FACSCount: A New System to Standardize Monitoring of HIV Patients

FACSCount/Page 2
"Reduction in CD4 T Lymphocyte counts is one of the most
profound immunologic alterations in HIV-related disorders," said
Kenneth Strauss, M.D., European medical director for Becton
Dickinson. "The level of CD4 T Lymphocytes is important in
staging patients with the disease, for predicting the development
of complications in these individuals and for managing them with
appropriate, timely interventions."
Paramount to the body's defense against infection, CD4 T
Lymphocytes progressively decrease in number during the course of
HIV infection. The decision to begin preventive therapy for HIV
associated infections is generally based on results of CD4
counts, a widely accepted standard measurement.
The Centers for Disease Control recently revised the U.S.
case definition of AIDS to include asymptomatic HIV-1
seropositive individuals with a CD4 count of fewer than 200 cells
per cubic millimeter.
While there is no similar European case definition due to
concerns about patient accessibility to CD4 testing, CD4 is
commonly accepted as being most closely reflective of AIDS.
Guidelines for management of HIV-infected patients suggest
that an absolute CD4 count be obtained every six months until the
count approaches thresholds where therapeutic intervention is
called for. Absolute CD4 counts are then monitored every three
months until a count is reached at which therapeutic intervention
is indicated.
Becton Dickinson's new system utilizes a single step
preparation method designed to eliminate many of the errors
inherent in current methodologies.

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