Prof David D Celentano, Deputy Chair, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, inaugurated the m2000rt RealTime PCR system (ABBOTT Diagnostics, Germany) at the YR Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE) in the VHS Campus on IT Corridor in Adyar on June 22nd 2007. The equipment was generously donated by ABBOTT Diagnostics, Germany.

The RealTime PCR has been recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, USA to measure the HIV viral load. The RealTime PCR is modification of the standard PCR and provides greater accuracy in measuring the quantity of HIV RNA circulating in the patient's blood (viral load). This test is sensitive at detecting low HIV viral loads and is also faster in providing results. This test will be validated appropriately for the Indian setting and should be available to the public by the end of July. The viral load is the gold standard in measuring the efficacy of HIV treatment and is routinely used in most countries in the European Union as well as USA. A high viral load among patients on HAART is also the first sign of treatment failure. However, it is seldom used in the Indian setting due to its prohibitive cost (Rs. 4000). The RealTime PCR, once validated, will be available to the public at less than Rs. 1000. This will in turn increase its utilization in clinical practice resulting in the identification of treatment failure at the earliest stage, thereby minimizing the development of drug resistance.