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Can You Order a CD4 Test on Your Own?
#199313 - 07/08/06 06:04 PM
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I know that a person can order an HIV test such as an Elisa, Western Blot, or PCR test on their own, but can a CD4 (T cell level) test be ordered?
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SA_Intellect
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Reged: 03/27/06
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Posts: 247
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Loc: San Antonio, Texas
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No. Only a doctor can and it's a very expensive test.
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You do not need a CD4 count. It will tell you NOTHING. CD4 counts are extremely variable. One time it might be in the 500s and the next time it might drop to the 300, then jump to the 700s. The counts are easily affected by ANYTHING. Allergies, stress, an infection (no not just HIV), you mood, the time of day, etc.
No one test is good for anything. They are best after you have had several 3 months apart (about a year's worth) in order to establish a pattern. This pattern and the viral load helps a patient and their doctor determine is the medicaiton is working as it should.
I take it that you already have tested negative on an ELISA, but just don't believe it. Instead of wasting your money on needless testing, put it with a counselor that can help you figure out why you can't accept your negative result.
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Well, let me put it this way. When you have had a potentially dangerous sexual encounter, felt horrible starting a few weeks later and still do, tested negative for all STDs, wouldn't you be worried about the only STD with a "window period"? Would this not cause you to be worried about the most dangerous of those STDs that also happens to be the one that is elusive in verifying? Seems like a rather logical concern to me at least.... A counselo can do nothing to help me regarding the window period.....
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This is one thing I cannot understand: the disbelief people have about other people being obsessed with testing. People, this is completely understandable given our very imprecise HIV testing capabilities. One day in the future there will likely be a test that when taken will be essentially 100% correct. Today, there is not. There are window periods, test inaccuracies, differencies between people, etc. This is largely because we are relying on serology (antibody) tests which are variable amongst people. Until a cheaper and more accurate method of identifying the virus itself is developed, this anxiety and testing obsession will continue. It is completely understandable and logical given the current state of technology.
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What is completely logical and understandable is that the testing capabilities today are accurate. So precise that the majority 98-99% of people that are infected testing postive between 4-6 weeks with outliers testing positive by 13 weeks. THE ONLY ONES THAT MAY TEST UP TO 6 MONTHS ARE PEOPLE WITH ORGAN TRANSPLANTS TAKING IMMUNE SUPPUSING DRUGS - CHEMO PATIENTS - LONG TERM IV DRUG USERS.
If you don't fit in those categories then 6 months is a waste of time, beause you will still test negative and feel lousy, simply because HIV isn't your problem as you would have established long before.
HIV does not hide. It is extremely easy to detect. It also is not the only one with a window period, so if you thought you didn't have to wait on those other tests, think again.
What is NOT logical and understandable is people that fixate on this fear of being infected when they clearly have tested negative.
They close their minds to any other possiblities for the ill health. (Fear HIV, end up dropping dead of a heart attack kinda of thing) Absolutely REFUSE to even discuss that any of their ill health may be caused by stress, anxiety and guilt, which a mental health professional could provide the much needed and begged for relief.
They base their health care decisions soley on fear and not fact and science.
While that may be understandable. It certainly isn't logical.
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I really think the answer to this really depends on the person's situation who is posting the question. As I read it most of the initial testing/risk questions here come from people who are very uninformed (Did I get HIV from a mosquito bite/Did I get HIIV when a stripper sat on my lap?). These types of people really should not test at all, but if they do of course 3 months is more than sufficient since they should have not been tested probably anyway. The other end of the spectrum is people who had a potentially very risky possible infection and who also had/have symptoms of a viral illness. I can 100% understand the people on that end of the spectrum being worried and wanting more certainty. The "Ask the Experts" doctors' answers even back this up. For people with very low risk they say 3 months and be done with it. For people with a higher risk situation, they say test at 3 months, 6 months and again at 12 months. Can you blame them for wanting to find more certainty? These people should be answered with understanding and advice not demeaning put downs about how they can't accept the results of a test that the experts tell them not to depends on.
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Ok, let me see if i understand you, so if i have a negative test after 6 months, can i give blood, will you give blood even if you have a negative test and some syntoms???
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I think if a person had a serious risk of a possible HIV infection they should definitely not give blood. Ever? Well, maybe not never again but they should wait at least a year.
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One year, why one year,?????????????????
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Hello,
Yes, I ordered a cd4 cd8 test through Labsafe, they did not use to until I asked for it, they used Labcorp. The other labs did not want to deal with this test, only Labsafe.
I also ordered a bDNA viral load test. good luck.
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I've ordered the pcr DNA test before also.
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SteveR
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Legend
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Reged: 07/19/05
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Re. giving blood, blood banks use screening questions that have been standardized by the FDA to screen out people thought to be at risk for HIV. This eliminates many people from the donation pool regardless of their negative HIV test. For example, I'm a gay man, and I can't donate blood even though I'm negative because I've had sex with other men.
I guess what I'm saying is, your question about donating after a negative test is academic for many people, whose past activities would preclude them from donating anyway.
Steve
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andey
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Reged: 07/01/06
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What other infections can alter CD4 and CD8?
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andey
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Reged: 07/01/06
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I will wait 2 years before giving blood.
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