The Diagnostic Laboratory at AiBST is a Health Professions Authority (HPA) registered clinical diagnostic facility. We provide fast, accurate, cutting edge, and low cost diagnostic test for patient management and research purposes. Our focus is mainly on immune virologic monitoring for HIV and AIDS, and the pharmacogenetics of HIV, TB and Malaria treatment.

Immune Monitoring

   We use low cost technologies to provide the essential HIV and AIDS immune monitoring tools, absolute CD4 count for adult patients and Absolute CD4 count plus CD4% for paedritric patients. The analyzer currently in use is a dedicated simple volumetric, two colour and three parameter flow cytometer, the Partec Cyflow Counter, Partec Munster Germany.

For optimal results, 3mls of EDTA whole blood should be submitted for analysis to the lab with six hrs of sample collection. Our turn around time for all immune monitoring tests is 24 hrs.

For test request please download our request form

Virologic Monitoring

The most common tests used in the diagnostis of HIV infection test for surrogate markers of HIV infection, HIV specific antibodies using various forms of immunoassays.  For most of these assays patients would have to wait at least 30 days after exposure before they can be used because to the window period (the time it take for the body to produce detectable quantities of HIV specific antibodies).

At AiBST we offer nucleic acid (NA) testing for diagnosis of HIV infection and monitoring patients on antiretroviral therapy. Using the NA techniques shortens the waiting period before we patients can be giving a definitive diagnosis to only about 12 days. This allows diagnosis of HIV infection before the development of HIV specific antibodies. This is important in the early diagnosis of primary HIV infection and early infant diagnosis. When babies are born to HIV postive mothers, they may have martenal HIV specific antibodies circulating in their blood which will give a positive result when they are tested with antibody tests. This is regardless of whether they are infected or not. It takes about 12 to 18 months after birth for the maternal antibodies to dissipate. 

  We are currently using two types assays in HIV NA testing, the HIV DNA PCR for early infant diagnosis and and detection of HIV diagnosis before seroconversion and RT PCR the measurement of the amount of virus curculating in periphral blood.

HIV-1 DNA PCR

Two methods are currently in use:

1. The FDA approved DNA PCR developed by Roche Diagnostics. It involves extraction of HIV proviral DNA from white blood cells, amplifying it using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and detecting the amplification products using an ELISA system.
2. Real Time PCR. This method allows simultaneous apllification and detection. This significantly reduces the analysis time. We are currently using an in house method for HIV-1 DNA dectetion on an ABI 7500 Real Time PCR system, ABI, Foster City, CA.

 AiBST scientist working on the ABI 7500 RT PCR system

Any of the following samplse can be submitted for the HIV-1 DNA PCR test:

1. EDTA Whole Blood (3 mls)
2. Dry Blood Spots (DBS) 

Plamsa HIV-1 RNA Viral Load

We are currently using two methods for plasma HIV RNA Viral load determination:

1. The HIV-1 Amplicor Monitor Assay ver 1.5. An FDA approved method that combines RNA reverse transcription, PCR and ELISA. We can do either the standard assay with a quantitation range of 400 RNA copies/ml to 750 000 RNA copies/ml or an ultrasensitive method with a range of 50 to 100 000 RNA copies/ml
2. Home brew Real Time PCR method. This method the provision of viral load results at significantly lower costs.

For optimal results any of the following samples can be provided for analysis:

1. 3-4.5 mls of EDTA Whole blood within six hrs of sample collection.
2. 1.5 ml of plasma transported frozen.

Our turn around time for Plasma HIV-1 RNA Viral load is 5 working days.