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AAT Bioquest

What are the common tests to check the health of my T-cells?

Posted August 18, 2023


Answer

The most common tests used to check the health of T-cells are the T-cell Count or CD4 Count and the CD4 to CD8 Ratio T-cell test. 

T-cell Count - T-cell Count specifically measures the number of CD4 T-cells, which are crucial for coordinating the immune response. Monitoring CD4 T-cell levels is important in managing conditions like HIV, where the virus attacks these cells.

CD4/CD8 Ratio - The CD4 to CD8 Ratio T-cell test compares the number of CD4 or Helper T-cells to CD8 or Cytotoxic T-cells in your body, providing insights into the overall health of the immune system.

These tests are especially useful to monitor the immune system’s health in patients who are HIV-positive and to assess the efficacy of their treatment.

Additional resources

Laboratory evaluation for T-cell dysfunction

CD4 (Leu3, T4)

iFluor® 488 Anti-human CD4 Antibody *OKT-4*

CD8 (TCR, Leu2, T8)

iFluor® 488 Anti-human CD8 Antibody *OKT-8*