CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count
Includes: 2 Parameters
CD4 T-cell Percentage & Absolute CD4 T-cell Count test is assessment of number of CD4 cells in
your circulation. CD4 T-cells are white blood cells that play a vital role in your immune system.
They fight infection and aid the activity of other immune cells by releasing cytokines. They move
throughout the body to find and destroy viruses, bacteria, and other infections. The normal
range of CD4 Count is 500 to 1200 cells/cmm. This test is done as a part of protocol to assess
severity of disease in HIV infection. CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count test can help your
healthcare provider understand the extent of damage that has been done to your immune
system.
CD4 T-cell Percentage & Absolute CD4 T-cell Count test is assessment of number of CD4 cells in
your circulation. CD4 T-cells are white blood cells that play a vital role in your immune system.
They fight infection and aid the activity of other immune cells by releasing cytokines. They move
throughout the body to find and destroy viruses, bacteria, and other infections. The normal
range of CD4 Count is 500 to 1200 cells/cmm. This test is done as a part of protocol to assess
severity of disease in HIV infection. CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count test can help your
healthcare provider understand the extent of damage that has been done to your immune
system.
It is essential to track CD4 levels to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment being given and make
adjustments as per the results. This test can also be used to check how HIV has affected your
immunity.
Symptoms to check for going for the CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count Test
CD4 T-cell Percentage & Absolute Count test is done as a part of protocol in HIV infection. All
patients with HIV infection should take ART, irrespective of CD4 Counts. The signs and
symptoms of HIV are :
• Prolonged high fever with Chills and Night sweats
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Poor appetite and significant weight loss
• Muscle aches
• High fever
• Non-healing Mouth ulcers, white plaques in oral cavity suggestive of Candidiasis
• Fatigue and tiredness
These symptoms can last from a few days to several months. Healthcare professional order this
test periodically in patients who are HIV positive and are taking Anti-Retroviral treatment (ART).
Prerequisite for the CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count Test
There are multiple factors that affect CD4 counts. Taking your medication is one way to keep
your count high but medications or acute infections can affect CD4 count. If you are responding
well to your medications, you may need less frequent testing going forward. An infection like flu,
pneumonia, or a herpes simplex virus can make CD4 counts to go down for a while. Even
smoking or changes in sleep or exercise habits can make a difference in CD4 counts. To get the
most accurate results, the test should be done on a normal day after typical sleep and exercise,
use the same lab each time and wait for at least a couple of weeks after you’ve been sick or
gotten a shot before you get a test.
REPORT TIME:
SPECIMEN: WB-EDTA
Doctors
CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count
WB-EDTA
Flowcytometry
2:00 PM (Daily)
3 ml Ambient
Frequently asked questions
CD4 Percentage & Absolute Count Test results are usually measured as the number of cells per cubic millimetre of blood. For healthy teens and adults, the normal CD4 count should be between 500 to 1,200 cells per cubic millimetre. People with HIV who have CD4 counts over 500 are usually in pretty good health. HIV infection and CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimetre, predisposes to development of serious opportunistic infections. Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) is recommended for all patients with HIV.
In addition to using a test to count the number of CD4 cells, physicians also measure the proportion of all white blood cells that are CD4 cells, this is called CD4 cell percentage. This CD4 cell percentage is used for follow-up of patients, because this is less likely to fluctuate as compared to absolute CD4 counts. CD4 percentages are not usually regarded as a general indicator of health of an adult’s immune system, but variation of this value with absolute CD4 counts might be a sign of another health problem.
HIV is one of the major factors that can affect your CD4 count. Other infections like pneumonia, hepatitis B and flu can also transiently affect your CD4 counts. Steroids and chemotherapy also cause CD4 levels to drop. Alcohol, nicotine, stress, vigorous exercise, lack of sleep, fatigue and pregnancy can also affect your CD4 count. Therefore, for most accurate results, the test should be done on a normal day after typical sleep and exercise, use the same lab each time and wait for at least a couple of weeks after you’ve been sick or gotten a shot before you get a test.
CD4 cells are white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system. Your CD4 Count gives you an indication of the health of your immune system – your body’s natural defence system against pathogens, infections and illnesses. Monitoring of CD4 count is important soon after diagnosis with HIV, before beginning HIV treatment and for as long as your CD4 count is low. It provides important information about disease progression and immune system.
For healthy teens and adults, the normal CD4 count should be between 500 to 1,200 cells per cubic millimetre. The most common cause of low CD4 T-cell counts is HIV Infection. People with HIV who have CD4 counts over 500 are usually in pretty good health. HIV infection and CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimetre, predisposes to development of serious opportunistic infections. If you have HIV and do not take HIV treatment, your CD4 count will fall over time. The lower the CD4 cell count, the greater the damage to the immune system and the greater the risk of illness. When you take HIV treatment, your CD4 count should gradually increase.
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