Guide
HIV testing in the Philippines — where to go and what to expect
HIV testing in the Philippines is free and confidential at every DOH-designated facility. As of December 31, 2025 there are 338 designated facilities nationwide — 192 treatment hubs and 146 primary HIV care facilities. This guide explains what each one does, what to expect on the day, and how to find the nearest option.
Source: Department of Health Circular No. 2026-0065, Annex A. General information, not medical advice — for anything personal, talk with a healthcare provider you trust.
Who runs HIV testing in the Philippines
Under Republic Act No. 11166 (the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act), the Department of Health designates public and private hospitals and clinics to provide HIV services. Testing at these facilities is confidential and accessible regardless of where you live.
The 338 designated facilities span every region — from Baguio General Hospital and the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in the north to Cebu South Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, and DOGH Arts Clinic in the south. The full directory is available on our facilities page.
Treatment hub vs primary HIV care facility
DOH designates two kinds of facility. Either can be your starting point for testing.
Treatment hub
192 facilities nationwide
Outpatient and inpatient services. Hubs handle testing, starting antiretroviral treatment (ART), ongoing care, and admission when someone needs hospital-level support. Most are tertiary hospitals with an HIV/AIDS Core Team (HACT).
Primary HIV care facility
146 facilities nationwide
Outpatient services. Primary care facilities — including local health offices, wellness centers, and clinics — provide testing, counseling, and continued ART for stable clients. They refer to a hub when inpatient care is needed.
How a confirmed result is reached (RHIVDA)
The Philippines uses the Rapid HIV Diagnostic Algorithm (RHIVDA) — a sequence of rapid tests done at the facility. A reactive first test is followed by additional confirmatory tests. Only a DOH-licensed certified RHIVDA confirmatory laboratory can issue a confirmed positive result. This keeps a single reactive test from being treated as a diagnosis on its own.
Many treatment hubs are also confirmatory labs, so the full sequence often happens in one visit. If not, your facility coordinates the confirmatory step for you.
What to expect at a visit
- Pre-test counseling. A nurse or counselor walks you through what the test is, what the possible results mean, and answers any questions. Nothing is disclosed to anyone else.
- Rapid test. A small finger-prick blood sample. Results from the first rapid test are usually ready within 15–30 minutes.
- Confirmatory tests if the first is reactive. Additional rapid tests are run on the same day at facilities with a RHIVDA confirmatory laboratory.
- Post-test counseling. Whether the result is non-reactive or confirmed positive, you sit down with a counselor to talk through next steps — prevention, repeat testing windows, or starting treatment.
Bring a valid ID if you have one. Many facilities will see you without an appointment; some prefer that you call or message ahead. Contact details for each facility are on the directory.
Find a facility near you
Two ways to start, depending on what you know.
If your result is positive
A confirmed positive result is the start of treatment, not the end of a normal life. People living with HIV who start antiretroviral therapy (ART) early and stay on it can expect a long, healthy life, and once the virus is suppressed it cannot be passed on sexually (U=U: undetectable equals untransmittable).
ART is provided at every DOH-designated facility. The facility that confirms your result will either start treatment themselves or refer you to the nearest hub. Antiretroviral medication is procured centrally and tracked through OHASIS, so supply is coordinated across the country.
Self-test kits & pricing
Awaiting verified source
This section will cover HIV self-test kits available in the Philippines and what facility-based testing typically costs. We have not published it yet because we do not have a current, verified source — kit availability, FDA-registered brands, and facility pricing change often, and publishing anything second-hand here could send you to the wrong place or the wrong price.
In the meantime: testing at every DOH-designated facility listed in this directory is free and confidential. If you need a confirmed answer today, that is the most reliable route.
Have a citable source (DOH, FDA Philippines, RITM, Philippine Red Cross, or a partner clinic's published price list)? Send it through feedback and we will fill this section in with attribution.
Privacy and your rights
Under RA 11166, your HIV status is confidential. Facilities cannot disclose it to employers, schools, or family members without your written consent. Testing of anyone under 15 generally requires parental or guardian consent; adolescents 15–17 may consent to testing on their own under the law.
If you experience discrimination connected to your status, the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) and DOH have grievance mechanisms. Your facility's HACT can point you to them.