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What is a CD4 and CD8 test?
Your blood is made up of a variety of different types of cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body and white blood cells are an important part of your immune system that work to fight off infections and cancers. CD4 and CD8 cells are types of white blood cells called T Lymphocytes. These two types of cells each have their own particular role to play in helping you stay healthy. The CD4 cells are called “helper” cells, meaning that they help coordinate the immune response by activating and directing other immune cells to where they are needed most. CD8 cells are “cytotoxic” cells, meaning that they directly attack and kill of other cells and organisms that represent a threat to your body.
Why is measuring CD4 and CD8 cells important?
Because CD4 cells help to coordinate your immune system and CD8 cells actively work to destroy cells that represent a threat, measuring and monitoring the levels of these cells in your body gives a good indication of how robust your immune system is and whether you will be able to fight off infections and cancers.
CD4 cells are targeted by the HIV virus and used by the virus to help it replicate. Unfortunately, after a CD4 cells has been used by the HIV virus to reproduce, the CD4 cell dies, leaving your CD4 cell count depleted. When this happens to millions of CD4 cells in your body, you are left with a severely damaged and compromised immune system that is no longer able to protect you against other infections.
As the levels of CD4 cells decrease, your body makes more CD8 cells in an effort to compensate, leading to a significant imbalance between the CD4 cells and CD8 cells in circulation.
A CD4/CD8 ratio test is often used to monitor immune system health, especially in cases of HIV infection. HIV causes changes in the numbers of these two types of T-lymphocytes, CD4 cells and CD8 cells. HIV infects and kills CD4 cells. CD8 cells proliferate in response to HIV, seeking out cells infected with HIV and killing them.
When should I get a CD4 CD 8 test?
A CD4/CD8 test is appropriate if you have been diagnosed with HIV, if you have certain cancers or if you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. This test will count the number of CD4 and CD8 cells and will calculate the ratio of these cells. If the ratio is outside the normal range, then your doctor will make decisions based on this information and adjust treatments to improve the health of your immune system.
CD4/CD8 tests will also be run when you are on HIV medication, to measure and asses how effective is your treatment and whether any changes to the medicines need to be made.
What can I expect at the clinic?
The doctor or nurse at your chosen clinic will greet you when you arrive for your appointment. They will invite you into a private consultation room where they will explain the sample collection process to you. Your sample or samples will be collected quickly and sent to the laboratory the same day. As soon as your sample has been collected you are free to leave. However, if you have any questions your doctor or nurse will be happy to help or point you in the direction of the Better2Know patient services hotline.
What happens after my appointment?
As soon as your samples have been collected by your Better2Know clinician they will be sent to our accredited laboratory that day. Once your sample has arrived at our laboratory it will begin analysis immediately.
Your results will be reviewed by a Better2Know doctor and as soon as they are ready, they will be uploaded into your secure online patient area. Your results are usually ready within 2-5 working days from arrival at the laboratory.
The Better2Know patient services team will contact you via your preferred choice of email, SMS, or phone call as soon as all your results have been reported.
What if my CD4/CD8 cell ratio is out of range?
If your CD4/CD8 cell ratio is out of range, your Better2Know doctor will help you access appropriate medications to address this imbalance. We can also arrange for you to be referred to a specialist service if this is preferable.
How do I book my CD4/CD8 cell ratio test?
To book your CD4/CD8 cell ratio test, you can use the “Get Started” button on this page to book easily online. If you have any questions regarding your test or appointment, you can call our helpful patient services hotline 24/7 using the number at the top of this page. Our team can help you choose your test and book an appointment for you on a day and time that suits you.