HIV test kits not sub-standard, Centre tells HC

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HIV test kits not sub-standard, Centre tells HC

New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI) The Centre today refuted all allegations

against supplying sub-standard HIV test kits to various medical

centres in the country.

In an affidavit filed by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) on

behalf of health ministry in the Delhi High Court, the government

said that such allegations made by Dr Kunal Shah, a US resident and

member of World Bank, is baseless.

" There is no evidence to support the vague, incorrect and wrong

allegations regarding the substandard kits. On the other hand, there

is evidence to show that the kits are not substandard, " the affidavit

said.

The government's response came on a PIL filed by Dr Shah, through his

counsel R Venketraman, seeking probe into an alleged racket of

supplying sub-standard HIV test kits to medical centres.

The Court, earlier, had admitted his petition and had issued notice

to the Centre and NACO.

Claiming that he himself visited various hospitals and blood banks in

March 2007, the petitioner had stated that he found use of sub-

standard HIV kits for detection of the disease.

There is " use of spurious HIV kits in some hospitals and blood banks

in India endangering transmission of the AIDS virus to unsuspecting

patients, " Shah said referring to the World bank report.

He had stated that in January this year, the Bank has released a

comprehensive report alleging that there is wide spread corruption

going on and sought direction to the NACO Director to refer the HIV

test kits in question to any other competent laboratory to find their

efficacy. PTI

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