Rudi Hayden
Urologist
Blood-tests Explained
Disclaimer:
This website is intended to assist with patient education and should not be used as a diagnostic, treatment or prescription service, forum or platform. Always consult your own healthcare practitioner for a more personalised and detailed opinion
CD4 Count
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
Most often, this test is done to measure the strength of your immune system if you have been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to monitor treatment; occasionally, it may be used with other conditions (see Common Questions #4).
When to Get Tested?
When you are first diagnosed with HIV infection to get a baseline assessment of your immune system; about every 3 to 6 months after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) to check whether you are responding to treatment; if you have responded well to treatment, you may then be tested every 6 to 12 months.
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
Test Preparation Needed?
None
The Test Sample
What is being tested?
CD4 cells are white blood cells called T lymphocytes or T cells that fight infection and play an important role in immune system function. They are made in the thymus gland and they circulate throughout the body in the blood and lymphatic system. CD4 tests measure the number of these cells in the blood and, in conjunction with an HIV viral load test, help assess the status of the immune system in a person who has been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
CD4 cells are so called because they have markers on their surfaces called clusters of differentiation (CD). The CD number identifies the specific type of cell.
CD4 cells are sometimes called T-helper cells. They help to identify, attack, and destroy specific bacteria, fungi, and viruses that cause infections. CD4 cells are a major target for HIV, which binds to the surface of CD4 cells, enters them, and either replicates immediately, killing the cells in the process, or remains in a resting state, replicating later.
If HIV goes untreated, the virus gets into the cells and replicates, the viral load increases, and the number of CD4 cells in the blood gradually declines. The CD4 count decreases as the disease progresses. If still untreated, this process may continue for several years until the number of CD4 cells drops to a low enough level that symptoms associated with AIDS begin to appear.
Treatment for HIV infection, called antiretroviral treatment (ART or ARV) or sometimes highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), typically involves taking a combination of drugs. This treatment reduces the amount of HIV (viral load) present in the body and reduces the risk of disease progression. When this occurs, the CD4 count will increase and/or stabilize.
CD8 cells are another type of lymphocyte. They are sometimes called T-suppressor cells or cytotoxic T cells. CD8 cells identify and kill cells that have been infected with viruses or that have been affected by cancer. They play an important role in the immune response to HIV infection by killing cells infected with the virus and by producing substances that block HIV replication.
As HIV disease progresses, the number of CD4 cells will decrease in relation to the number of total lymphocytes and CD8 cells. To provide a clearer picture of the condition of the immune system, test results may be reported as a ratio of CD4 to total lymphocytes (percentage).
CD4 and CD8 tests may be used occasionally in other conditions, such as lymphomas and organ transplantation (see Common Questions #4).
How is the sample collected for testing?
A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.
Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?
No test preparation is needed.
The Test
How is it used?
CD4 counts are most often used, along with an HIV viral load, to evaluate the immune system of a person diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to monitor effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment (ART or ARV), also called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
CD4 cells are types of white blood cells called T lymphocytes or T cells that fight infection and play an important role in immune system function. They are made in the thymus gland and they circulate throughout the body in the blood. (See the "What is being tested?" section for more details.)
CD4 cells are the main target of HIV. The virus enters the cells and uses them to make copies of itself (replicate) and spread throughout the body. HIV kills CD4 cells, so if an HIV infection is not treated, the number of CD4 cells will decrease as HIV infection progresses.
It is recommended that all individuals diagnosed with HIV infection receive antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible, including pregnant women, to reduce the risk of disease progression. People typically take at least three drugs from two different classes in order to prevent or minimize virus replication and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Combinations of three or more antiretroviral drugs are referred to as highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART.
Since CD4 cells are usually destroyed more rapidly than other types of lymphocytes and because absolute counts can vary from day to day, it is sometimes useful to look at the number of CD4 cells compared to the total lymphocyte count. The result is expressed as a percentage, i.e., CD4 percent.
The results can tell a health practitioner how strong a person's immune system is and can help predict the risk of complications and debilitating opportunistic infections. CD4 counts are most useful when they are compared with results obtained from earlier tests. They are used in combination with the HIV viral load test, which measures the amount of HIV in the blood, to monitor how effective ART is in suppressing the virus and determine the risk of progression of HIV disease.
Sometimes, CD4 tests may be used along with a test for CD8 cells to help diagnose or monitor other conditions such as lymphoma, organ transplantation, and DiGeorge syndrome (see Common Questions #4). CD8 cells are another type of lymphocyte that identify and kill cells that have been infected with viruses or that have been affected by cancer.
When is it ordered?
A CD4 count is usually ordered along with an HIV viral load when a person is first diagnosed with HIV infection as part of a baseline measurement. After the baseline, a CD4 count will usually be ordered at intervals over time, depending on a few different factors.
The following table summarizes recommendations* for the timing of CD4 counts and viral load testing:
| Clinical Status of Patient | Viral Load | CD4 Count |
| When first diagnosed | Test performed | Test performed |
| After initiating ART | Within 2-4 weeks and then every 4-8 weeks until virus is suppressed (undetectable) | 3 months later |
| During the first 2 years of stable ART | Every 3-4 months | Every 3-6 months |
| After 2 years of stable ART, virus undetectable, and CD4 greater than 300 cells/mm3 | Can extend to every 6 months | Annually; if CD4 consistently greater than 500 cells/mm3, monitoring is optional |
| After changing ART due to side effects or simplifying drug regimen in a person with suppressed virus | After 4-8 weeks, to confirm drug effectiveness | Monitor according to prior CD4 count and the amount of time person has been on ART, as detailed above |
| After changing ART due to increased viral load (treatment failure) | Within 2-4 weeks and then every 4-8 weeks until virus undetectable | Every 3-6 months |
| While on ART and viral load is consistently greater than 200 copies/mL | Every 3 months | Every 3-6 months |
| With new HIV symptoms or start of new treatment with interferon, corticosteroids or cancer drugs | Every 3 months | Perform test and monitor according to health status (e.g., new HIV symptoms, opportunistic infections) |
*Adapted from Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1–Infected Adults and Adolescents, Table 4. Recommendations on the Indications and Frequency of Viral Load and CD4 Count Monitoring.
What does the test result mean?
A CD4 count is typically reported as an absolute level or count of cells (expressed as cells per cubic millimeter of blood). A normal CD4 count ranges from 500–1,200 cells/mm3 in adults and teens. Sometimes results are expressed as a percent of total lymphocytes (CD4 percent).
In general, a normal CD4 count means that the person's immune system is not yet affected by HIV infection. A low CD4 count indicates that the person's immune system has been affected by HIV and/or the disease is progressing. However, any single CD4 test result may differ from the last one even though the person's health status has not changed. Usually, a health practitioner will take several CD4 test results into account rather than a single value and will evaluate the pattern of CD4 counts over time.
CD4 counts that rise and/or stabilize over time may indicate that the person is responding to treatment. If someone's CD4 count declines over several months, a health practitioner may recommend starting prophylactic treatment for opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis carinii (jiroveci) pneumonia (PCP) or candidiasis (thrush).
Is there anything else I should know?
The CD4 count tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the evening. Acute illnesses, such as pneumonia, influenza, or herpes simplex virus infection, can cause the CD4 count to decline temporarily. Cancer chemotherapy can dramatically lower the CD4 count.
The CD4 count does not always reflect how someone with HIV disease feels and functions. For example, some people with higher counts are ill and have frequent complications, and some people with lower CD4 counts have few medical complications and function well.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers people who have an HIV infection and CD4 counts below 200 cells/mm3 to have AIDS (stage III HIV infection), regardless of whether they have any signs or symptoms.