What should be the HIV counts to confirm AIDS?!
Question:
What should be the HIV counts to confirm AIDS?
Answers:
Hi!
If by HIV count you are referring to the CD4+ cell count than a count of below 200 is required to be diagnosed with AIDS, but there usually has to be an AIDS-defining illness or opportunistic infection present as well.
HIV targets and kills the "brains" behind our immune system (CD4+ cells). People living with HIV will have their CD4 cell count checked every 3 months or so.
In North America where we have access to HIV medicines, it can be years (maybe never?) before someone would progress to that stage.
If someone is diagnosed with AIDS (before they even were diagnosed with HIV) if they start on meds right away, their CD4+ cell count will usually rebound to a healthier number.
There is also a blood test performed along with the CD4+ cell count every 3 months -- called a Viral Load test. It checks to see how much virus is circulating in your blood and helps physicians determine if the medicine you take is working or not -- the goal is to have an undetectable viral load (less than 50copies/teaspoon of blood.)