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Living with HIV - Lab tests

What are T Cells?

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T cells play a very important role in the effective functioning of the human immune system.
T cells are important because they stimulate other immune cells to respond to infection. Without T cells, the immune system cannot protect the body against many types of germs.

What is a "CD4+ count"?

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T cells can also be called CD4+ cells.

A CD4+ cell count measures the number of T cells in a cubic millilitre of blood. A measure of CD4+ cells indicates how healthy the immune system is and, in people who are HIV positive, can help to indicate how far the disease has progressed.

In a person with a healthy immune system, a CD4+ cell count generally falls between 500 and 1500. A CD4+ cell count of 200 or less in a person living with HIV may mean a higher susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

What is "Viral Load"?

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Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in a person’s blood. It is very important that Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) monitor their viral load on a regular basis. Results of viral load testing can help indicate:

  • When to start, stop, or adjust HIV treatment
  • To what degree HIV is progressing within the body
  • A higher ability to transmit HIV to another person

Viral load and CD4

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Description: 

Carter, Michael.
London, UK, NAM, 2007
"This booklet focuses on blood tests called viral load and CD4 counts. These tests are crucial in helping you decide when to start treatment, and to monitor the effects of your treatment.This booklet is not intended to replace discussion with your doctor about your treatment or test results. However, it may help you to decide what questions to ask your doctor about any course of treatment you may be considering."

Online Version Link: 
http://www.aidsmap.com/files/file1000895.pdf

Everything you need to know about medical tests

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Description: 

Springhouse, Pa., Springhouse Corporation, 1996
Call number: B 400 EVE 1996
This easy-to-understand reference is the only consumer guide devoted exclusively to medical testing that provides complete information on more than 400 tests. Each entry gives a clear description of the test and why it is done, what happens before the test, what happens during and after the test, and whether the test has risks. It also gives normal and abnormal results and what other test may need to be done.

Understanding Your Lab Results

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Description: 

New York, NY, AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), 2004
Provides a complete and easy to understand explanation of different lab tests that doctors use to monitor the health, HIV-related diseases, and treatment of people living with HIV.

Online Version Link: 
http://67.199.24.77/files/lab-results.pdf

HIV Viral Load Testing

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Description: 

Toronto, ON, Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE), 2007
This fact sheet introduces you to the viral load test and answers basic questions about how it fits into your treatment plan.

Online Version Link: 
http://www.catie.ca/pdf/facts/viral%20load.pdf

Days at the Lab - Find out what they’re looking for in your blood and why it matters so much

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Description: 

Harris, Marianne.
In: Relay, Vol. 3, no 1, Winter 2007, pp. 7-9, 12.
When you have HIV, you become a frequent visitor to the lab in your local clinic or hospital to have different tests done. Most of these tests serve to monitor the state of your HIV infection, which can be affected by the virus, by other diseases and by your body’s defense system.

Online Version Link: 
http://relaymagazine.com/gifs/pdf/2007/vol3_no1_e/3_meds_you_1.pdf

Keep Tabs on your health

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Description: 

Harris, Marianne.
In: Relay, Vol. 3, no 1, Winter 2007, pp. 6.
Waiting at labs, having blood drawn and reviewing test results are a big part of living with HIV, so we’ve given the subject a few extra pages in this issue of Relay. The feature article starting on page 7 looks in depth at the lab tests you need to diagnose and monitor HIV. Here we introduce the different tests that are conducted routinely to monitor your overall health and see how your body’s reacting to both the virus and the medications you’re taking.

Online Version Link: 
http://relaymagazine.com/gifs/pdf/2007/vol3_no1_e/3_in_brief_1.pdf
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