HIV testing labs in SVMC get NABL accreditation

Tirupati: The HIV testing laboratories in Sri Venkateswara Medical College (SVMC) have been accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL), New Delhi.

The Committee of NABL inspected the laboratories twice and assessed the standards and gave accreditation to the laboratories which are under control of Department of Microbiology and catering to the needs of SVMC and Ruia Hospital.

These laboratories include Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) and CD4 lab in Antiretroviral Therapy Centre (ART) in Ruia Hospital and State Referral Centre (SRL) for HIV testing in SVMC, Tirupati.

Under revised National AIDS Control Programme by NACO (National Aids Control Organisation), 80 HIV viral load labs are planned to be set up in the entire country to facilitate early treatment of HIV positive patients and preventing spread of the disease.

PCR equipment for HIV viral load testing is supplied by NACO. Department of Microbiology at SVMC/Ruia Hospital is first to install the PCR equipment in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Commissioning of the HIV viral load lab will take further time, as it requires ancillary equipment and consumables which are yet to be supplied and new personnel to be trained. It is expected that it will take about three months to have fully operational HIV viral load lab here which will be very useful to poor patients, said Associated Professor of Microbiology Department of SVMC Dr KH Vasudeva Naidu, who made relentless pursuit to get the HIV testing laboratories accredited.

SVMC Principal Dr G Ravi Prabhu, Superintendent of Ruia Hospital Dr B Sidda Naik, District AIDS Nodal Officer Dr C Aruna Sulochana Devi and Dr P Rajendra Prasad, Additional Director, APSACS, Amaravati have appreciated Dr Naidu on this achievement.