Dear Sir/Madam,

I am HIV positive. Recently after being detected with the virus I started taking some herbal medication. I have now been taking the medicine for around 4 months. My general health has improved tremendously, however my blood tests and CD4 test reports confuse me. I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly explain the following test reports. I want to know if my condition is improving or going worse. Is the medication working as per the test results shown herewith?

Your immediate assistance will be appreciated. Following are two sets of tests for Blood and CD4 that I have undertaken.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Regards.

K.S.

BLOOD TEST 02.June.2002 WBC: 8500/c.mm NEUTROPHIL: 47 LYMPHOCYTE: 50 EOSINOPHIL: 3 ESR: 7mm 1 st hour HAEMOGLOBIN 14.6 gm VDRL: Non reactive

CD4 ABSOLUTE & PERCENT COUNTS BY Cytometry 16.Aug.2002 TOTAL LEUKOCYTE COUNT 7000 cells/c.mm LYMPHOCYTE PERCENTAGE 52.20 ABSOLUTE LYMPHOCYTE COUNT 3654 cells/c.mm GRANULOCYTE PERCENT 21.40 ABSOLUTE GRANULOCYTE COUNT 1498 cells/c.mm CD4 PERCENTAGE 15.20 ABSOLUTE CD4 COUNT 555 cells/c.mm

SECOND TEST

BLOOD TEST 02.July.2002 WBC: 6300/c.mm NEUTROPHIL: 45 LYMPHOCYTE: 52 EOSINOPHIL: 3 ESR: 4mm 1st hr HAEMOGLOBIN 11.0 gm VDRL: Non Reactive

CD4 ABSOLUTE & PERCENT COUNTS BY CYTOMETRY 30.Sept.2002 TOTAL LEUKOCYTE COUNT 7500 cells/c.mm LYMPHOCYTE PERCENTAGE 43.10 ABSOLUTE LYMPHOCYTE COUNT 3232 cells/c.mm GRANULOCYTE PERCENT 37.50 ABSOLUTE GRANULOCYTE COUNT 2812 cells/c.mm CD4 PERCENTAGE 12.80 ABSOLUTE CD4 COUNT 414 cells/c.mm

From the looks of it, you have a slight decline in the key parameter, the CD4 cell percentage.

From this, one can should conclude that the treatment is doing very little or nothing to prevent CD4 cell decline. -BY