ABSTRACT
The term exceptionalism was first used in 1991 to describe the policy of treating HIV differently to other communicable diseases, particularly other sexually transmitted infectious diseases. HIV exceptionalism inspired, for example, the implementation of specific pre-and post-HIV test counselling, the development of specific separate consent forms for HIV testing, the provision of stringent confidentiality requirements for HIV test results, and the stipulation of HIV status as exempt from compulsory notification of communicable diseases regulations.1
