Aquios cl flow cytometer

Clinical and demographic details were collected at enrolment, including any self-reported symptoms at presentation. Peripheral blood was analyzed by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) on the day of enrolment for absolute CD4 count using the Aquios PLG panel (CD45-FITC/CD4 PE monoclonal antibodies) together with an Aquios CL Flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter), as well as for HIV VL using the ALINITY mHIV-1 ASSAY (Abbott Molecular Inc., Des Plaines, IL, USA), following standard operating procedures. Additional tests to determine sodium, creatinine, albumin, alanine transaminase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin, and full blood count and differential cell count were also performed by the NHLS. All data are herein reported using NHLS defined thresholds and ranges as previously determined to be applicable for the general population of South Africa. Information on ART was obtained from pharmacy records. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was determined by in-house ELISA (see “SARS-CoV-2 serology”). All clinical, demographic and experimental data were recorded and stored on an electronic REDCap database [21 (link)], hosted by the University of Cape Town.

Laboratory medicine analyses (e.g., blood routine, lymphocyte subsets and inflammation-related biomarkers) were performed on patients’ blood samples collected and analyzed in the first 24 h after admission to the Infective Diseases Department of “F. Perinei” Murgia Hospital. The total number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood was counted with an automated hematology analyzer (Pentra ABX, HORIBA, Kyoto, Japan). An Olympus AU680 (Beckman Coulter Brea, CA, USA) was used to collect LDH and CRP data. PCT was determined by Liaison (DiaSorin S.p.A., Saluggia, Italy). IL-6 and ferritin were measured by ADVIA Centaur XP Immunoassay System (SIEMENS Health, Erlangen, Germany, GmbH). D-Dimers and Fibrinogen values were measured by ACL TOP 500 (Werfen, Bedford, MA USA). Peripheral blood lymphocyte typing was performed in patients’ whole blood samples by cytofluorimetric analysis using AQUIOS CL Flow Cytometer (AQUIOS—Beckman Coulter CA, USA). Antibodies used for cell staining were TETRA-1 Panel (CD45, CD4, CD8 and CD3), and obtained data were analyzed using flow cytometry analysis software (Aquios system software, V2.2.0).

Lymphocytes subsets were measured by AQUIOS CL flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL) using fresh blood sample.^{5 (link)} A customized Ab mix was made for this clinical purpose. This panel consisted of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD3−/CD16+/CD56+ (Beckman Coulter). Absolute leukocyte count was based on an electronic volume measurement.