Evaluations of CD4+ technologies
Access to HIV anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy is increasing rapidly in
countries with limited resources, but highly affected by the HIV epidemic.
Simultaneously, the need for appropriate laboratory monitoring of
the safety and efficacy of the treatment regimen is increasing.
The levels of CD4+ T-lymphocytes (CD4 counts) are useful tools,
in particular in the absence of clinical signs to determine when to start
an individual on ARV therapy and then to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment regimen.
Enumeration of CD4+ T-cells provides information about the status of the
immune response, and is a prognostic marker for
clinical progression to AIDS and survival.
Evaluations
Flow cytometry, the technology conventionally used to determine
CD4 counts, is not appropriate for most resource poor settings.
Less technically demanding and cheaper alternative technologies
are becoming available and WHO is assessing the validity and suitability
of these newer CD4 technologies in a multi-centre study.
Support of new developments
WHO supports the development of appropriate CD4
technologies through proof of concept studies.
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