Countries indicating interest in providing regional reference node service:
- Bahamas – Viral load, CD4, Western blot, DNA-PCR
- Barbados – CD4, Viral load
- Jamaica – HIV diagnosis, CD4/CD8 testing, viral load, PCR, TB smear, culture and sensitivity testing, cervical cytology, malaria
Other includes: - Dengue confirmatory testing
- Influenza typing
- TB antibiotic susceptibility testing
Referral service locations:
- Aruba
- Amsterdam (cervical cytology)
- CAREC (TB antibiotic susceptibility)
- BVI
- Puerto Rico
- Cayman Islands
- Miami, Florida
- Grenada
- CAREC
- Jamaica
- Vet lab
- St. Lucia
- CAREC
- Turks & Caicos
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (histology, cytology)
- CAREC (microbiology confirmations)
Countries interested in offering External Quality Assessment Service
Both in-country & regional
- Bahamas
- Barbados
In-country only
- Cayman Islands
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Turks & Caicos
Capacity would need to be built
Additional resources that would be necessary for volunteer laboratories to undertake a reference node role
- Accreditation
- Proper, regulated transportation facilities
- Proper handling and prompt processing facilities in place
- Training in preparing EQAS specimens
- Human and financial resources
- Increase in storage facilities
- Additional infrastructure
- Advice/ Assistance on legislation/legal matters