AQUIOS CL Clinical Cytometer* Categorized as Eligible for Use in Africa’s Fight Against HIV

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ AQUIOS CL flow cytometer has been categorized** as eligible for procurement by The Global Fund’s independent Expert Review Panel for Diagnostics (ERPD). This process is required to be able to supply vitally needed CD4+ immune status monitoring flow cytometry equipment to African countries, to aid in their fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. The news is announced at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, until 4 December 2014.

The company’s AQUIOS CL Clinical Flow Cytometer* can be used for the accurate characterization of T cell CD4 subsets in the immunologic assessment of patients having, or suspected of having, immune deficiency. This compact, fully automated instrument is suitable for clinical labs of all sizes and is very easy to use - the first authentic ‘LOAD & GO’ cytometry system.

The AQUIOS CL is designed specifically to streamline workflow and reduce backlogs when handling applications, such as immunophenotyping. It takes less than 20 minutes to deliver a result from the time the sample is loaded. This is for both the single-loader and auto-loader modes, and when running either Tetra-1 or Tetra-2+ tests.

“The small footprint, high-throughput AQUIOS helps improve workflow in all sizes of labs, even those with limited access to highly trained staff,” explained Mario Koksch PhD, Vice President of the Cytometry Unit for Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.

“Fast and easy to use, it requires minimal staff training. In addition, its cap piercing technology provides additional safety for staff reducing their need to handle open blood tubes and risk exposure to biohazardous material.”

This fully integrated system includes a 40-tube capacity autoloader able to handle a variety of tube sizes, with continuous, random loading and unloading. There is a separate single-tube loader for STAT samples. The first tests available for the Aquios CL are Tetra-1 (CD45/4/8/3), Tetra-2+ (CD45/56+16/19/3), and Tetra Combo (both Tetra-1 and -2+) for immune status monitoring.

* CE marked for use in Europe and those geographies which recognize the CE Mark system. Pending clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration: not yet available for in vitro diagnostic use in the U.S.
** Time limited, expires 20/11/2015