CAREC EU – RRN Survey

Countries indicating interest in providing regional reference node service:

1. Bahamas – Viral load, CD4, Western blot, DNA-PCR
2. Barbados – CD4, Viral load
3. Jamaica – HIV diagnosis, CD4/CD8 testing, viral load, PCR, TB smear, culture and sensitivity testing, cervical cytology, malaria
   Other includes:
4. Dengue confirmatory testing
5. Influenza typing
6. TB antibiotic susceptibility testing

Referral service locations:

1. Aruba
2. Amsterdam (cervical cytology)
3. CAREC (TB antibiotic susceptibility)
4. BVI
5. Puerto Rico
6. Cayman Islands
7. Miami, Florida
8. Grenada
9. CAREC
10. Jamaica
11. Vet lab
12. St. Lucia
13. CAREC
14. Turks & Caicos
15. Fort Lauderdale, Florida (histology, cytology)
16. CAREC (microbiology confirmations)

Countries interested in offering External Quality Assessment Service
Both in-country & regional

1. Bahamas
2. Barbados

In-country only

1. Cayman Islands
2. Grenada
3. Jamaica
4. Turks & Caicos

Capacity would need to be built

Additional resources that would be necessary for volunteer laboratories to undertake a reference node role

1. Accreditation
2. Proper, regulated transportation facilities
3. Proper handling and prompt processing facilities in place
4. Training in preparing EQAS specimens
5. Human and financial resources
6. Increase in storage facilities
7. Additional infrastructure
8. Advice/ Assistance on legislation/legal matters