Lamka, June 24 2010: The Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur and Chairman of the Dist AIDS Prevention and Control Committee (DAPCC), Ms Jacintha Lazarus, IAS in a bid to control quality on HIV/AIDS testing in the district to issued an order for all concern to strictly compliance with the AIDS Control Policy 2008 .

According to the order issued today, HIV testing shall be done only at a designated centers approved for the purpose by the Central Government or MACS, as envisage in Article 51 (i) of MAC Policy 2008 .

No Private Clinic or Laboratory shall perform HIV testing without having all necessary facilities and trained and qualified counselors for which they shall have to take a special License from the Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

Strict confidentiality about the person's HIV status should be maintained as envisaged in the MAC Policy Article 52 (ii) and (iii) and any breach of confidentiality of the HIV status by any staff/employee shall be punishable under conduct rules vide Article No.53 of PAC Policy.

The district AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) Churachandpur shall visit all the established Laboratories in Lamka town and verify the veracity and report in this regard immediately from time to time to the Deputy Commissioner, the statement stated.

The order issued today also stated that, a Simple Rapid Elisa (ERS) test shall be taken as adequate for the purpose of HIV testing or screening of blood, and the methodology of testing maybe revised or modified according to the latest scientific discovery or as per Guidelines of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) .

For the purpose of quality assurance for HIV testing, the Surveillance referral Center of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) shall coordinate all HIV testing centers in the state under the supervision of the MACS and no form of HIV testing for research shall be carried out except after getting clearance from the MSACS, added the DC order.

Regarding confidentiality, strict confidentiality of the status of a person shall be maintain and in the case of pre-marital voluntary HIV testing and voluntary testing of husband and wife, the result maybe share between the prospective partners or the partners, as the case maybe, with their mutual consent in writing.

No information of the HIV status of a person shall be disclose except amongst the medical team members treating that persons or to a doctor to whom the person is referred for treatment with the written consent of the client or an order from the court, added the memorandum.

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