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CD4 immunophenotyping in HIV infection

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 6, pages S7–S15 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The ability to rapidly identify immune cell subsets such as CD4 cells, which became possible around the same time as the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, was one of the greatest advances in clinical and diagnostic immunology. The evolution of this global pandemic and the subsequent development of treatment strategies to prolong the life of infected individuals mean that it is now more crucial than ever that we develop affordable, reliable and accurate methods for the enumeration of CD4 cells. Here, we provide an overview of the historical developments in CD4 enumeration technologies that are related to HIV infection, and summarize the current technological challenges that must be overcome to meet the needs of those living with HIV infection.

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Figure 1: Global distribution of HIV-1 infection, December 2007.
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  1. Copyright © WHO, on behalf of TDR (WHO/TDR) 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UK NEQAS for Leukocyte Immunophenotyping, Rutledge Mews, 3 Southbourne Road, Sheffield, S10 2QN, UK

    David Barnett

  2. Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, 106 Research Drive, MSRB II, DUMC Box 103020, Durham, 27710, NC, USA

    Brooke Walker & Thomas N. Denny

  3. Department of Immunology & Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, 1735 West Harrison Street, Room 616 Cohn, Chicago, 60612, IL, USA

    Alan Landay

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Correspondence to David Barnett.

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Barnett, D., Walker, B., Landay, A. et al. CD4 immunophenotyping in HIV infection. Nat Rev Microbiol 6 (Suppl 11), S7–S15 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1998

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