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UNC School of Medicine | Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases
Vietnamese

Laboratory

A lab technician pipetting study samples in the UNC Vietnam Lab facility

The UNC Vietnam team established and maintains basic clinical core laboratory services at the Yen Hoa Health Center CRS and Hanoi Medical University CRS. These labs are hubs for point-of-care testing (HIV, urinalysis), specimen processing, biomedical repository for short term storage, and shipping to specialized testing labs. 

The UNC Vietnam CRS teams utilize laboratory services at the following Vietnam Government Hospitals: 

  1. Bach Mai Hospital Laboratory  
    • Department of Microbiology provides testing services for HIV tests (HIV Ag/Ab, HIV RNA), Hepatitis tests (anti-HCV, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBsAg), and TSI tests (Syphilis treponemal and non-treponemal tests, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea tests) 
    • Department of Biochemistry provides testing services for all chemistry tests (urea, creatinine, CPK, calcium, phosphorous, total protein, albumin, globulin), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate), liver function tests (AST, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin), and hormone tests (serum β-HCG, estradiol, testosterone, prolactin) 
  2. National Institute for Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) 
    • Stem Cell Bank provides service for CD4/CD8 tests and PBMC processing 
    • Department of Blood coagulation provides service for PT INR test 
    • Department of Cytology and Histology provides service for CBC with differential test 
    • Department of Immunology serves as a backup lab for CD4/CD8 test
  3. National Lung Hospital (NLH) Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory  
    • Latent TB test (IGRA) and all Mycobacteriology tests including AFB fluorescent smear, MGIT culture, solid Lowenstein–Jensen culture, MTB identification, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, Hain MTBDRplus, MGIT DST for 1st line and 2nd line drugs 
    • Specimen processing for urine, plasma, serum, dry blood spot, and PAXgene specimens for our studies 

All laboratory services provided are performed following the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) Guidelines. Each laboratory receives an annual DAIDS GCLP audit which ensures data integrity and reproducibility. The UNC Vietnam CRS Laboratory team works closely with each laboratory to assist with quality assurance, control and improvement.