Workshop concludes on External Quality Assurance Programme

ALIGARH.A workshop on External Quality Assurance Programme,

under the National AIDS Control Organization, was organized
by State Reference Laboratory (SRL) in the Department of Microbiology,

JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. 

The workshop included lectures and extensive interactive sessions.Prof. Ashraf Malik, the former Principal & CMS, J.N. Medical College, AMU,
Aligarh interacted with each participant individually and later distributed
the certificates.
Prof Abida Malik, the Incharge, SRL, Department of Microbiology, J.N.
Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, said that the aim of
the workshop was to lay emphasis on accurate performance of tests,
preparation of Quality Control Worksheets using kit inserts/guidelines, HIV
reporting on new Integrated Counseling and Training Centre (ICTC)/
Treatment & Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) HIV test
reporting format, Detection of HIV infection, HIV Testing Protocols &
Strategies, Collection, Storage and Transport of Blood Sample for HIV
Testing, etc.

Coded samples were given to the participants for HIV proficiency testing.
The HIV test of the given samples will be performed in their respective
labs and the report will be sent back to the SRL, Aligarh for assessment. A
Pre & Post assessment was also conducted. Dr Meher Rizvi, Dr. Fatima
Shujatullah, Dr. Nazish Fatima, Dr. Fatima Khan, Dr. Adil Raza, Mr.
Khursheed Ali, Mr Rahul Sharma, Mr Sanjay Sharma, Mr Pankaj Pachuri and
other team members helped in making the programme a successful event.

The focus of this workshop was to rectify the lacunae in Quality Control of
HIV testing & reporting and Strengthening ELISA Laboratories of Blood Banks
by providing ELISA training to ICTCs & Blood Banks Lab Technicians of
District Hospitals. A *total* of 26 participants of various ICTCs, PPTCTs
and Blood Banks from 7 districts including Aligarh, Bulandshahar, Badaun,
Bareilly, Etah, Kashiram Nagar & Pilibhit of western UP, participated in
the workshop.