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How Does Hiv Affect The Immune System

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CD4 count is a measure of immune function. By measuring someone's CD4 levels you can see how HIV has affected their immune system, showing the progression of the virus. Most people in the UK start treatment when their CD4 count is at 350.

Viral load measures how active HIV is in someone's body. The higher the viral load the more infectious someone would be. Effective HIV medication can keep people's CD4 count high and their viral load so low it is undetectable. However people with HIV's CD4 count and viral load can go up and down depending on their medication, whether they have another STI and their general health.

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