What are CD4 Counts?
CD4 cells are white blood cells, which organise your body’s response to invading Micro-organisms. (T-cells is a phrase you might also hear, but this really means the same thing.) They form the basis of the body’s defence mechanism. The CD4 count is a measure of the health of your body’s Immune system. Usually, an adult’s CD4 count is anywhere between 500 and 1200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood, with women having naturally slightly higher counts than men. When you are infected with HIV, it takes over some of your CD4 cells and uses them to produce more HIV. This reduces the total number of CD4 cells available to fight other Infections. Monitoring CD4 Counts Even while someone with HIV feels well, millions of CD4 cells are being invaded and destroyed by HIV daily and millions more are being produced to replace them. Over a number of years, the CD4 count usually declines. A CD4 count of between 500 and 200 indicates that damage has been done to your immune system. A CD4 count of belo
