Abstract: Objective To analyze the cost structure of the HIV antibody testing and figure out the cost of identifying one HIV positive case, as well as its influential factors. Methods According to the definition of health economic evaluation, the cost of HIV antibody testing in HIV/AIDS testing laboratories mainly consisted of manpower cost, detection reagent cost, training cost, cost of samples transportation and relevant laboratory cost There trospective survey method was adopted to collect the HIV antibody testing cost information of different HIV antibody screening procedures in different labsorsites between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 in Fuyang City. The costs of the HIV antibody testing and its relevant influential factors were analyzed by descriptive statistical method. Results The total cost of 10 HIV/AIDS testing laboratories for HIV antibody testing was RMB 385 044.90 Yuan, and the mean cost was 38 504.50 Yuan (11 951.70-126 492.70). In terms of the whole cost construction, the proportions of manpower cost, detection reagent cost, and relevant laboratory cost were 31.4%, 31.3%, and 28.9%, respectively. While training cost and cost of samples transportation counted for only 8.4%. The mean cost of one HIV positive case identified by present HIV/AIDS testing laboratories was 9 626.10 Yuan. The average costs were 3 585.50 Yuan for CDC institutions and 43 856.40 Yuan for medical institutions to find one HIV positive case, respectively. The average costs were 43 856.40 Yuan, 3 622.70 Yuan, and 3 548.30 Yuan for finding one HIV-positive case in the HIV antibody screening laboratory, HIV antibody confirming laboratory, and HIV antibody screening central laboratory, respectively. The average preliminary screening cost was 18.50 Yuan(9.00 - 298.80) per case in HIV antibody preliminary screening laboratory in certain testing amount (estimating 2 500 individuals in 6 months), the average cost of using RT (rapid testing) screening detection alone was 17.90 Yuan per case. The average cost was 21.40 Yuan per case for HIV/AIDS testing laboratories with combined ELISA and RT screening detection. The average utilization rates of ELISA for 8 strips×12 wells and 12 strips×8 wells were 83.8% and 54.4% (P<0.01).Conclusion The cost of HIV antibody testing mainly consisted of manpower cost, detection reagent cost and relevant laboratory cost. The cost of identifying one HIV positive case was mainly affected by the testing population, amount of testing, selection of reagents, and utilization rate of reagents HIV screening reagents and screening methods should be appropriately selected according to the factors, to reduce the cost of HIV antibody testing.