Information on CD4 and CD4% Test at YRG CARE

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Dear Forum,

Ref; R. Meera's posting on problems with ART roll out in Tirupati. The following

is the Information on CD4 and CD4% Test at YRG CARE.This may be useful to you

and others.

1. Test details: FlowCARE PLG CD4 Test (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA).

2. Instrument details: Coulter EPICS XL-MCL (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA).

3. Rate per test: Rs.300.00.

4. Turn around time: On the same day of the receipt of the specimens at YRG CARE

Lab before 6.00PM.

5. Specimen collection and Shipping Procedures Information:

a. Specimen should be collected by venipuncture only.

b. Whole blood specimen in K2 or K3 EDTA (Lavender or Purple top) evacuated tube

(eg. BD Vacutainer) should be used and the volume may be either 2 mL or 3mL from

children 3mL or 4mL from adults.

c. Make sure that only the recommended volume of blood as specified on the tube

is collected (eg. collection of 2 mL blood should only be collected in 2 ml

tubes etc).

d. Soon after the collection, the tubes should be inverted at least 5-7 times

for better mixing to avoid the clots.

e. Check for the integrity (clot & lysis) of the blood specimen before packing

and shipping.

f. The collection date and time should be provided.

g. The collected specimens should not be refrigerated or frozen. For the CD4

testing, the specimens must be kept in the ambient temperature after the

collection and make sure that the ambient temperature is not exceeding 25'C. YRG

CARE will provide on request user friendly methods to keep ambient storage

temperature around 25'C.

h. The collected blood specimen should be transported to our lab within 48 hours

and maximum 60 hours.

i. Collection in the plastic tube is preferable.

If you require more information, please contact:

Mr. Hanas Settu B.Sc.,PGDMM.,

Technical Coordinator (DTI Associates),

Y.R.Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE),

Voluntary Health Services Campus, Tidel Park Road,

Taramani, Chennai- 600 113, India.

Email : hanas@...

Ph: 044-22542929, Extn: 218 / 227.

Fax: 044-22542939, Mobile: 09380313335

www.yrgcare.org

------------------------------------

Dr.P.Balakrishnan.

e-mail: <bala@...>

www.yrgcare.org.