Viewpoint: Why Do We Need a Point-of-Care CD4 Test for Low-Income Countries?

Viewpoint: Why Do We Need a Point-of-Care CD4 Test for Low-Income Countries?

By: R. Zachariah, S. D. Reid, P. Chaillet, M. Massaquoi, E. J. Schouten, A. D. Harries
Publication: Tropical Medicine and International Health 16 (1) (January 2011): 37-41. 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.