New CD4+ T Cell Test- Potential use in resource poor settings

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator,

I hope my postings are of help in resolving the AIDS enigma in India

and elsewhere,

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The last paragraph of the article below says in part:

" The device -- the size of a postage stamp -- captures and then counts

the number of CD4+ T cells in a patient's immune system. The device,

which still needs a commercial manufacturer, uses a microchip to collect

and sort immune system cells. The chip is then inserted into a handheld

device that takes a picture, reads and analyzes the image to provide a

CD4+ T cell count in approximately 10 minutes "

I wonder if this technology could be adapted for use to measure HIV

Viral Loads, for use in resource poor settings during HIV Vaccine

clinical trials.

The ability to use the same cost effective handheld device, using

different microchips, to measure CD4+ T Cells and HIV-1 Viral Loads

would greatly reduce the cost and logistics of conducting Therapeutic

and Preventative HIV-1 Vaccine trials in the poor nations I think.

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Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report: Friday, February 14, 2003 Science & Medicine:

kaisernetwork.org Address:

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/print_report.cfm?DR_ID=16070 & dr_cat=1

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New CD4+ T Cell Test

A portable rapid test that measures CD4+ T cells in HIV/AIDS patients

could be available " for less than $1 in poor countries, " making it

easier to identify patients who are in need of treatment, the Wall

Street Journal reports. , a Harvard Medical School

professor and Massachusetts General Hospital AIDS researcher, released

findings for a " prototype " of the device at the conference. The device

-- the size of a postage stamp -- captures and then counts the number of

CD4+ T cells in a patient's immune system. The device, which still needs

a commercial manufacturer, uses a microchip to collect and sort immune

system cells. The chip is then inserted into a handheld device that

takes a picture, reads and analyzes the image to provide a CD4+ T cell

count in approximately 10 minutes, according to the Journal (Wall Street

Journal, 2/14).

Sincerely Yours

Creel

HIV Vaccine Research Advocate

6072 Cartier Ave

New Orleans, LA 70122

USA (504) 282-1353

E-mail: SherylBuster@...