The MAHER Centre for Global Health Research conducted a national-level 2-day online “HIV Testing and Counselling Training (HTCT) Certification Program” on 27th and 28th November 2025. Designed for professionals from hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood banks accredited or aspiring for NABL (ISO 15189:2022) and NABH standards, the program aimed to strengthen technical competence and ethical practice in HIV testing and counselling.
The training addressed key guidelines and protocols, including NABL-112A/B standards, National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) procedures, the HIV & AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017, occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and essential legal and ethical considerations related to HIV testing. Through structured sessions, participants gained clarity on quality assurance, biosafety measures, documentation requirements, and client-centric counselling approaches.
A total of 62 professionals including pathologists, microbiologists, medical officers, nurses, laboratory technicians, and social workers, representing 15 states across India attended the program. The sessions were led by distinguished experts: Dr. Pachamuthu Balakrishnan (MAHER), Dr. V. H. T. Swamy, Dr. Srirama Rao, and Ms. Chaithra Nair from Asha Kirana HIV Hospital and Research Centre, Mysuru, and Dr. Sree T. Sucharitha from Kairo Kinetics, Chennai, who shared valuable insights drawn from extensive clinical and public health experience.
The certification program significantly strengthened participants’ understanding of HIV diagnostic processes, counselling protocols, and ethical responsibilities, thereby contributing to improved standards of HIV testing services across healthcare settings.
