Mumbai, April 04: In an effort to prevent parent-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, Maharashtra Government has decided to introduce ‘DNA-PCR’ test from this year for new born babies.
“Using the sophisticated Polymerised Chain Reaction (PCR), it would be possible to identify whether the six-week old new born has been affected with the HIV transmitted from the mother. Therefore treatment can be started immediately with navirapine prophylaxis and can be made available to the mother and the baby,” Health Minister Suresh Shetty told PTI.
In Mumbai, the DNA-PCR test will be done at the Kasturba Hospital. Earlier, Elisa or Rapid tests were conducted after the babies turned 18 months old.
Explaining the difference between Elisa/Rapid and DNA-PCR, Shantaram Kudalkar, project director of Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDAC) said, “The earlier tests were antibodies tests whereas DNA-PCR method directly tests the DNA of the virus.
–PTI