LABORATORY NETWORK FOR HIV INFECTION IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT: One of the main objectives of the Short Tern Plan of the Ethiopian AIDS Control Programme was the establishment of screening laboratories in blood banks in the country and strengthening the Immunology Laboratory of the National Research Institute of Health. As a result, HIV screening laboratories were established in all five blood banks and the National Referral Laboratory for AIDS (NRLA) was established during the first half of the short tenn plan. Based on the Medium Term Plan of the programme which envisaged establishment of HIV screening laboratories in all regional hospitals where a substantial amount of blood transfusion took place, HIV screening laboratories were established. To date there are 24 HIV screening laboratories throughout the country .Nineteen of these laboratories use ELISA tests and 5 use simple/rapid assays. There is a well established quality control and supervision system where each laboratory is visited twice a year and characterized panels of sera are sent to each laboratory three times a year from the NRLA. The plan of the National AIDS Control Programme is to establish screening laboratories in all establishments where blood transfusion is carried out.