title.gif (3630 bytes)

National AIDS Policy

Introduction

Source of Infections in AIDS cases in India

Objectives of AIDS Policy

Strategy of AIDS Policy

Policy Initiatives

Program Management

Advocacy and Social Mobilisation

Participation of NGO's/CBO's

H.I.V Testing

Counseling

People Living With AIDS (PLWAs)

Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Use of Condoms as a HIV/AIDS Prevention Measure

Policy on Blood Safety

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Indigenous Systems of Medicine (ISM)

Bilateral and International Cooperation

Conclusion

 H.I.V Testing

There is an active debate in the country on the issue as to whether should be mandatory testing of people suspected of carrying HIV infection. Considerable thought has been given to this issue. The Government feels that there is no public health rationale for mandatory testing of a person for HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, such an approach could be counter-productive as it may scare away a large number of suspected cases from getting detected and treated. HIV testing carried out on a voluntary basis with appropriate pre-test and post-test counseling is considered to be a better strategy and is in line with the WHO guidelines on HIV testing. Govt. of India has earlier issued a comprehensive HIV testing policy and the following issues are reiterated here:-

  1. No individual should be made to undergo a mandatory testing for HIV
  2. No mandatory HIV testing should be imposed as a precondition for employment or for providing health care facilities during employment.
  3. Adequate voluntary testing facilities with pre-test and post-test counseling should be made available throughout the country in a phased manner. There should be at least one HIV testing centre in each district in the country which can be done in a phased manner.
  4. In case a person likes to get his HIV status verified through testing, all necessary facilities should be given to that person and results should be kept strictly confidential and should be given out to the person and with his consent to the members of his family. Disclosure of the HIV status to the spouse of the person will entirely depend on the person's willingness to share the information. However, the person should encouraged to share this information with the spouse and family as it helps the person in getting proper home-based care when he is afflicted with AIDS.
  5. In case of marriage, if one of the partners insists on a test to check the HIV status of the other partner, such tests should be carried out by the contracting party to the satisfaction of the person concerned.

The HIV testing policy adopted in the NACO is found to be appropriate for the different types of testing that have to be done. At present people are tested for -

a) Screening in blood banks

b) epidemiological surveys; and

c) confirmatory testing for clinical management and voluntary testing.

In the case of screening for blood donation, a single test by Rapid/ELISA is done to eliminate the possibility of HIV-positive blood. In the case of epidemiological surveys also the same procedure is adopted, i.e. with one or two tests either with ELISA or Rapid or Simple with high sensitivity. In both the above cases the testing is anonymous and the result is not given to the person concerned unless asked for. In the case of clinical management and for confirmatory testing of HIV status of persons who voluntarily ask for it, the sample will be tested with at least two ELISA and one Rapid/Simple by a different antigen preparation. The result is given out with proper pre-test and post-test counseling.

Home | Policy Statements