CD4 Testing in Northern Cape, South Africa

A cross-sectional study design was used to analyse TAT data from CD4 testing laboratories in Kimberley, Upington, De Aar and Tshwaragano, Northern Cape, South Africa. Only data with a reviewed CD4 result between June 2018 to October 2019 were analysed. CD4 testing at all of the Northern Cape laboratories was done using the Beckman Coulter Aquios CL (continuous loader) cytometer system (Beckman Coulter, Miami, Florida, United States).³² This system is ideal for low to medium-high test volumes (10–120 samples per day) and is user-independent, with sample preparation and analysis performed in a closed system requiring minimal operator hands-on time, an especially useful feature for sites with limited dedicated/skilled staff. The Aquios CL platform performance correlated well with previously used systems such as the COULTER EPICS XL-MCL™³³ and FC500 multi-plate loader (MPL)³⁴ as per validations done before the national roll-out^{35 (link),36 (link)} and instrument verifications done per testing site as part of the implementation process.^{37 ,38 ,39}