The latent structure, reliability, and item discrimination of 33 items on a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) instrument representing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were assessed. The study sample included 311 adolescents ranging from ages 12 to 19 years. Demographic characteristics of the sample were determined. Twenty-nine items were scored with a 3-point Likert-type format, and four items were scored with a 5-point format. An exploratory maximum likelihood factor analysis with an oblique rotation yielded an 8-factor solution. These factors, consisting of 26 items, were interpreted as: high-risk behaviors; drug use; school issues; infection transmission knowledge; infection prevention knowledge; sex practices; birth control prevention knowledge; and intrapersonal prevention knowledge. The primary factors were collapsed using a second order maximum likelihood factor analysis to yield four secondary factors for use as instrument scales: (1) drug use; (2) school issues; (3) transmission and infection knowledge; and (4) AIDS prevention knowledge. The items within each factor displayed too little homogeneity or were not present in sufficient quantity to form scales. The survey items have great potential as a standardized instrument, but extensive development work is needed before they can be used as such. Four data tables are included. (SLD)