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Microfluidic Assays for CD4 T Lymphocyte Counting: A Review.
Zhuolun Meng1, Hassan Raji1, Mahtab Kokabi1
1Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 94 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Biosensors
|January 24, 2025
Summary
Accurately counting CD4 T cells is vital for monitoring HIV progression. This review explores innovative, cost-effective microfluidic devices as a solution for resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Global Health
Background:
- CD4 T lymphocytes are crucial for adaptive immunity and immune health.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) depletes CD4 cells, making counts critical for disease monitoring.
- Current gold-standard flow cytometry is expensive and complex for resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze emerging technologies for CD4 T cell enumeration.
- To highlight the need for rapid, cost-effective, and portable CD4 counting methods.
- To focus on microfluidic systems as a promising alternative.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in CD4 counting techniques.
- Analysis of microfluidic systems for CD4 enumeration.
- Assessment of methods for resource-limited environments.
Main Results:
- Flow cytometry, while accurate, presents significant barriers in cost, portability, and expertise.
- Microfluidic technologies show potential for rapid, low-cost, and portable CD4 counting.
- Emerging methods aim to overcome the limitations of traditional flow cytometry.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for accessible CD4 counting solutions in global healthcare.
- Microfluidic systems offer a promising avenue for developing next-generation CD4 enumeration tools.
- Advancements in microfluidics could significantly improve HIV management in resource-limited regions.