Most HIV positive people visit their HIV clinic
only about once every three or four months.
You will need to go in to your clinic to have
blood taken a couple of weeks before your
appointment. This gives time for the results of
the tests on your blood to come back from the laboratory, ready for you to see with your doctor at your appointment.
The regular tests can help see how your immune system is working, and what HIV is
doing in your body.
Paul
My CD4 count was high, like it is supposed to be. My HIV viral load was good – it had been low for about three or four tests in a row. The doctor said I only needed to come back in six months as everything was going so well, and I didn’t even need to think about starting treatment.
Juanita
When my HIV treatment wasn’t working properly I was going in to the clinic to see my doctor every month or so, and having to go in for blood to be taken as well. It felt like I saw them at the clinic more often than I saw my husband! Now things have
settled down with my new treatment I only go in every three months.
Patrick
I wasn’t due to see my HIV doctor for weeks, but I wasn’t feeling too great. My GP said it might be side effects of the new treatment. I phoned my clinic and got an appointment. Although I didn’t get to see my own doctor, the one I saw had my medical notes and they gave me something to stop me feeling like being sick so much.
• CD4 Counts. These measure how well your
immune system is working. You want a high
number of well above 200. But do not worry if
it is lower than this. It means you will want to
start treatment. This should make the numbers
go back up again.
• Viral Load Tests. These measure how much
the HIV in your body is reproducing. You want a
low number for this.
You and your HIV doctor can use these two tests to make decisions about your best treatment options.
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