T-cell activation markers
| Category | Immunology | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test background |
This is a flow cytometric assay used to quantify the percentage of T- cells (CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD8+ cells) expressing the activation markers CD25 and HLA-DR. This test is currently only available to the National HTLV-1 service. HTLV-1 is a CD4 tropic retrovirus that is asymptomatic in around 90% of patients. In the UK an estimated 22,000 people are infected. Around 2-5% of HTLV-1 infected patients will have malignant transformation to adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and up to 3% of infected patients develop a progressive disease of the nervous system (HAM/TSP, HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis). Serial monitoring of the CD4+CD25+ population in HTLV-1 patients may aid in predicting disease progression. |
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| Clinical Indications |
Monitoring HTLV-1 infection |
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| Reference range |
Ranges validated in house
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| Sample & container required | 3ml blood (EDTA lavender top) Do not separate or refrigerate, must be processed within 48 hours |
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| Sample volume | 3 mL | ||||||||||
| Turnaround time | 3 days |