Résumé : Introduction: To reverse the trends of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, reinforcement of personal protection and antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation at right time are needed. The aim of the study was, a decade after expanding AIDS medical care, to explore facilitating factors or those contributing to uptake or delay of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among individuals who access voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in an urban area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey carried out among individuals attending three VCT centres in Kinshasa, DRC. Results: A total of 388 individuals with mean age 42 (9.4) years were included. Among them 34% were married, and 96% were living at home. Morbid and social events were the most important reasons cited for uptake of HIV testing in urban areas. Among the most common barriers of the HIV testing observed, stigma was the first reason significantly prevalent cited among man while fear to know the HIV status, ignorance of seropositivity concepts and the existence of VCT screening were prevalent among females. Conclusions: Two main events influencing the uptake of HIV testing and commonly known barriers to this were cited. These results generate questions about a fringe of the population, and call for further research for improved prevention policy.