Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
Viewpoint: Why do we need a point-of-care CD4 test for low-income countries?
R Zachariah1, S D Reid, P Chaillet
1Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Operational Research Unit, Medical Department, MSF- Luxembourg, Luxembourg. zachariah@internet.lu
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.

