Background: Knowing one’s own seropositivity status of HIV/AIDS is important. Seropositivity can be
determined by a rapid HIV/AIDS test. Attitudes towards a rapid test of HIV/AIDS show a predisposition to perform the
analysis. Objective: This study investigated, the attitudes of students and staff in a Portuguese university toward rapid
HIV/AIDS test. Methods: In a convenience sample, the data was collected on campus in three consecutive years. A selfadministered
structured questionnaire was used for data collection. A validated scale for Portuguese students was applied. A
sample of 947 (86.3%) students and 150 (13.7%) teaching and non-teaching staff participated. The average age was 24.30
years-old (SD=8.64). Non-parametric tests were applied. Results: Attitudes of professors and non-teaching staff are more
favorable in relation to the rapid test of HIV/AIDS, compared to students. Attitudes are also more favorable in the first year in
which the study was conducted with both employees and students. The male students express more traditional attitudes.
Students of nursing polo have expressed more favorable attitudes to the rapid test of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: The attitudes
towards rapid test of HIV/AIDS are generally favorable. It is necessary to conduct further research considering professors and
other university staff. Improving favorable attitudes toward rapid HIV/AIDS test must be a positive fact for health