Researchers in Montreal are taking their fight against AIDS to a storefront in the city's Gay Village — offering free, rapid and anonymous HIV testing in a non-clinical setting.

A group of researchers led by internationally recognized AIDS specialist Dr. Mark Wainberg of Montreal's Jewish General Hospital will follow the centre, which the founders have named SPOT, to observe its impact.

Wainberg said one in three people in Canada infected with HIV don't know they have the virus, and recent studies show they are responsible for transmitting 50 per cent of new infections.

In Montreal, men who have had homosexual relations remain the group most affected by the disease.

But the availability of clinics specializing in the treatment of HIV in Montreal, Wainberg said many people are still hesitant to be tested.

"Here, we can offer without any hoopla, an anonymous facility that we hope will encourage testing to get done to a far greater extent than has been the case until now."

The groups funding the initiative hope the site will attract 30 to 50 men for testing each week.

The site will be staffed by community workers who will provide counselling.

The rapid test, which provides results within five minutes, has been available for four years but costs 10 times more than the standard test, which provides results in about three weeks.

Wainberg said the manufacturer of the rapid test has agreed to provide it to his team at cost.