Setting up a Standardized Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Processing Laboratory to Support Multi-center HIV/AIDS Vaccine and Intervention Trials.
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Labmedicine
Abstract
Despite infrastructure and capacity challenges in Africa, significant development has been made in the number of laboratories supporting immunological and safety studies required for large-scale HIV/AIDS vaccine or intervention trials. In Uganda, cohorts participating in HIV intervention trials are often recruited from rural areas. To avoid transporting samples from intervention trial areas over long distances (120 km) to central laboratories in Entebbe, we set up a standardized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) processing laboratory at a field station in Masaka, southwest Uganda. The laboratory was well equipped and enrolled into the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Quality Assurance (QA) program. Staff was trained in laboratory techniques and Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP). The laboratory received IAVI and GCLP accreditation in 2008. In this paper we describe the process and achievements of measures taken to overcome challenges, to build staff capacity, and to optimize the quality of the cells yielded.
Description
The aim of this study was to assess the infrastructure and capacity challenges in Africa, however significant development has been made in the number of laboratories supporting immunological and safety studies required for large-scale HIV/AIDS vaccine or intervention trials.
Keywords
Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory - Rural Africa, HIV/AIDS vaccine
Citation
Njai et al. Setting up a Standardized Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Processing Laboratory to Support Multi-center HIV/AIDS Vaccine and Intervention Trials. Labmedicine. Vol. 42 No. 12 (December 2011)