Interpretating Your Lab Results, CD4 Percentage

This is the second in a four-part series on understanding you lab results.

CD4 percentage answers the question of what percentage of all blood cells are CD4’s? A normal CD4 percentage is approximately 40%, a CD4 percentage of 20% or less is an indicator that HAART should be initiated. Some doctors believe that CD4 percentage should be used in place of CD4 as it is potentially more active, although not as perceptive to smaller changes . In Canada, our doctors receive the CD4 percentage on the same lab form as the CD4 so we do have access to both.


Do you keep track of your lab results? If so, how do you do it? Next week we’ll discuss viral load. Until then, Be well!