HIV

Can CBC indicate about HIV? I know it can be said whether someone is infected or not but doesn't CBC give any indication.This is how doctors prescribe I think.They go for a CBC and any abnormalities is found in WBC. then they go for HIV test.
Please correct me if I am wrong

[Rama97]

Small correction experts.
I know it can NOT be said whether someone is infected or not but doesn't CBC give any indication.

[mike808800]

wow...if thats true i did not know that, now that i think of it it does test your WBC which are cells that fight off infection so any changes in WBC levels would indicate some sort of activity, I truly dont know, just fascinated by the thought. But I would think that it would have to be in the later stages for HIV or AIDS to infect your WBC count too. So if someone did not suspect to have HIV and did not test themselves when indeed they we're infected the whole time, Then some where down the line they would eventually bring themselves to the hospital over fever or symptoms and Dr would prb. do a routine lab blood draw of CBC and it would test for WBC levels "decreased" in numbers which would give them reasons to test for HIV and other diseases related to decreased WBC count. Anyways, I just thought this topic was intersting and tried to make sense of it myself. But like I said I truly dont know. Good topic for discussion.

[Teak]

No a CBC nor a WBC will give you an indication of HIV infection. ONLY an HIV at the proper time.

[halfoldman]

CBC can diagnose many conditions but not HIV, the a person may have low RBC or WBC for a host of reasons, only way is the sure way thats an antibody test.

[JeanClaude]

The CBC can NOT diagnose ANY illness, it only serves as a tool in the Diagnostic Continuum indicating an abnormality in the blood/body. We look for certain combinations in different counts to guide us in determining a diagnosis. If we suspect a certain pathology, we then must order specific tests to identify it out. Yes, an irregularity such as Low neutrophils would be labeled "neutropenia", however, that may NOT be the primary pathology. Once again, please educate yourself regarding the medical infomation you are attempting to disseminate.

-JC-

[Rama97]

But if hiv is present, mostly it will destroy WBC.Isn't the data are conflicting?

[JeanClaude]

HIV destroys Lymphocytes which is only one type of WBC, people have different baseline Lymphocyte counts. There are many reasons for varying or abnormal Lymphocyte counts which have NOTHING to do with HIV. A CBC has ZERO diagnostic value where HIV is concerned.

-JC-