title: CD4 cell monitoring for HIV/AIDS: old options; new insights.
abstract: Cost effective solutions are needed for laboratory monitoring that do not compromise on quality but address costs. Current recommended methods of CD4+ T cell enumeration are complex and costly. Monitoring typically utilises viral load assessment (PCR based) and CD4+ T cell counting to assess disease progression and response to therapy in HIV/AIDS. This paper reviews CD4 testing with the focus on different methods of CD4+ T cell enumeration including state-of-the-art flow cytometric testing, the advantages and disadvantages of these systems and quality control. Lastly, recent new work undertaken at the University of the Witwatersrand is discussed that addresses the problems of cost and precision and accuracy of CD4 T cell testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa. glencross@mighty.co.za
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Glencross
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens