World AIDS Day: Breaking the Stigma and Understanding HIV Testing

Worlds AIDS Day 2025 focuses on the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” Highlighting the need for a stronger, more resilient approach to end the epidemic.

This theme acknowledges the impact of disruptions on the HIV response and focuses on the resilience and innovation of communities and countries working to end AIDS.

World AIDS day has been observed every year on December 1 since 1988, providing a global moment of Solidarity to spread awareness about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), while encouraging support for affected communities. This observance stands as one of the world’s most impactful public health campaigns, creating awareness, remembering the lives lost to AIDS, and recognizing key achievements such as the expansion of healthcare and treatment access.

Global Significance and Ongoing Fight against the HIV/AIDS

The first case of HIV infection was detected in 1986 in India among female sex workers in Chennai. According to the UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023, the world continues to make noteworthy progress in addressing HIV and AIDS. India has seen a steady drop in new HIV infections, driven by strong health policies and greater financial commitment, helping the nation advance toward eliminating AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030.

In India, the HIV Estimations 2023 report indicates that more than 2.5million people are currently living with HIV. Despite this burden, the country has achieved remarkable improvement, with adult HIV prevalence held at 0.2% and annual new infections reduced to about 66,400- a decline of 44% since 2010. India has performed better than the global reduction rate of 39%, demonstrating the effectiveness of sustained prevention and treatment initiatives.

Free and high-quality lifelong treatment is being provided to over 16.06 lakh people living with HIV through 725 ART centers (as of June 2023). Additionally, more than 12.30 Lakh viral load test conducted between 2022 and 2023 highlight India’s dedication to continuous care and monitoring.

Understanding HIV and AIDS

Etiology

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens the immune system by targeting the body’s defense cells. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. AIDS represent the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

How HIV affects the immune system (targeting CD4 cells).

• HIV is part of the Retroviridae family and Lentivirusgenus. The Virus primarily attacks CD4+ T-helper cells, resulting in progressive damage to the immune system. As these cells decline, the body becomes increasingly vulnerable to illnesses.
• Untreated HIV eventually leads to AIDS. At this AIDS stage, the immune defense is severely weakened, making it difficult to fight infections and often leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.

Importance of HIV Testing

• Testing is the gateway to both treatment and prevention. Knowing your HIV status helps protect your health and also others.
• People who tested negative can take steps to remain uninfected. Those who tested positive can start treatment immediately, which improves lifespan and the quality of life. An early testing leads to early intervention – reducing complications and prevents transmission.

HIV Testing Parameters and Diagnostic Tools

• Window Period: Time between infection and detectable antibodies.
• Screening Tests:
  • ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): detects antibodies/antigens.
  • Rapid Tests: point-of-care kits for quick results.
• Confirmatory Tests:
  • Western Blot, IFA (Immunofluorescence Assay), and Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT).
• To monitor disease progression and evaluate treatment effectiveness, two key markers are used: CD4 Count and Viral Load.

Consistent use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) lowers the amount of HIV in the body to such a low levels that it cannot be detected in viral loads. Studies have demonstrated that people living with HIV with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV virus to sexual partners.

A person living with HIV, who is on treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load, has zero risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners.

   Source: https://www.cdc.gov/global-hiv-tb/php/our-approach/undetectable-untransmittable.html

DSS Imagetech is a distributor of the Abbott m2000 system, delivering end-to-end solutions for HIV-1 Viral Load Testing.

Through the NACO program we provide application and service support to almost 70 sites ensuring accurate, reliable, and efficient HIV diagnostic testing on the Abbott platform.

Abbott Molecular Diagnostics offering advanced real-time PCR solutions for infectious disease testing, enabling precise analysis of patient DNA and RNA for early detection of pathogens and subtle genetic variations.

Abbott’s molecular platform empowers healthcare professionals to:

• Facilitate early diagnosis
• Select appropriate therapies
• Monitor disease progression

Together DSS Imagetech and Abbott Molecular Diagnostics are dedicated to advancing healthcare through innovative molecular solutions that enhance patient management and to strengthen prognostic capabilities nationwide.

Abbott m2000 System

The Abbott m2000 system provides a complete solution for molecular, combining walk-away automation with high accuracy real time PCR detection. This integrated system enables laboratories to report patient results with confidence while minimizing errors and contamination.

m2000sp – Sample Preparation

The m2000sp offers automated sample preparation and mastermix addition, allowing laboratories to focus on analysis while reducing errors and contamination.

Features and Benefits:

Bar coded Primary Tubes: Ensures positive sample identification.

Precision Pipetting: Eliminates manual mixing or manipulation

Open Mode: Flexible protocols for various sample types and sample volumes

Efficient Sample Extraction: Flexible throughput options from 24 to 96 samples

m2000rt – Real-Time PCR Detection

The m2000RT provides real-time amplification and detection, enabling laboratories to report patient results with high accuracy while minimizing manual interventions.

Features and Benefits:

Real-time PCR Amplification and Detection: 5 excitation and 5 emission filters for precise analysis

MaxRatio Data Analysis: Multiple validity checks to improve confidence in patient results

Minimal Maintenance: Simple halogen bulb replacement

Laboratory Defined Applications: Flexible protocols for laboratory-specific real-time PCR testing.

Abbott Real Time HIV-1 Quantitative Assay

Viral load testing is a monitoring tool used to determine the amount of virus in the blood and the efficacy of anti retroviral therapy. The growing prevalence of HIV-1 subtype variant and circulating recombinant strains has made accurate viral load detection more complex and has led clinical laboratories to adopt the Abbott Real Time HIV-1 Assay on the m2000 System.

Used in conjunction with clinical presentation and other laboratory markers, serves as an important indicator of disease prognosis. It also serves as a valuable tool for assessing viral response to antiviral therapy.

Accurate quantification of HIV levels in peripheral blood has significantly advanced the understanding of HIV pathogenesis and is an essential parameter in prognosis and clinical management of HIV infected individuals. Changes in antiretroviral therapy are guided by monitoring plasma or DBS HIV RNA levels (viral load).The goal of antiretroviral therapy is to suppress HIV replication and to reduce the HIV virus in plasma to below the detectable limit of available viral load tests.

Abbott Real Time HIV-1 Qualitative Assay

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the implementation of Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and treatment among HIV exposed infants to achieve the 2030 goal of HIV elimination.

The EID programme is aimed at early HIV diagnosis and subsequent initiation of Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART), consequently DNA PCR assays are conducted at 6 weeks of age and onwards. The Abbott real time HIV-1 Qualitative assay is used as an aid in the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in pediatric patients and is not intended to be used as a donor screening test for HIV-1.

In children maternal antibodies can be transferred passively and may be detectable for up to 18 months. Therefore, early diagnosis of HIV-1 in infants requires direct detection of the virus or its components. Therefore HIV-1 nucleic acid testing using DBS samples is recommended for detecting infection in children 18 months of age or younger.DBS is an alternative specimen type for nucleic acid testing, simplifying sample collection and transportation to the testing laboratory.

Here too, we partner with NACO to provide sales, installation, application and customer support on Abbott EID assay to key sites across India.

Source: https://naco.gov.in/sites/default/files/DBS_Sample_Collection_for_EID_Module_Read_Only.pdf

PathoPlex Qualitative RT-PCR kit 

Single tube multiplex solution for specific, simultaneous detection of HIV (1&2), HBV and HCV, including the identification of co infections.

Source: https://www.neodx.in/hiv-hbv-hcv-real-time-pcr-assay

Common Myths about HIV

Despite decades of awareness and education, several myths about HIV still exist.

Myth 1-HIV Spreads through casual contact, kissing or mosquito bites.

Fact: HIV cannot spread through kissing, hugging, shaking hands, sharing utensils, mosquito bites,saliva,sweat or tears. Kissing carries no risk unless both partners have open wounds in the mouth, which is extremely rare.

Myth 2- HIV /AIDS are same.

Fact:  HIV is the virus and AIDS is the advanced stage of infection when the immune system is severely weakened. With effective medical care, people living with HIV can stay healthy and prevent the infection from progressing to AIDS.

Myth 3-People with HIV cannot have relationships or children

Fact: With proper medication and care, people living with HIV can have healthy relationships and HIV negative children .When the viral load is undetectable, HIV cannot be transmitted.

Myth 4-No treatment for HIV

Fact: Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps control the virus. People on treatment can live longer and healthier lives.

Combating Stigma and Promoting Awareness

Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to HIV prevention and treatment. Fear of discrimination prevents many from getting tested or seeking help. Awareness is the strongest weapon against stigma. By understanding the truth and sharing it responsibly we can create a world where everyone feels safe to know their status, get tested and seek care without fear or shame.

Conclusion

World’s AIDS Day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action.

We must continue to spread awareness, encourage regular testing, support those living with HIV and we can achieve what once seemed impossible – A World free of AIDS.

Get tested. Know your status. End stigma.

About the writer –

Ms. Rani Nidiganti is an Application Specialist with a Master’s degree in Medical Microbiology and over eight years of experience in molecular diagnostics. Her expertise spans MDR Tuberculosis diagnosis, tuberculosis control programs, clinical trials, and HIV viral load testing. She is highly skilled in operating Abbott real-time platforms, line probe assays, CBNAAT systems, and performing RT-PCR–based assays.