Seroprevalence of HIV infection in Himachal Pradesh.

ABSTRACT

Serum samples from 2645 individuals representing all the twelve districts of Himachal Pradesh were screened for antibodies to Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), employing ELISA test. These were categorised into four major high risk groups, viz, patients attending STD clinics (1305), voluntary blood donors (1012), hospital staff dealing with blood and blood products (200) and foreign nationals (128). No evidence of HIV infection was found in Himachali population. Two foreign nationals were repeatedly found positive for HIV antibodies by ELISA test and these were confirmed by Western Blot technique.