Blood Work: A Complete Guide for Monitoring HIVMay 2007
Introduction
Understanding your test results may seem difficult at first. However, they can help you take charge of your health and understand why your doctor prescribes certain tests and medicines. With practice over time, it becomes easier to understand these results. It is your right to have and keep copies of all of your medical records. You can then keep track of your results to look for overall trends. Ask for and keep copies of your lab reports, and make a chart or table of them to note trends or changes. For examples of these charts, read Project Inform's publication, Personal Tracking Charts.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)The CBC is the most common blood test that doctors order. It checks levels of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Generally, even people without symptoms of HIV disease should have a CBC test done at least every 6-12 months. People whose blood work trends are changing may want to have their CBCs done every three months, or more often. People with symptoms of HIV disease should have a CBC every 3-6 months. CBC testing is done more often in people with symptoms of low red blood cells (anemia), low white blood cells (leukopenia) and low platelets (thrombocytopenia). In each case, if a change occurs that worries you or your doctor, the tests should be done again a few weeks later. Of the tests explained in this publication, the most important ones are the red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts. Red Blood Cells: The Oxygen CarriersRed Blood Cell (RBC) Count
Slightly lower values should not be cause for alarm. However, greatly lower numbers can be a sign of anemia. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin color and menstrual problems. Anemia can be caused by some medicines and/or illness. Low RBC counts occur with lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Anemia may be treated with iron supplements, erythropoietin (Epogen) or in severe instances, a blood transfusion. HemoglobinHemoglobin is a RBC protein that carries oxygen through the body. Normal levels in women are 12-16 grams per deciliter (g/dl) and in men 14-18g/dl. It's not uncommon for people with HIV to have lower than normal hemoglobin levels. This is usually due to fewer RBCs produced by the bone marrow because of HIV or some anti-HIV drugs that suppress the marrow. Drugs that cause bone marrow suppression will also lower hemoglobin counts. People with HIV who have mild anemia sometimes take iron supplements or erythropoietin (Epogen), a hormone that stimulates the production of RBCs to increase hemoglobin counts. If anemia is severe, however, erythropoietin therapy should not replace a blood transfusion. HematocritThe hematocrit is another way to measure RBCs. It is the percentage of blood cells in your body that are red blood cells. Normal values range in men from 40-54% and in women 37-47%. Hematocrit values indicate the thickness of the blood as well as its ability to carry oxygen. A low hematocrit also indicates anemia. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)The MCV measures the average size of red blood cells. The average MCV ranges from 80-100 femtoliters (fL). A low MCV shows that cells are smaller than normal. This may be due to an iron deficiency or chronic disease. MCV is generally higher than normal in people taking Retrovir (zidovudine, AZT) or in people with vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)These measure the amount and volume of hemoglobin in an average cell. These are less important but help to detect various anemias and leukemias. White Blood Cells: Infection FightersWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
White Cell Differential: This is a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells as percentages of the total WBC count. The three main groups of WBCs are: 1. lymphocytes, 2. granulocytes and 3. monocytes. LymphocytesLymphocytes are WBCs that produce antibodies and keep the immune system working. They make up 10-45% of your WBCs. There are two main types: B cells and T cells, and they fight infection in different ways. CD4+ cells -- a type of T cell -- are cells that HIV uses to infect and/or destroy. You may have heard the term "CD4+ count" or "T cell count." This refers to a kind of T cell that controls the activity of other immune cells. (See Lymphocyte Subsets for more information.) Granulocytes (Polymorphonuclear Cells or PMNs)These are the most common types of WBCs, making up 55-80% of your total WBC count. PMNs help fight bacterial infections. Specific PMNs include: Neutrophils The most common PMN. They fight infection and play a key role in destroying bacteria and other foreign matters in the body. Some drugs used to treat HIV or HIV-related conditions can decrease neutrophil counts. Eosinophils These PMNs are involved in fighting parasitic infections and allergic reactions. Their numbers will rise during an allergic reaction or asthma attack. Basophils These are very important for releasing histamine. This is the substance that makes you feel congested and miserable during a cold or allergies. However, they help your body heal by making the blood vessels "leakier" so that cells can travel faster to the areas of infection. MonocytesThese circulate in the blood for about 24 hours. From there they move into tissues and mature into macrophages, which then eat up infection and foreign bodies. (Macrophage means "big eater".) Platelet Count
Although a platelet count below 150,000 is considered low, most people are not at risk of uncontrolled bleeding with counts of 50,000 or even lower. However, because platelets are necessary for blood clotting, the chance of major bleeding rises as the platelet count drops. If your platelet count is very low (in the 10,000 range) and/or you have symptoms related to thrombocytopenia, your doctor may want to change your treatment, or may teach you special ways to prevent bleeding. Chemistry Screen (CHEM-25 OR SMA-25)A chemistry panel (chem panel, chem screen) tests the levels of 25 chemicals in the blood. It can help determine if your body is working properly. (Other types test 12, 14 or 20 chemicals and are called SMA12, SMA14 and SMA20.) A chem screen should be done once a year in people not taking medications and more often in people who are. Some of the important values follow. Sodium (Na)The normal range is 135-145 mEq/liter. Potassium (K)The normal range is 3.5-5 mEq/liter. Chloride and Magnesium (Cl and Mg)The normal range of chloride is 100-106 mEq/liter. The normal range of magnesium is 1.5-2.0 mEq/liter. GlucoseNormal levels are 75-125mg/dl. Cholesterol and TriglyceridesNormal cholesterol levels are 150-250mg/dl. Triglycerides can range from 47-175mg/dl. AmylaseNormal levels are 25-125 milliunits/mL. Liver Function Tests (LFTs)LFTs include a number of lab results that help the health of the liver. These include ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), LDH, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Elevated liver enzymes are caused by some medications. It can also be caused by liver disease such as hepatitis B or C, injuries and tumors. Abnormal LFTs are common in 60-70% of people with HIV, but liver failure is unusual. High alkaline phosphatase levels along with normal bilirubin levels can show serious disease and are often seen in people with MAC (Mycobacterium Avium Complex), CMV (cytomegalovirus), histoplasmosis, drug side effects or KS (Kaposi's Sarcoma). Bilirubin, a product of dead red blood cells, is removed through the liver. High bilirubin levels can be a sign of hepatitis (perhaps with a yellow skin color), bile duct obstruction and other liver problems. Some HIV drugs -- specifically Reyataz (atazanavir) and Crixivan (indinavir) -- can cause high bilirubin levels. However, this may not be a sign of liver problems. If a pregnant woman has high bilirubin, this can harm the unborn child Kidney Function TestsTwo indicators are used to assess kidney function -- creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen). High levels of both indicate kidney disease or being dehydrated. High uric acid levels can be a sign of kidney deficiency but may also indicate other conditions like lymphoma or inflammation. Kidney problems in people with HIV can be caused by HIV itself (HIV Associated Nephrotoxicity, HIVAN) and/or may result from drug side effects. ProteinsAlbumin and globulin are the two main types of protein in the blood. High albumin levels indicate dehydration and low levels can signify malnutrition, liver failure or kidney disease. Globulin levels are less important. Lymphocyte Subsets and Viral Load: Specific Tests for People With HIV
CD4+ and CD8+ Cell CountsCD4+ cells help control the activity of other cells. HIV infects CD4+ cells and makes more copies of itself. Over time, HIV causes a decline in the number of these cells. So getting routine CD4+ cell counts done is the main way to keep track of your immune health. In HIV-negative people, normal CD4+ cell counts are 500-1,500/mm3 of blood. Normal CD8+ cell counts are 300-800/mm3. In general, people have 2-to-1 ratios of CD4+ to CD8+ cells. So for every two CD4+ cells, an HIV-negative person has one CD8+ cell in their blood. However, in most people living with HIV who are not on anti-HIV therapy, it's common for the normal CD4+/CD8+ ratio to be reversed. It's also helpful to look at the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in a blood sample. The CD4+ percentage is the percentage of CD4+ cells in the total lymphocyte count. The normal range is 28-58%. Another helpful measure is the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. CD4+ cell counts are also the best guide for when to start preventive therapy for opportunistic infections, or OIs. CD4+ cell counts may vary due to many factors, such as the time of day, an active infection, stress or lab variations. Therefore, it's important to look at your CD4+ cell count trends over time and not be alarmed by any one test result. CD4+ cell counts also are used to make decisions on when to start or change therapy. What Do CD4+ Cell Counts Mean?
Viral Load TestsViral load tests measure the amount of HIV in about a teaspoon of blood. They are important for monitoring HIV disease and how well therapy is working. When HIV levels decrease or stay low and stable over time, it's a sign that potent anti-HIV therapy is working. When the levels increase, it's often a sign that a regimen has stopped working. At first, two tests should be taken about 2-4 weeks apart to establish a baseline level. After that, viral load tests should be done every 3-4 months. People should generally avoid having viral load tests done during an active infection (like a cold), after a vaccination (like flu) or during flare-ups of infections (like a cold sore). These can all cause HIV levels to briefly increase. They usually return to normal within a few weeks after a vaccination or the end of the infection. A viral load test should also be done 3-4 weeks after starting or changing therapies. To get accurate results and trends over time, it's wise to get the same brand of test done each time at the same lab. The trend of viral loads over time is the most important and not an individual result. Low, stable and decreasing viral load is considered a good thing. High or increasing levels call for attention as it may point to the failure of a regimen. Viral load below 10,000 copies is generally considered "low." Viral load above 100,000 copies is generally considered "high." Women may have a "naturally" lower viral load than men, especially in early HIV infection. Therefore, women should be aware that a viral load above 30,000 or even 60,000 might indicate a "high" viral load for them. People with "undetectable" viral load should remember that it does not mean that their HIV is gone. HIV may actually be there, but just in too small of a quantity to detect. Resistance TestsHIV can change itself so that anti-HIV drugs do not work as well. This is called drug resistance, and it's one of the most common reasons why therapy fails. There are two different types of resistance tests. Genotypic tests look for changes in the genes of HIV that are linked to drug resistance. Phenotypic tests assess which drugs can stop HIV growing in a lab setting. Several different labs offer these tests. People who use resistance test results to help make treatment decisions face a better and more sustained reduction in HIV levels than those who make decisions based on their treatment history and viral load results. To accurately test drug resistance, people should have a viral load over 1,000 copies. Otherwise, the results may not be accurate or the test cannot be done. A replication capacity test measures whether HIV can reproduce and how fast. This is sometimes called viral fitness. The test is usually done along with a resistance test. It is thought to be most useful for people with fewer treatment options who are trying to put the best possible regimen together. Another test that looks at HIV is called a tropism assay. It looks at which of two common proteins -- called CCR5 (R5) and CXCR4 (X4) -- HIV uses to enter CD4+ cells. This test will be used for people wanting to block R5 with anti-HIV drugs, like maraviroc. Four results are possible: uses R5 only (R5 tropic), uses X4 only (X4 tropic), can use either (dual tropic), or some combination of the first three (mixed tropic). Other Tests That May Be DoneThe following tests are considered routine in people living with HIV, but do not need to be done as often as CD4+ cell counts and viral load tests. PPD Skin Test and Chest X-RaysA PPD tests the skin to detect an earlier exposure to tuberculosis (TB). If you've been exposed, the PPD causes a bump to appear within several days at the site of the test. A positive or inconclusive PPD is followed up by a chest x-ray and sputum culture to determine active TB disease. Pap SmearsWomen should have a cervical Pap smear done at least once every three years. Women living with HIV should talk about when and how often they should get a Pap test done with their doctors, as they may recommend more regular tests based upon your health and risk factors. If the results are abnormal, follow up with other types of tests may be needed. To take a Pap test, your healthcare provider uses a "Pap stick" or cotton swab to take one or more samples of cells from the cervix and cervical canal. You may feel a slight scraping sensation. The process may be uncomfortable but usually not painful. It may hurt if there is inflammation and sensitivity in the area. For more information about HIV and GYN exams, read Project Inform's publications, Gynecological Conditions and HIV Disease and Positive? How Are You Feeling? Anal PapThis test can be done in the anus to look for damage caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). High rates of anal HPV occur in HIV-positive men and women, including those who do not report having anal intercourse. For this reason it's important that all HIV-positive people have an anal Pap. If the results are abnormal, more tests may be needed. Hepatitis SerologyAs stated before, liver function tests can show hepatitis infection. Other tests can be done to find antibodies to hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) -- diseases that affect the liver. These tests should be done after first learning your HIV status, if you have not been tested before. Learn about how to protect yourself from getting HBV and HCV if you have not been exposed to them. There is a vaccine to prevent HBV infection. For more on hepatitis and other liver problems, read Project Inform's publications, Towards a Healthy Liver, Hepatitis and Liver Problems, and Hepatitis C. Toxoplasmosis Serology (IgG)This test may be done to detect antibodies to the toxoplasmosis (toxo) organism. Toxo can cause problems in the brain and central nervous system. A positive test result may help to decide on preventive therapy. The test is usually done when people first find out their HIV status. That way, if they're negative for toxo, they can take precautions to prevent contact with it. For more information, read the publication, Toxoplasmosis. Table of Common Tests and Ranges
Interpreting Viral Load Numbers
Some other guidelines to help you better understand logs
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