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Table 1 Main characteristics describing the implementation and the 5 years usage (2008–2013) of 8 single-platform, volumetric, Auto40 flow cytometers for community-based point-of-care CD4 T lymphocytes enumeration installed in Chad

From: Field evaluation in Chad of community usage of CD4 T lymphocyte counting by alternative single-platform flow cytometry

  

Location of Auto40 flow cytometers

Catogories

Items

N’Djamena (hôpital Militaire D’Instruction)

N’Djamena (Centre D’Appui Psycho-Médico-Social Al-Nadjma)

Mongo

Bongor

Kelo

Doba

Maïssala

Koumra

 

Level of laboratory facility*

1

3

2

2

3

2

3

3

Laboratory characteristics

Situation

Urban

Urban

Rural

Rural

Rural

Urban

rural

Rural

 

Distance from the capital city NDJ (km)

0

0

500

230

383

570

750

670

 

Location in closed dust-free room (yes/no)

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

 

Mean temperature gradient (minimum/maximum in °C)

22/45

22/45

22/45

20/40

20/40

20/40

20/40

22/40

 

Air conditioned (yes/no)

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

 

Electricity & water

Unreliable electricity power supplies

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Unreliable water supplies

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Human resources

Biologist (number)

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

 

Trained technician (number)

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Reagents & consumable supplies

CD45, CD4 lyophilisated reagents

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Reagents delivery

Regular

Regular

Regular

Regular

Regular

Regular

Regular

Regular

 

Reagents price (€)

10

10

12

11

11

12

12

12

 

Sheath fluid recycling cassette

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Number of followed up patients (in 2012)

102

458

57

53

198

87

41

157

Medical activity in each site

Number of antiretroviral drugs-treated adult patients (in 2012)

95

421

55

49

137

82

33

145

 

Number of antiretroviral drugs-treated children (< 5 years) patients (in 2012)

7

37

2

4

61

5

4

12

 

Number of CD4 T cells enumeration** (in 2011)

341

1156

55

123

559

230

62

358

 

Final cost of CD4 T cell count (in absolute number and percentage)***

11.0

11.0

13.0

12.0

12.1

13.1

13.4

13.2

Quality control

Assurance quality procedures

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Internal quality control

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

International external quality control

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Instrument Support

Routine maintenance on site

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Manufacturer’s maintenance (agreement)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Troubleshooting

No

No

Yes (electronic memory card)

No

No

No

No

No

  1. *Level 1: Reference laboratory; Level 2: District laboratory; Level 3: Health care center laboratory.
  2. **Results of CD4 T cell enumeration with Auto40 flow cytometer are systematically given in absolute count as well as in percentage.
  3. ***The estimated final cost of 1 CD4 T cell enumeration does not take into account the cost of the use of sheath fluid recycling cassette in province laboratories, as well as the contractual maintenance of the Auto40 flow cytometers by the distributor (Inodia, France).