What does CD4 count mean?
CD4 are proteins on the outside of your infection-fighting cells. The HIV virus attacks these cells and damages your immune system. The HIV virus attacks the infection-fighting cells to make copies of itself and destroys them in the process. This reduces the ability of the immune system to fight infection and can lead to AIDS. Your CD4 count is a measure of the number of CD4 in a sample of your blood (one cubic millimeter or mm3). It’s a good way to tell how strong your immune system is. • A normal CD4 count for a person without HIV is about 500–1200 cells/mm3. • A CD4 count between 500 and 200 shows that your immune system has been slightly damaged by HIV. • If your CD4 count is below 350, you will need to think about starting treatment. Find out more about CD4 count here.
