HIV/AIDS Reference Labs to Increase

Increasing the number of HIV/AIDS reference laboratories across the country is on the agenda of the Health Ministry for the current Iranian year that ends in March 2017, said head of the ministry’s HIV/AIDS Department. “There are currently 11 reference laboratories across the country,” said Professor Parvin Afsar Kazerouni, IRNA reported. Noting that early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment and ensuring quality of life for the patients, she said there are 32,000 people living with the disease in the country while 70% with HIV remain unidentified and may not be aware of their condition.