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CD4, viral load & other tests

Roger Pebody

This booklet provides information on tests you’ll have done at your HIV clinic to monitor your health. Some of these tests are to see how HIV is affecting you or how well any treatment you are on is working. Other tests are to monitor your general health. You can expect to have some of these tests every time you have a check-up at your clinic. But other tests will only be undertaken if they are needed.

The information in this booklet isn’t intended to replace discussion with your doctor about your HIV treatment and care or test results. However, it may help you to decide what questions you’d like to ask your doctor about your treatment and care.

Thanks to the following for their assistance: Professor Brian Angus, Infectious Diseases Consultant and Clinical Director, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Dr Gary Brook, Clinical Lead GUM/HIV, London North West Healthcare NHS Trust; Dr Marta Boffito, Consultant Physician/Reader, St Stephen's AIDS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College, London; Robin F and other people with HIV who have contributed to the development of this booklet.

  • The importance of regular health monitoring

    The outlook has never been better for people with HIV in the UK. The right HIV treatment and care can mean that you have a good chance...

  • Types of HIV health monitoring

    During your regular check-ups at your HIV clinic, there are a number of ways you and your doctor can check your health. The most common are: Talking. It...

  • Health monitoring and care from your GP

    Your HIV clinic will closely monitor all aspects of your health that are related to HIV. However, it is also important to register with a GP (family doctor),...

  • Your first visit to an HIV clinic

    Your first appointment at a specialist HIV clinic after your diagnosis (or if you change clinic) will involve questions about your health and medical history, a physical...

  • Regular clinic appointments

    At each visit, you’ll have tests to see how HIV is affecting you and to check on your general health. If you’re taking HIV treatment, the tests...

  • Sexual health screening

    If you’re sexually active it is important to have regular tests for sexually transmitted infections. These tests are available free of charge from specialist sexual health or...

  • Cervical and anal screening

    Infection with certain types of a common virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV, can cause cell changes in the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. People...

  • Health monitoring during pregnancy

    If a woman has HIV, it is possible for it to be passed on to her baby during pregnancy or delivery, or through breastfeeding. For this reason,...

  • Health monitoring in older age

    As we age, the risks of developing certain health problems increase. Some common conditions associated with being older (generally being over 50) include type 2 diabetes, heart disease...

  • Seeking medical advice between clinic appointments

    In between your regular clinic appointments, you may want to seek medical advice if you notice changes in your health, or new symptoms. HIV clinics vary slightly in...

  • Blood tests

    Some tests give a straightforward result, such as showing the presence of an infection. But others need to be looked at in combination with other aspects of...

  • CD4 cell counts

    CD4 cells (sometimes called T-cells, T-lymphocytes, or helper cells) are white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system. Your CD4 cell count gives...

  • Viral load

    Viral load is the term used to describe the amount of HIV in your blood. The more HIV there is in your blood (and therefore the higher...

  • Other blood tests

    Every time you visit your clinic for a check-up you’ll have some blood tests. As well as being used to monitor your CD4 cell count and viral...

  • Other tests

    Blood pressure is the force that the beating heart causes in the arteries, veins, and blood vessels that carry blood around the body. Blood pressure is measured...

  • Investigations

    If you have particular symptoms or are unwell, then your doctor might request additional tests to try and find out the cause. Some of the more common...

  • Summary

    Your CD4 cell count gives an indication of the health of your immune system. Someone with a low CD4 cell count...

CD4, viral load & other tests

Published February 2017

Last reviewed February 2017

Next review February 2020

Contact NAM to find out more about the scientific research and information used to produce this booklet.

NAM is grateful to Gilead Sciences, Janssen and Wandsworth Oasis for funding towards the production of this booklet. Our funders have had no editorial control over the content of this booklet.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.