Kallas EG, Inocencio LA, Tomiyama H, Brunialti MK, Viana MA, Fernandes ML, Salomao R, Dantas MC, Granjeiro A; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. D12850.

Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Background: After the availability of antiretroviral drugs for Brazilian patients, the Ministry of Health established a system of laboratories to provide HIV viral load and CD4+ T cell enumeration to assist the decisions of starting and monitoring antiretroviral therapy. The CD4 Laboratory Network is now constituted by 80 laboratories in 25 states. To assure the quality of the CD4+ T-cell counts, a Quality Assessment Program (QAP) was established. Methods: The program was implemented using shipments of fresh EDTA treated whole blood to the participating sites in the CD4 Laboratory Network. A pilot study conducted in 12 laboratories suggested the blood processing up to the second day following the blood drawn. Most laboratories use FACSCount, a dedicated flow cytometer, for T-cell subset absolute enumeration. Three national surveys took place in 1999 to 2003, with four anonymous samples each, including one duplicated sample. Mean values and SD for absolute T-cell subsets were calculated. The laboratories performance was assessed based on the percentage coefficient of the mean for all subpopulations in each round of QAP. Results: Mean values and SD for absolute T-cell subsets were calculated. The laboratories performance was assessed on two criteria (1) distance from the mean values (2) and reproducibility of the duplicated sample results. A considerable number of laboratories reported the results: 53 in 1999, 65 in 2000, 63 in 2001, 70 in 2002, and 66 in 2003. The percentage that reported the results within 2 SD for both criteria was 77.6% in 1999, 89.2% in 2000, 82.5% in 2001, 77.1% in 2002, and 77.3% in 2003. Conclusions: The Quality Assessment Program is now implemented to assist the laboratories which take part in the Network. This initiative is complementary to Brazil's effort to provide health support for those living with HIV.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Antigens, CD4
• Brazil
• CASP4 protein, human
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• Caspases
• Flow Cytometry
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Laboratories
• Single Person
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets
• immunology
• methods
• therapy

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0034160

UI: 102278376

From Meeting Abstracts