Why is a CD4+ count done?
CD4+ counts are done to:
- Keep track of how the HIV infection is affecting your immune system.
- Help diagnose AIDS. If you don't get treatment, HIV infection can progress to AIDS.
- Check to see if you're at risk for other infections (opportunistic infections).
- Decide whether to start treatment to prevent opportunistic infections, such as medicines to prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia.
How often your CD4+ count is checked depends on your treatment, your health, and your prior CD4+ count results.
How is a CD4+ count done?
A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.
How do you prepare for a CD4+ count?
In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test unless your doctor tells you to.
What do the results of a CD4+ count mean?
In people who have HIV, the CD4+ count almost always goes up with treatment. Low CD4+ counts make infections more likely.
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