Anti-HIV antibody tests are performed for diagnosis of HIV infection, surveillance of HIV infection and screening blood to protect the blood recipient from transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs). The other routinely tested TTI infections are HBV and HCV. The evaluation of diagnostic kits for TTIs was an important aspect of obtaining good quality kits.

Hence a Consortium of four NRLs under initiative was established in 2008 with the help of NACO which provides Quality Evaluation of ELISA and Rapid diagnostic kits for HIV, HBV and HCV.

The four institutes involved in this activity are accredited by NABL, India for HIV, HBV and HCV serology. The institutes are:

• National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), Pune (evaluating institute and Secretariat)
• National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata
• National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru

The consortium became functional in 2010. A well characterized panel of 100 reactive (positive either for HIV, HBV or HCV) and 400 nonreactive (negative for all three infections) is developed and the same panel is being used by all the member institutes. Till date, the consortium has evaluated more than 700kits received from different procurement agencies for the national programme, SACS which has resulted in availability of the quality kits for use in the national program.

CONTACT US

National AIDS Research Institute, (NARI)
73, G-Block, MIDC, Bhosari, Pune
411026
Phone: 02027331200
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.nari-icmr.res.in

National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases, (NICED)
P-33, CIT Road , Sch - XM, Beliaghata,
Kolkata=700 010
Phone: 91-33-2363 3856
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 91-33-2363-2398 / 91-33-2370 5066.

National Center for Disease Control (NCDC)
22, Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi - 110054
Phone: 91-11-23913148, 23946893
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 91-11-23922677

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMHANS)
Hosur Road, Bangalore - 560029, India
Phone: 080-26995126 / 26995128(O)
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 91-080-26564830