This test looks at the ratio of two important types of white blood cells in your blood.
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell in your immune system. This test looks at two of them, CD4 and CD8.
CD4 cells lead the fight against infections. CD8 cells can kill cancer cells and other invaders.
This test looks at the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells. The ratio tells your healthcare provider how strong your immune system is and helps predict how likely you are to develop an infection.
In addition to HIV/AIDS, conditions that can be monitored with this test include infectious mononucleosis and other viral infections, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin disease, aplastic anemia, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.
Results for the ratio are given as a number.
A normal CD4/CD8 ratio is greater than 1.0, with CD4 lymphocytes ranging from 500 to 1200/mm 3 and CD8 lymphocytes ranging from 150 to 1000/mm 3.
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