[Laboratory diagnostics of HIV infection in the Czech Republic]

In the Czech Republic, laboratory diagnostics of HIV is designed as a multi-level system that integrates clearly defined legislative requirements, modern diagnostic technologies, and close interdisciplinary collaboration among specialists. Reliable and early detection of HIV infection is a key factor for the timely initiation of treatment, which not only benefits the patient, but also serves as the most effective tool for preventing further spread of the infection. The diagnostic algorithm includes highly sensitive screening tests followed by mandatory confirmatory testing at the National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS at the National Institute of Public Health. Molecular biological methods are primarily applied in monitoring therapy for HIV-positive patients. However, they also serve as a tool for molecular epidemiology, enabling the tracking of infection dynamics in the population and, based on these insights, the optimization of preventive interventions and evaluation of their effectiveness. Keywords: HIV, NRL for HIV/AIDS, laboratory diagnostics, screening test, confirmatory test, viral load, drug resistance monitoring.