TY - JOUR
T1 - A reliable and inexpensive EasyCD4 assay for monitoring HIV-infected individuals in resource-limited settings
AU - Balakrishnan, Pachamuthu
AU - Solomon, Suniti
AU - Mohanakrishnan, Janardhanan
AU - Cecelia, Anitha J.
AU - Kumarasamy, Nagalingeswaran
AU - Murugavel, Kailapuri G.
AU - Venkatakrishnan, Bhavani
AU - Solomon, Sunil S.
AU - Crowe, Suzanne M.
AU - Ganesh, Aylur K.
AU - Thyagarajan, Sadras P.
AU - Flanigan, Timothy
AU - Mayer, Kenneth H.
PY - 2006/9/1
Y1 - 2006/9/1
N2 - Serial measurements of absolute CD4 T-lymphocyte counts are required to initiate and gauge response to therapy and monitor disease progression. Hence, there is an urgent need to evaluate the accuracy and validity of low-cost CD4 T-cell count assays. Tripotassium EDTA blood specimens from HIV-infected individuals were studied using a novel flow cytometric assay (EasyCD4 assay; Guava Technologies, Hayward, CA) in comparison with standard flow cytometry (FACSCount; Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, San Jose, CA). The sensitivity, specificity value by EasyCD4 assay in enumerating absolute CD4 T-cell counts of less than 200 cells/μL were 95% and 100%, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed close agreement, with the EasyCD4 assay yielding CD4 T-cell counts a mean difference of -26 cells/μL (95% confidence interval, -96 to 44 cells/μL) higher than by flow cytometry. Our data suggest that EasyCD4 assay could be a useful alternative assay to conventional flow cytometry, may be appropriate for use in resource-limited settings.
AB - Serial measurements of absolute CD4 T-lymphocyte counts are required to initiate and gauge response to therapy and monitor disease progression. Hence, there is an urgent need to evaluate the accuracy and validity of low-cost CD4 T-cell count assays. Tripotassium EDTA blood specimens from HIV-infected individuals were studied using a novel flow cytometric assay (EasyCD4 assay; Guava Technologies, Hayward, CA) in comparison with standard flow cytometry (FACSCount; Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, San Jose, CA). The sensitivity, specificity value by EasyCD4 assay in enumerating absolute CD4 T-cell counts of less than 200 cells/μL were 95% and 100%, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed close agreement, with the EasyCD4 assay yielding CD4 T-cell counts a mean difference of -26 cells/μL (95% confidence interval, -96 to 44 cells/μL) higher than by flow cytometry. Our data suggest that EasyCD4 assay could be a useful alternative assay to conventional flow cytometry, may be appropriate for use in resource-limited settings.
KW - CD4 T-lymphocyte count
KW - EasyCD4 assay
KW - Flow cytometry
KW - Guava technologies
KW - HIV monitoring
KW - Low-cost CD4
KW - Resource-limited setting
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U2 - 10.1097/01.qai.0000227791.92203.d5
DO - 10.1097/01.qai.0000227791.92203.d5
M3 - Article
C2 - 16885780
AN - SCOPUS:33748092700
VL - 43
SP - 23
EP - 26
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
SN - 1525-4135
IS - 1
ER -