HIV Counseling and Testing Services

HCTS Center(ICTC)

HIV Counseling and Testing Services

The Govt. of India is committed to eliminating HIV And Syphilis amongst newborns through universal screening of pregnant women for HIV and Syphilis as an essential component of the ANC Service package. To achieve this objective, The National AIDS Control Programme has Established HCTS Facility at the Daga Memorial Govt. Women Hospital, Nagpur in April 2003, the actual work started from July 2003.

The main function of the HCTS Center is conducting HIV Diagnostic tests. Providing basic information on the modes of HIV transmission. Link people with other HIV prevention, care and treatment services. HCTS Center at Daga Hospital is a Stand Alone ICTC and is doing early detection of HIV and promoting behavioural change and reducing vulnerability.

The HCTS Center at Daga Hospital is located in the ANC OPD Premises Room No. 8 & 9 having a Separate counselling section, Sample collection section & Testing Site with a proper Waiting Area for clients. HCTS Facility is well coordinated with the Department of Medicine, Gynecology, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Preventive and Social Medicine. The working in the HCTS facility runs daily in the working days from 8.30 am onwards up to the counselling and testing of the last client came in the ICTC of the Hospital till 5.00 pm.

Members of the department

Treatment + Services

Pre-test Counseling & Post-test counselling for HIV Test by NACO Trained Counselor is aimed at enabling the client to take decisions regarding HIV Testing and to understand the implications of the test results.
HIV phlebotomy and Testing by NACO Trained Lab. A technician with a sample track system by the use of quality testing kits, standardized techniques, and QA/QC procedures.
The facility of Counseling for the HIV infected Parents for DNAPCR Test of their infants/Children by following the two different diagnostic algorithms.
The facility of blood collection for HIV DNAPCR test of Exposed, Symptomatic infants/ Children according to the algorithm depending on the age of the infant/child.
The facility of Referral Services for RTI/STI, TB,& other opportunistic Infections and counselling for the adoption of safe behaviours to prevent infections to others.
The facility of Linkages and Referral services with Various Institutions such as ART Centers, CBO’s, CCC, Govt. and Non-Govt. Organizations and schemes for care and support include ART nutrition, home-based care and legal support.
Condom Demonstration for promoting the use of condoms to reduce the risk of transmission and Free Distribution has been made under the Family Welfare Program and MSACS.
Counselling for assisting clients to develop the personal skill necessary for Behavior Change & follow up.
Counselling for adopting and negotiating safe sexual practices and Family Planning.
Counselling of PLHA for Confidentiality providing psychological social and emotional support and their other Issues Ex. Disclosure of HIV Status with their Family, Stigma & Discrimination.
Need Base Home Visit to PLHA.Ex. LFU for ART Linkages, Inst. Delivery, Baby follow up etc.
The facility of Referral of the Staff to ART for PEP in case of any accidental Injury Ex. Needle Stick Injury, Eye Splash etc.

Patient Guide + Tips

Patients are secured about their HIV status confidentiality.
Patients are educated how to differentiate between HIV and AIDS.
Patients are aware about Opportunistic Infections which would not occur under normal circumstances.
Patients are educated about the use of ART Treatment ie. i) It is a life long treatment & all the Govt. Centers throughout India offer Free ART. ii) Immediate and long term side effects of ART.iii) There is no cure for HIV but you can control it by complying with treatment.
Patients are advised to follow a lifestyle with a high protein diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.
All the patients are advised to use condoms to minimize the risk of HIV and other infections.

Success Stories

HCTS at Daga Hospital has provided 100% accurate results with post-test counselling with maximum ART linkages.
HIV Phlebotomy and HIV Testing facility has been successfully participated in External Quality Assessment Scheme from National AIDS Research Institute ICMR Pune since 2003 with 100% accuracy achievement and also in Reverse Testing Program with State Reference Laboratory since 2003 with 100% achievement.
HCTS Facility at Daga Hospital has now achieved 5*star Grading in Quality Management System to follow all the Guidelines of NACO/ICMR/ Biosafety Bio-Medical Waste as assessed by Technical expert of NACO/MSACs/and SRL Technical officer.
HCTS Facility at Daga Hospital is now ready for Medical Entry level for National Accreditation Board of Testing and Calibration Laboratory as per ISO-15189-2012.
All staff of HCTS is successes fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and HBsAg and are following Good Laboratory Practices and Good Clinical Laboratory Practices. As well as Biosafety, Fire safety, Electrical safety norms are followed for the safety of clients and staff.
In the year 2007 total of 149 ANC clients were detected HIV Positive which we have succeeded to reduce to 08 in the year 2021.
From the year 2018 to the year 2021 total of 188 HIV exposed infants were tested in HCTS which are all negative for HIV.
A young client Mr Anil (named changed) 32 years old from Amravati District was HIV Positive. His family was aware of his status. He and his family members were in worry about his future as he was an unmarried person. He wanted to marry but was in depression. His relatives were unable to find a way to overcome his problem. His relative came to HCTS and discussed his problem with the Counselor. The counsellor advised them to bring him. When he and his relative came to HCTS Daga Hospital, HCTS Counselor relaxed him and assured him about his future. He was advised to visit the NGO named “Sanjeewan Bahu-uddhesiya Samaj Sewa Sanstha”, Nagpur where he got the solution. NGO Supported him to find out life partner for him. He was happily married to Mangala (name changed) having the same HIV status. He was so appreciated for our HCT services provided by HCTS Counselor and thankful for mental and emotional support.
A married couple named Dindyal and Jivanjyoti in Nov. 2008 came in the HCTS Daga for HIV Testing and routine checkup as Jivanjyoti was 5months ANC. After testing it was found that Jivanjyoti’s result was HIV Positive while Dindyal was HIV Negative. The couple was innocent as Jivanjyoti’s history she was always fall ill during her childhood. According to her, she was infected due to an infected needle when she was hospitalized. She got married to Dindyal without knowing the HIV Status of each other. The couple was a discordant couple and the Counselor counselled both of them and gave them mental and emotional support. Counsellor advised them to follow the required precautions, care and assured them of giving any help they needed. After 4 months she gave birth to a male child and with regular counselling and our support made her assured of her child’s better future. In the year 2015, she had given birth to a second male child successfully and confidently. The regular testing of both children for DNAPCR and Antigen test was found Negative. Dindyal also regularly got tested for HIV after each 6months interval and every time his HIV status was found Negative. In the year 2021 Dindyal had done his Non-Scalpel Vasectomy at Daga Hospital successfully. This family is living happily and always giving regard to our HCT Services for help.

Daga Memorial

HIV Counseling and Testing Services