External quality assessment program on CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts for persons with HIV/AIDS in Thailand: history and accomplishments.
A CD4 count External Quality Assessment (EQA) program is important for the clinical monitoring of persons infected with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the CD4 EQA performance program of the flow cytometer laboratories that perform routine CD4 counts for these patients in Thailand. Stabilized whole blood samples were sent to participating laboratories to determine the percentage and absolute counts of CD4+ T-lymphocytes using their routine procedures. The data were analyzed and reports sent to the participants within one month. Most participating laboratories produced results that were within two standard deviations (SD) of the mean, while the average inter-laboratory coefficients of variation were less than 8% for CD4+ T-lymphocytes. This program was found to improve the reliability of CD4+ T-lymphocyte determinations. This test is becoming increasingly important as Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries scale up their national programs that provide access to antiretroviral therapy for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vallerut
V
Pobkeeree
Surada
S
Lerdwana
Umaporn
U
Siangphoe
Egarit
E
Noulsri
Korakot
K
Polsrila
Somboon
S
Nookhai
Kovit
K
Pattanapanyasat
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013785:Thailand