HIV: TESTING FOR DAMAGE TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The test most commonly used to follow the course of a person’s illness is the CD4 or T-helper-cell count. As mentioned earlier, the immune system that is attacked and destroyed by HIV; the number of circulating CD4 cells at any gave time offers insight into the progression of the illness and information about prognosis and response to therapy. Another type of immune system cell, the CD8 cell or T-suppressor cell, can also be measured, and the ratio of CD4 to CD 8 cells can be useful in monitoring the progress of the infection. These tests are not used to determine if someone has HIV infection. People with other medical problems can demonstrate a decline in their CD4-cell level for various reasons, and those with HIV can have normal CD4 counts.
Evaluation of the virus through culture is a technique that is not used in routine clinical practice, but mostly in the research setting. HIV is clinics) can help clarify these results if your health care provider has not explained them clearly difficult to grow in culture, and the process takes a long time. The tests described previously are more sensitive and cheaper.
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