Introduction - This study aims to assess the acceptability among adult patients in hospital emergency departments of a routine offer of HIV screening using rapid tests. Materials and Methods - A routine offer of HIV screening was made to all adult patients presenting to the emergency department who had a blood sample drawn. A prospective, single-center study conducted at Louis Mourier Hospital in Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine) from January to April 2008. Results - Of the 579 eligible patients, 511 (88%) agreed to be tested. More than half of the patients had never been tested for HIV before. Approximately 16% of patients who agreed to rapid testing engaged in at least one high-risk behavior regarding HIV, and 43% of them had never been tested for HIV. Three rapid HIV tests returned positive results. For one patient, this was a new diagnosis of HIV infection, and for the other two patients, it was a previously known but denied HIV-positive status. Two out of three were from Africa, and the third engaged in male-to-male sexual activity. All patients received their results verbally before leaving the emergency department. Discussion-Conclusion - The use of rapid HIV testing is well accepted by the population seeking care in the emergency department. Screening patients with a few simple questions would make it possible to offer testing to “at-risk” individuals who have never been tested before. (R.A.)