Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: The quantitative RT-PCR HIV-1 viral load test of people living with HIV (PLHIV) will be conducted in Odisha soon.
The tests will be conducted at COBAS laboratory of the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC).
The laboratory will test about 2,000 samples per month. The samples will be collected from the PLHIV enrolled in 16 antiretroviral treatment (ART) centres of the state.
The RMRC will test the samples to monitor the antiretroviral drug treatment. Earlier samples were sent to three medicals of Andhra Pradesh for the same tests, said Scientist and laboratory in-charge Dr Debdutta Bhattacharya.
The laboratory of RMRC, Bhubaneswar is the first ICMR laboratory among eight in the country approved by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for HIV viral load quantification. Odisha State AIDS Control Society has inked an MoU with RMRC for the tests.
