Viewpoint: Why do we need a point-of-care CD4 test for low-income countries?

R Zachariah; S D Reid; P Chaillet; M Massaquoi; E J Schouten; A D Harries

doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02669.x

Viewpoint: Why do we need a point-of-care CD4 test for low-income countries?

Trop Med Int Health. 2011 Jan;16(1):37-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02669.x. Epub 2010 Nov 2.

Authors

R Zachariah¹, S D Reid, P Chaillet, M Massaquoi, E J Schouten, A D Harries

Affiliation

¹ Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Operational Research Unit, Medical Department, MSF- Luxembourg, Luxembourg. zachariah@internet.lu

PMID: 21371207
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02669.x

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the reasons why we urgently need a point-of-care (POC) CD4 test, elaborate the problems we have experienced with the current technology which hampers CD4-count coverage and highlight the ideal characteristics of a universal CD4 POC test. It is high-time that CD4 technology is simplified and adapted for wider use in low-income countries to change the current paradigm of restricted access once and for all.

MeSH terms

Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
Developing Countries*
HIV Infections / drug therapy
HIV Infections / immunology*
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Needs and Demand*
Humans
Point-of-Care Systems*

Substances

Anti-HIV Agents