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Global Fund
Strengthening India’s HIV Laboratory Network
Overview
Strengthening the Laboratory Systems for NACP (Funded by GFATM through NACO)
Supported by the GFATM grant, SHARE India, as a Sub-Recipient under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is spearheading the “Strengthening of Lab Systems for NACP” initiative. This ground-breaking project is playing a pivotal role in strengthening India’s HIV and STI response by enhancing the capacity, quality, and resilience of the national laboratory network under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
Aim
To strengthen India’s HIV and STI laboratory systems under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) by enhancing diagnostic quality, drug-resistance surveillance capacity, and national quality assurance mechanisms—thereby supporting evidence-based HIV treatment and public health decision-making.
Objectives
- Establish advanced HIV-1 Drug Resistance (HIV-1 DR) testing capacity at premier national institutes to support molecular surveillance and treatment optimization.
- Standardize and improve laboratory quality systems nationwide through ISO 15189:2022 sensitization and Quality Management System (QMS) strengthening.
- Develop a national biorepository and strengthen EQA/PT programs to improve diagnostic accuracy for HIV and Syphilis testing.
- Enhance surveillance and monitoring mechanisms to detect emerging drug resistance and prevent treatment failure.
- Build sustainable technical capacity within the public health laboratory network under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), supported by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).
Key Achievements
1. Establishment of Two HIV-1 Drug Resistance Laboratories
Under this project, India’s first dedicated HIV-1 Drug Resistance (HIV-1 DR) testing laboratories are being established at AIIMS, New Delhi, and NIMHANS, Bengaluru—a landmark advancement in the country’s response to HIV. A meticulous procurement and planning process, supported by key technical and vendor finalization meetings held in July and August 2025, has ensured that these laboratories are being equipped with advanced NGS platforms and ancillary systems. Once fully operational, these facilities will:
- Identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) who require salvage therapy
- Support molecular surveillance to detect emerging drug resistance patterns
- Enable identification of transmission clusters
- Strengthen evidence-based decision-making to prevent treatment failures and curb the spread of drug-resistant HIV strains
- Support the Government of India in effectively monitoring and responding to national HIV drug resistance trends
These laboratories represent a major milestone in strengthening India’s long-term HIV treatment and surveillance strategy.
2. Elevating Laboratory Quality and Capacity Building
To ensure uniformity in laboratory practices nationwide, the project conducted six comprehensive sensitization and training workshops on ISO 15189:2022 standards, reaching hundreds of laboratory professionals across multiple regions. These sessions strengthened technical competency and accelerated laboratories’ progress towards accreditation. In addition, targeted Quality Management System (QMS) trainings for STI laboratories have reinforced adherence to global best practices, improving standardization, documentation, internal quality control, and overall diagnostic reliability across the network.
3. Establishment of Biorepository at ICMR–NITVAR
One of the most significant milestones of this project is the establishment of a state-of-the-art biorepository for HIV and Syphilis strains at ICMR–NITVAR, equipped with advanced Temperature Monitoring Systems. This facility is set to play a crucial role in strengthening the national External Quality Assessment / Proficiency Testing (EQA/PT) programs for:
- HIV serology
- HIV-1 Viral Load testing
- Syphilis testing
By ensuring the availability of well-characterized, high-quality reference panels, the biorepository is improving testing accuracy, strengthening laboratory performance, and supporting the standardization of diagnostic practices across India’s extensive public health laboratory network.
Impact
Through strategic planning, capacity building, infrastructure development and technical innovation, this initiative has significantly strengthened India’s ability to detect, monitor, and respond to HIV and STI threats. By enhancing laboratory quality, improving surveillance mechanisms, and supporting evidence-based treatment decisions, the project is making a lasting contribution to India’s public health security and the goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.