Now HIV/AIDS can be detected in six week old child.
CHANDIGARH July 28, 2009:- National AIDS Control Organization in association with State AIDS Control Society, UT, Chandigarh rolled out the integration of infant diagnosis of HIV by HIV DNA PCR testing into National HIV Care & Treatment Program.
The training for Chandigarh, Haryana & Uttaranchal on Dried Blood Spot (DBS) & Whole Blood (WB) sample collection, storage, transportation & packaging for the national early Infant Diagnosis (EID) by HIV DNA PCR testing was held today at Department of Immunopathology, PGIMER, Chandigarh by Clinton foundation in association with National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi.
Dr. Kavita Chavan, officiating Project Director, State AIDS Control Society during the welcome address informed that principal objective of this training is to facilitate early diagnosis and management of HIV/AIDS in exposed children, younger than 18 months of age. Early Anti-retroviral treatment will help to save a child’s life.
Till now HIV/AIDS in children would only be diagnosed after the child was 18 months old by using Elisa or rapid test.
Dr. Sunil Arora, Professor Department of Immunopathology, PGIMER said that this training will go a long way in facilitating early diagnosis & treatment of HIV/AIDS in infants.
The training was attended by 20 participants including Immunopathologist, Microbiologists, Pediatricians, Medical Officers, Nurses and Technicians of ICTC & ART Centre from Chandigarh, Haryana and Uttranchal.
i wonder when are we going to have the cure for HIV/AIDS ? we are living on an age with very high technology but still we have not found a cure for this disease.