease specialist for confirmatory testing and counseling.

St. Luke’s Quezon City
Address: 279 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City
Phone: (02) 8723 0101

St. Luke’s Global City (BGC)
Address: Rizal Drive corner 32nd Street and 5th Avenue, Taguig City
Phone: (02) 8789 7700

PROS: More private than #5 and #4. Very few people, if there is any, getting tested. Results are checked online.
CONS: Most expensive in the list at ₱3,176 for the initial screening test. Results can take up to 2-3 days depending on the workload.

2. The Medical City I-REACT Clinic

Medical city is one of the few hospitals in the Philippines that has its own HIV Treatment facility. Basically same as #3 I just put it in #2 because they are more “specialized” than St. Lukes when it comes to HIV testing and treatment. Testing hours is from 8 A.M up to 5 P.M only, the testing hub is located at the Mezzanine floor of the ER complex.

HIV Testing Process at The Medical City (I-REACT Clinic)

Appointment Scheduling

• Call (02) 988-1000 or (02) 988-7000 local 6765 to set an appointment.
• Clinic hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Initial Screening Test

• Initial screening costs about ₱2,595 (as of 2025).
• A blood sample will be drawn for an HIV antibody screening test.
• The procedure is confidential and requires informed consent.

Non-Reactive Result

• If your test is non-reactive, this likely means you are not infected.
• If exposure was recent, you may be advised to retest after 3 to 6 months.

Reactive Result

• If your test is reactive, a confirmatory test (such as Western Blot or immunoblot) will be conducted.
• Pre- and post-test counseling is provided to help you understand the results and next steps.

Confirmatory & Follow-Up Care

• If confirmed positive, you will be referred to The Medical City’s Infectious Disease specialists.
• Additional tests such as CD4 count and viral load will be performed.
• You will receive guidance on starting antiretroviral therapy (ART), which is available for free through the Department of Health.
• Psychosocial support, mental health services, and treatment for opportunistic infections are also available.

Contact Information
Clinic Name: I-REACT Clinic, The Medical City
Location: Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City
Phone: (02) 988-1000 or (02) 988-7000 local 6765
Main Line: (02) 8988-1000 or 7000
Email: mail@themedicalcity.com

PROS: More specialized than St. Lukes but basically almost the same.
CONS: It will take 2-3 days for the results to be ready. Costs ₱2,595 for the initial screening test.

1. HIVTESTKIT.PH 99% Accuracy HIV Home Test Kits

In my opinion, the best way to get tested is just to test at home but please be careful of buying HIV home test kits online specially in Shopee/Lazada as most of them are bogus, inaccurate or just scams with no accuracy data or certification to back them up. Buy only from a reputable site. I highly recommend HIV test kit Philippines. They offer good brands of testing kit, Core Tests (USFDA testing kit) and Seroquick (Korea FDA testing kit). The kit costs 1,280 pesos for the latest 4th generation HIV test and the site contains all the details and instructions on how to use it and how to read the results. You can read their accuracy report by clicking here. They offer pretest and post test counseling. Their counselors are very nice, friendly and accommodating and all of them are either doctors or nurses so they really know what they are talking about. They also have a very wide knowledge when it comes to treatment options and referrals which includes overseas referral.

Result sent to me as reference photo by a fellow blogger who has HIV.

PROS: 100% Anonymous and private. Results in 10 minutes. Accuracy is similar to hospital tests. Can be performed at home. Free nationwide delivery. They offer same day delivery as well for Metro Manila and nearby areas. They offer free counseling services + referral services to any treatment option you prefer including overseas that is not offered anywhere.
CONS: Not free and not for the technically challenged.

So there you have it. The top 5 ways to get tested for HIV in the Philippines, ranked from “meh but free” to “super discreet and fast but not for tito na walang GCash.” Whether you’re testing at a clinic or in your pajamas at home, the important thing is you’re doing it. Stay informed, stay safe, and remember: if I knew back in 2011 this article would blow up like this, I would’ve picked a cooler font. Ang laki teh! Stay fabulous and get tested!