LABORATORY PERSONNEL TRAINED IN USE OF NEW POC TECHNOLOGY FOR CD4 TESTING

Up to 40 laboratory specialists have been trained in the use of the FACSPRESTO, a new Point of Care Solution for CD4 testing.

The new FACSPRESTO technology shall be used in place of the FACSCALIBRE and FACSCOUNT that have been in use.

The manufacturers of these technologies, BD, have given Central Public Health Laboratories up to 140 FACSPRESTO machines in addition to the 100 machines given earlier. These have been allocated to facilities across the country. 10 of them have been stored at CPHL for swap-ups during repairs and maintenance.

The trained personnel shall support training back in the districts as well as the health facilities to ensure proper use and subsequently effective testing.

The trainings are supported by BD, CHAI and the Ministry of Health.