Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 8: The A&N AIDS Control Society (ANACS) organised a one-day training programme for NACP Laboratory Technicians (LTs) and Staff Nurse of FI-ART centres on HIV Sample Collection, Quality Assurance, Testing, Monitoring and Reporting on 7th October 2026 at the Conference Hall of Ayush Hospital, Junglighat, Sri Vijaya Puram.
Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS, graced the inaugural function. In his keynote address, he outlined the key objectives of the training programme and emphasised the Importance of Strengthening Laboratory Services and HIV Testing Systems to further enhance the HIV response across the Islands.
The participants were earlier welcomed by Dr. P.K. Sikdar, Assistant Director, Lab Services Division. Shri Ganesh Debnath, Assistant Director (SI), ANACS, proposed the Vote of Thanks. He expressed his sincere gratitude to Dr. Subrata Saha, Project Director, ANACS, for gracing the inaugural function and for sharing valuable guidance and for his leadership, he also expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Shivali Kamal, National Consultant, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), for her presence and for serving as the key resource person for the training programme.
The technical sessions covered Overview of Laboratory Services; Virology and Pathogenesis of HIV Infection; Laboratory Quality Management System; Updates on Laboratory Guidelines and EID Algorithm; Sample Collection, Storage, Packaging and Transportation for EID, CD4 and Viral Load; Equipment Management; Facility and Safety; and Data Entry and Reporting through SOCH. The programme also included a discussion on the overall challenges related to sample collection, transportation and reporting.
Dr. Shivali Kamal, National Consultant, NACO, served as the key resource person and facilitated the technical sessions. The sessions provided participants with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of standard procedures and address practical challenges encountered in HIV sample collection, transportation, testing and reporting. The training also emphasised the importance of maintaining quality standards and accurate data for effective monitoring of HIV services.
The training was aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of personnel involved in HIV laboratory services and ensuring quality, accuracy and efficiency in sample collection, testing, documentation and reporting across the Islands.