title: Challenges in implementing CD4 testing in resource-limited settings.
abstract: The scale-up of HIV antiretroviral therapy in recent years has led to a rapid increase in CD4 and CD4% count capacity to meet the diagnostic needs of staging and monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy in adults and infants. The speed of implementation of this technology has been unrivalled in recent years and has met challenges with technology selection, laboratory infrastructure development, human resource limitations, cost-effectiveness, instrument maintenance, and ensuring testing access and quality. The lessons learned from dealing with these challenges have helped strengthen existing laboratory systems for other diagnostics. They may also facilitate the implementation of new diagnostics in future.
authors.affiliation: Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, 225 Water Street, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badrichani
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Bekezela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ncube
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ariki
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daily
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Maurine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murtagh
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011786:Quality Control