A total of 2,570 apparently healthy human immunodeficiency virus-negative adults from the six geopolitical zones in the country were enrolled in our study in 2006. The samples were assayed using the Cyflow technique. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The majority (64%) of the participants had CD4 counts within the range of 501 to 1,000 cells/l. The reference range for CD4 was 365 to 1,571 cells/l, while the reference range for CD8 was 145 to 884 cells/l.In Nigeria, although country-specific reference ranges for some hematological measures have been determined (3,5,6), national data for CD4 reference values are still not available. Prior to a few recent monocenter studies carried out among defined populations of healthy Nigerians (2, 13), CD4 reference range values from literature based on studies in western countries were largely employed for clinical decision making.However, as the access to treatment increased in Nigeria, it became critically necessary to determine on a national level the reference values for CD4 cell counts and the factors that may affect it. This was necessary to inform the clinicians of the required minimal range for the initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and also for accurate monitoring of responses to therapy and other treatment outcomes.The national study reported in this document was a multicenter study conducted among healthy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative adult Nigerians, in eight sites across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the normal reference values of CD4 and CD8, as well as CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios, indigenous to Nigeria.This project was carried out as a cross-sectional study among apparently healthy Nigerians aged 18 years and older who tested HIV negative at voluntary counseling and testing site sites. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, sickle cell anemia, or clinical illness.A 5-ml sample of blood was collected from each participant by venipuncture into a Vacutainer EDTA bottle. These samples were retested using the Genie II kit (Bio-Rad), which is a rapid HIV serology test kit. Only samples that were confirmed negative were assayed for CD4 and CD8 cell counts concurrently using the Cyflow technique, with an instrument known as the Cyflow counter (Partec). This instrument is for counting and analyzing particles and cells. The first step in the measurement of cells is staining with a fluorescent dye. The fluorescent molecules are taken up by the cells. The cells are individually illuminated by light of a defined wavelength. The light activates the fluorescent molecules so that they emit light of a characteristic color (wavelength). This fluorescent light is filtered out, and its intensity is measured by a ploidy analyzer for each single cell. The fluorescence light intensity emitted by a labeled cell is proportional to its CD4 or CD8 content. For cell counting or concentration determination, the sample volume detector measures exactly 0.2 ml of th...

Introduction: Viral Hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are most common top ranking leading causes of infectious diseases and deaths worldwide. If these infections, remain unidentified and untreated among HIV infected pregnant women, children born to these pregnant women are at high risk of these viral hepatitis infections. Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV and HCV among HIV infected pregnant women in Abuja, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross sectional study among 330 HIV infected pregnant women commencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) at National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Nigeria were studied. The women were screened for the presence of HBV and HCV antibodies. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic data prior to recruitment/enrollment. Data were analyzed using statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) (version 20.0). Results: Out of the 330 HIV infected pregnant women, 90 (27.3%) were HBV positive, while 5 (1.5%) were HCV positive (p = 0.42). The highest prevalence was observed among the age group of 20 – 29. However, none of the patients tested positive for both HBV and HCV. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that infection with viral hepatitis is common and of public health concern. Therefore, concerted efforts should be put in place to mitigate the epidemics.

Adolescents in Africa have low HIV testing rates. Determining the HIV prevalence among this group is very important because adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have worse health outcome than other populations of people living with HIV. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of HIV among children of adolescents age (10-18 years) that come for HIV testing in virology laboratory of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja from January 2013 to December 2018. The result was expressed in percentage and disaggregated by sex. Out of 533 adolescents tested over 6 years, 252 (51.9%) females and 234 (48.1%) were males. A total of 69 (14.1%) of them were tested HIV positive which 42 (8.6%) were females and 27 (5.5%) were males. The result of this study indicates that there is epidemics of HIV among adolescents living in Federal Capital Territory Abuja. It is also evident that females are more vulnerable to HIV infection than the males. There is therefore need for urgent standard and comprehensive procedure for adolescents living with HIV transitioning from paediatric to adult care. This also calls for intensive enlightment on HIV education especially in our basic and post basic schools in Abuja.

Co-infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is rare in people living with Human Immunodeficiency