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Lab Tests Are Important Tools
Having regular lab tests (blood and sometimes urine tests) is necessary to care for your health. If you are living with HIV, you will probably have several such tests done. The complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry tests described below check your overall health, including whether you have side effects from your HIV medications. See our fact sheets on Understanding CD4 Cells and CD4 Cell Tests and Understanding Lab Tests II: Viral Load, Resistance, and Tropism for information on other tests that your health care provider may order.
The Basics
It is a good idea to have your tests done at the same lab each time.
When you are first diagnosed with HIV and when you first start taking HIV drugs, you will get "baseline" blood tests that show your health at that moment. Later tests can be compared against these results to see how things are going, and if they are changing. Most lab tests should be done every three to six months, or as often as your health care provider recommends.
Because different labs use different equipment, test results from different labs can vary. Therefore, it is a good idea to have your tests done at the same lab each time. If you get an unexpected result on one test, your health care provider will probably want you to get a second test to see if the results are the same as the first one. Try not to worry too much about a single unexpected result—usually trends over time are more important.
Most lab reports show the normal range of results from each test and highlight any of your results that are outside the normal range. The ranges listed below are general and may not be exactly the same for your lab. Look at your lab report for the normal ranges.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Blood is made up of different types of cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The complete blood count (CBC) measures the amount of these cells in a sample of your blood. CBCs are especially important for people living with HIV because some HIV drugs and some infections can cause changes in the number of red or white blood cells.
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen throughout the body. Hematocrit (HCT) measures how much of your blood is made up of RBCs, and hemoglobin (HGB) measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is the protein in RBCs that allows them to carry oxygen. A normal HCT for cisgender women is 36 to 44 percent (36-48 percent for transgender women) and a normal HGB level is 12 to 15 g/dL (12-17 g/dL for transgender women). A low RBC, HCT, or HGB may mean you have anemia, which can cause you to feel tired. For more information, see our fact sheet on Anemia and Women. - White blood cells (leukocytes)
White blood cells (WBCs) are produced by the immune system and help defend the body against infection. A normal total WBC count is 4,500 to 10,000 (or 4.5 to 10.0). A high count may mean that your body is fighting an infection. Low counts may be caused by certain drugs or infections. There are different types of white blood cells that are listed on your lab report as "the differential." The differential tells you the amount of each type of white blood cell as a percentage of the total WBC count.- Neutrophils
These cells fight infections caused by bacteria. A normal neutrophil percentage is about 50 to 70 percent of the total WBC count. When your neutrophil count is extremely low (a condition called neutropenia), you are more likely to get bacterial infections. - Lymphocytes
There are two types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. B cells make antibodies (proteins that identify germs) and T cells attack germs. Usually, lymphocytes account for about 20 to 40 percent of the total number of WBCs. CD4 cells are a type of T cell that is measured separately. For more information, see our fact sheet on Understanding CD4 Cells and CD4 Cell Tests. - Monocytes and Macrophages
These cells engulf or "eat" and destroy disease-causing organisms (germs). They normally make up about two to ten percent of the total WBC count. - Eosinophils and Basophils
These cells play a role in allergic reactions and defend against parasites (organisms that live inside a person and feed off him or her). They normally make up about one to eight percent of the total WBC count.
- Neutrophils
- Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Platelets are necessary for blood clotting. A normal platelet count is about 130,000 to 440,000. If your platelet count is low, you may bleed or bruise easily.
Blood Chemistry
Blood chemistry tests measure certain chemicals in your blood. Results of these tests give your health care provider important information about your general health, how well your organs (such as the liver and kidneys) are working, and whether you may be experiencing side effects from HIV drugs. Abnormal results can point to a problem that needs to be addressed. Important blood chemistry tests include:
- Liver function
These tests measure how well your liver is working. Some of the tests measure liver enzymes (proteins that help the body break down other substances) such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). High levels of liver enzymes may be a sign of liver inflammation. Several HIV drugs can cause elevated liver enzymes. Liver function tests also measure bilirubin, which comes from the breakdown of hemoglobin from RBCs. High levels of bilirubin may indicate liver problems. Taking the HIV drug Reyataz (atazanavir) can increase bilirubin levels; however, this rise in bilirubin is harmless. - Kidney function
These tests measure how well your kidneys are working. They include blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and eGFR, which is a measure of how well your kidney is filtering different chemicals in the blood. Kidney tests are especially important if you are taking Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF) or any of the combination drugs that contain TDF. For more information on these HIV drugs, see our HIV Drug Chart. - Electrolytes
Electrolytes play important roles in the healthy functioning of cells, nerves, and organs. Bicarbonate (CO2), chloride, potassium, and sodium are electrolytes. Electrolyte imbalances may be caused by medications (particularly for high blood pressure), lung problems (like COPD) or too little water (dehydration), or by kidney problems. - Blood sugar (glucose)
Your body uses glucose for energy. High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can be a sign of diabetes or insulin resistance (when the body does not respond to insulin, a hormone to help control glucose levels). Your health care provider can monitor your levels through glucose tests. For the most accurate results, it is best to check blood sugar levels when you have been fasting (not eating or drinking anything but water for about eight hours). For more information, see our fact sheet on Diabetes. - Blood fat (lipids)
Many people living with HIV have an increased amount of fat, or lipids, in their blood. Some lipids are cholesterol and triglycerides. Higher cholesterol levels can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Higher triglycerides can increase the risk of damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis). Your lab report will list the amount of the following lipids in your blood (for the most accurate results, it is best to check lipid levels when you have been fasting):- Total cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that circulates in the blood. It is best to keep your total cholesterol level below 200. - Low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
This is "bad" cholesterol, which can clog the arteries. It is best to keep your LDL level below 100 to 130. - High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
This is "good" cholesterol, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. It is best to get your HDL level up to at least 40. - Triglycerides
After eating, energy that is not needed right away is converted into a substance called triglycerides, which is stored in fat cells. It is best to keep your triglyceride level below 100 to 150.
- Total cholesterol
HIV itself, as well as HIV drugs, can cause increased lipids (hyperlipidemia). Staying physically active, eating well, and certain medications can help to lower high lipid levels. For more information, see our fact sheets on Hyperlipidemia and Lipodystrophy and Body Changes.
- Blood proteins
These tests provide information on nutrition problems and help diagnose kidney disease, liver disease, and many other conditions. Tests include albumin and total protein. - Calcium
Calcium, one of the most important minerals in your body, is a major part of bones and teeth. Blood calcium is tested to check for a range of conditions relating to the bones, heart, nerves, kidneys, and teeth. It is important to remember that you can still have weak bones (osteoporosis), even if your calcium blood test is normal because the test only measures calcium circulating in the blood. For more information, see our fact sheet on Bone Health.
Labs routinely group certain chemistry tests together and call them panels or profiles. Some common panels you may see listed on your lab report are:
- Basic metabolic panel: includes calcium, electrolytes, kidney function, and glucose
- Comprehensive metabolic panel: includes same tests as basic panel plus blood proteins and liver function
- Lipid panel: includes cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides
The Bottom Line
Since many people living with HIV have no noticeable symptoms of health problems, it is important to get regular lab tests to monitor how you are doing. Abnormal blood tests can be a sign of serious health problems and need to be addressed as soon as possible so that you can remain healthy and strong.
Whether or not you are taking HIV drugs, all tests listed above are a key part of your medical care. Regular monitoring of the values above, as well as of viral load and CD4 cell count, is an important way to take charge of your health.