Supervision and Quality Control Measures in Annual Sentinel Surveillance for HIV Infection in India
Bhattacharya, M.; Jaiswal, V.; Joon, V.
Journal of Health Management 13(3): 329-345
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0972-0634 DOI: 10.1177/097206341101300305Document Number: 225341
The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) has been entrusted by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to undertake monitoring and supervision of annual Sentinel Surveillance (ASS) activity in India since 1998, to ensure that the data obtained are valid. Earlier Regional coordinating teams cooperated with NIHFW in this task. From 26 onwards, NACO identified five regional institutes covering all the states and Union Territories and Central team members consisting of experts from various organisations for the monitoring and supervision of the ASS cycle to ensure quality control of both epidemiological data collection and HIV testing (NACO 26a and b). We describe here the process of quality control and observations of the ASS rounds held from 25 to 27. The performance of a majority of sites was satisfactory. The testing laboratories usually adhered to standard operating procedures (SOPs). Lacunae observed during the supervisory visits have been enumerated along with the recommendations for the future surveillance rounds.