Evaluation of a universal template for single-platform absolute T-lymphocyte subset enumeration.

The single-platform absolute T-lymphocyte subset analysis was evaluated utilizing a universal protocol in a Canadian multicenter study with the collaboration of the members of the Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN). Participants used flow cytometers and reagents of their choice for labeling and lysing whole blood. Over a 2-year period, CTN laboratories performed single-platform absolute T-lymphocyte subset enumerations on fresh and commercial stabilized blood products using commercially available microfluorospheres TruCount and Flow-Count. This multicenter evaluation demonstrated that the application of a universal template for single-platform analysis provides a generic approach that embraces a wide array of immunophenotyping settings available in clinical laboratory. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.