The National Scientific Practical Centre for AIDS Prevention and Control (NAC) activates as a methodical centre within the National Scientific-Practical Centre of Preventive Medicine. The NAC is responsible for analyzing the epidemiological situation and maintaining of official statistics; developing methodology in all various areas of activity; confirming and HIV/AIDS reference testing for the entire country within the Reference Laboratory; organizing regional training and seminars on HIV/AIDS for family doctors.

Testing for HIV

If you want to get tested for HIV at the National AIDS Centre, and receive an official certificate of your status (for visa, residence, studies or other purposes), you have to do the following:

1. Come to the National AIDS Centre with a valid national identity card Mon-Thu (8:00–15:00) or Fri (8:00–12:00) except for national holidays;
2. Receive free pre-test counselling together with informational materials and protection materials, if available;
3. Pay the official fee of 26 MDL at the cashier; for people with disabilities of 1st and 2nd category the fee is 21 MDL;
4. You will be directed to the laboratory for blood collection. The procedure is carried out with sterile equipment following all patient and medical standard procedure;
5. To get your result and the official certificate, come in the second part of the day (15:00–16:00) if your blood was collected before 10:00, or the next day if your blood was collected after 10:00. You have to come in person to receive your results. All persons tested, no matter the serostatus, receive post-test counselling.

If you want to get tested for HIV at the National AIDS Centre anonymously, you have to do the following:

1. Come to the National AIDS Centre Mon-Thu (8:00–15:00 or Fri 8:00–12:00) except for national holidays;
2. Receive free pre-test counselling together with informational materials and protection materials, if available;
3. You will be directed to the laboratory for blood collection. The procedure is carried out with sterile equipment following all patient and medical standard procedure;
4. To get your result, come in the second part of the day (15:00–16:00) if your blood was collected before 10:00, or the next day if your blood was collected after 10:00. You have to come in person to receive your results. All persons tested, no matter the serostatus, receive post-test counselling.

IMPORTANT: According to the Decision of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, several categories of population are tested for HIV for FREE. They include patients with clinical indications, representatives of vulnerable groups, blood donors, etc. See the full list of categories in the Decision document.

National AIDS Centre Structure

AIDS Epidemiological Section

1. Organization and conducting of HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance among the population of the Republic of Moldova territory;
2. Development of draft legislative and normative acts related to sanitary-epidemiological field and their presentation for approval;
3. Development and implementation of measures in order to ensure the sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population and sanitary protection of the territory of import and spreading of HIV/AIDS;
4. Generalization of the results obtained at the national level and contribution to their application in the preventive medicine practice;
5. Development of the forecast on HIV/AIDS morbidity and measures for preserving population health and their enforcement both at the national and territorial levels;
6. Evaluation of the implementation of the National AIDS Programmes, "HIV/AIDS Epidemiological Surveillance" Standard and other legislative and normative acts related to HIV/AIDS;
7. Analysis of HIV/AIDS morbidity, pointing out the negative factors which influence population health, development and presentation of recommendations regarding health protection and enhancement accordingly;
8. Monitoring the fulfilment of orders, directives, medical instructions and other normative documents in the filed of HIV/AIDS prophylaxis and combating. Preparation and presentation of proposals and other materials for approval to the Sanitary-Epidemiological Collegium and Council under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection;
9. Informing the Government of the Republic of Moldova, local administrative authorities, line ministries regarding the situation in HIV/AIDS, proposals for stabilizing or improvement of the situation;
10. Conducting organizational-methodical work, diagnosis, counselling, organization and participation in anti-epidemic measures at other medical institutions and bodies related to HIV/AIDS.
11. Organization of conferences, seminars at the international, national, regional, territorial levels and on topic areas;
12. Wide usage of information, education and awareness channels in the hygienic training of the population, in the propagation and promotion of a healthy style of living;
13. Preparation and presentation for editing and publishing of scientific-practical and educational materials on HIV/AIDS;
14. Participation in the training of medical practitioners in areas related to HIV/AIDS prophylaxis in hospitals.

Diagnosis and Reference AIDS Laboratory

1. Conducting laboratory investigations:
   1. All the testing necessary for the confirmation of HIV/AIDS on the territory of the republic by applying high-quality test-systems;
   2. ELISA investigations;
   3. HIV/AIDS screening investigations, thus serving medical institutions from the administrative territories of the republic;
   4. Clinical and immunologic laboratory investigations when rendering services for HIV positive people, and other persons on infections medical record;
   5. Screening for HIV markers when rendering services against payment, according to the legislation in force.

2. Undertaking the functions of main laboratory in HIV/AIDS diagnosis among the network of AIDS, hepatitis, and other viral infections laboratories and diagnosis sites (hereinafter territorial laboratories) on the territory of the republic. Providing practical and methodical support to territorial laboratories, monitoring of the quality of AIDS laboratory investigations and anti-epidemic regime.

3. Carrying out confirmation test of all blood samples tested positive at ELISA obtained in the laboratory of the Centre for Preventive Medicine and territorial laboratories, reporting to the line vice-directors regarding the detection of new cases.

4. Carrying out HIV/AIDS laboratory investigations at the screening level, proving services to regional sanitary institutions related to tests for HIV antibodies by screening methods (ELISA, agglutination) according to the "Guidelines for Medical Examination and Surveillance for HIV/AIDS Detection Purposes".

5. Carrying out tests for HIV markers at the screening level using modern methodology with the application of high quality diagnosis material according to sensibility and specificity criteria, and registered in the Republic of Moldova. Ensuring the fulfilment of all work duties at the AIDS laboratory and territorial laboratories according to the guidelines in force.

6. Learning and putting into practice new HIV/AIDS diagnosis methods: determination of various HIV markers (virotic anti-genes, RNA, viral DNA, etc), methods for detection of immunological deviations characteristic to HIV/AIDS, computer training, etc.

7. Organization and re-training of medical workers in school and work settings on laboratory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, some human status evaluation methods, organization of the anti-epidemic regime in the diagnosis laboratories.

8. Organization and carrying out of scientific research, participation in the development of legislation and draft directives and methodical documents, Organization of seminars, conferences, "specialists’ days", lessons on HIV/AIDS prophylaxis and diagnosis.

9. Analysis of the activity, development of work plans and monthly, quarterly and annual reports, timely presentation of these reports to the management of Centre for Preventive Medicine and other authorities interested in health protection issues.

10. Participation in HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance, monthly processing of statistical data regarding the population tested for HIV in the republic, based on administrative territory, gender, etc, development of monthly and cumulative statistical reports and their presentation to the epidemiology section AIDS and other interested sanitary institutions.

11. Conducting investigations for HIV markers in the frames of the sentinel surveillance.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing

1. Planning of activities on diagnosis, treatment and placement of people living with HIV/AIDS, control over the fulfilment of these activities by the medical institutions.
2. Studying best practices and organizing activities for their application and replication.
3. Studying the needs of medical workers, participation in planning of their training and control over their rational use at the work places.
4. Organization of conferences and discussions on organizational issues, active participation in their preparation.
5. Participation in the development of active diagnosis, treatment and placing indicators of people living with HIV/AIDS.
6. Provision of assistance and control over record keeping and reporting on these issues.
7. Participation, processing and development of the work plan for each specialization.
8. Preparation, generalization of materials and documents which need to be presented in the above mentioned institutions.
9. Development of training-methodical materials necessary for this field of work.
10. Control over the timely fulfilment of the provisions of orders, methodical indications and other directive documents regarding HIV/AIDS prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and placement.
11. Field trip throughout the republic with the purpose to provide methodical and practical help, as well as to oversee the situation of work in the field.
12. Ambulatory treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as other people from the placement group (clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory examination). Filling out ambulatory forms and placement according to the legislation in force.
13. Pre- and post-test counselling of people which are addressing the VCT service, including anonymously.