Abstract
Backround: HIV monitoring in resource-constrained settings demands affordable and reliable CD4+ T lymphocytes enumeration methods. We developed a simple single platform image cytometer (SP ICM), which is a dedicated volumetric CD4+ T lymphocytes enumeration system that uses immunomagnetic and immunofluorescent technologies. The instrument was designed to be a low-cost, yet reliable and robust one. In this article we test the instrument and the immunochemical procedures used on blood from HIV negative and HIV positive patients. -
Methods: After CD4 immunomagnetic labeling in whole blood, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4+dim monocytes and some nonspecifically labeled cells are magnetically attracted to an analysis surface. Combining with CD3-Phycoerythrin (PE) labeling, only CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes are fluorescently labeled and visible in a fluorescent image of the analysis surface. The number of CD4+ T lymphocytes is obtained by image analysis. Alternatively, CD3 immunomagnetic selection in combination with CD4 immunofluorescent labeling can also be applied for CD4+ T lymphocytes enumeration. -
Results: The SP ICM system was compared with two single platform flow cytometer (SP FCM) methods: tetraCXP and TruCount methods. The SP ICM system has excellent precision, accuracy and linearity for CD4+ T lymphocytes enumeration. Good correlations were obtained between the SP ICM and the SP FCM methods for blood specimens of 44 HIV- patients, and of 63 HIV+ patients. Bland-Altman plots showed interchangeability between the SP ICM and the SP FCM methods. -
Conclusions: The immunolabeling methods and the instrumentation are simple and easy-to-handle for less-trained operators. The SP ICM system is a good candidate for CD4+ T lymphocytes enumeration in point-of-care settings of resource-constrained countries.
Original language | Undefined |
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Pages (from-to) | 397-407 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Cytometry. Part B : Clinical cytometry |
Volume | 72B |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Keywords
- METIS-240634
- Single platform
- HIV monitoring
- Image cytometer
- CD4 enumeration
- IR-72257
- immunomagnetic separation
- immunofluorescent labeling
- point-of-care