CD4 T-Cell Enumeration in a Field Setting: Evaluation of CyFlow Counter Using the CD4 Easy Count Kit-Dry and Pima CD4

Background: Flow Cytometry (FCM) is still considered to be the method of choice for accurate CD4 enumeration. However, the use of FCM in developing countries is problematic due to their cost and complexity. Lower-cost technologies have been introduced. We evaluated CyFlow Counter together with its lyophilized reagents, and Pima CD4 in high-temperature area, using FACSCount as reference. Materials and Methods:Whole blood samples were consecutively collected by venipuncture from 111 HIV+ patients and 17 HIV-negative donors. CD4 T-cell enumeration was performed on CyFlow Counter, Pima CD4 and FACSCount. Results: CyFlow Counter and Pima CD4 systems showed good correlation with FACSCount (slope of 0.82 and 0.90, and concordance rc of 0.94 and 0.98, respectively). CyFlow Counter showed absolute or relative biases (LOA) of 263 cells/mm 3 (2245 to 120) or29.8 % (238.1 to 18.4) respectively, and Pima CD4 showed biases (LOA) of230 cells/mm3 (2160 to 101) or 23.5 % (241.0 to 33.9%). CyFlow Counter and Pima CD4 showed respectively 106.7 % and 105.9 % of similarity with FACSCount. According to WHO-2010 ART initiation threshold of 350 cells/mm3, CyFlow Counter and Pima CD4 showed respectively sensibility of 100 % and 97%, and specificity of 91 % and 93%. CyFlow Counter and Pima CD4 were strongly correlated (slope of 1.09 and rc of 0.95). These alternative systems showed good agreement with bias of 33 cells/m