T- and B-Lymphocyte Differential Profile

Enumeration of lymphocyte subsets for classification and diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases and for evaluating and monitoring AIDS patients.

Primary immunodeficiencies result from congenital defects of the immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) results from infection with the HIV-1 retrovirus. The purpose of flow cytometric enumeration is to determine whether select lymphocyte subsets are reduced or absent in order to support the diagnosis of numeric cellular immunodeficiency rather than immunodeficiency due to cellular dysfunction.

HIV-1 infection results in a decrease of CD4 T cells, an increase of CD8 T cells, a decrease in the CD4:CD8 ratio, and a progressive destruction of immune function. In HIV-1 seropositive patients, enumeration of CD4 T cells may be used for prognostic purposes and to monitor disease progression and antiretroviral therapy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1997 revised guidelines for performing CD4+ T-cell determinations in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). MMWR. 1997 Jan 10; 46:RR-2.

Giorgi J, Kesson A, Chou CC. Immunodeficiency and infectious diseases. In: Rose N, deMacario E, Fahey J, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 4th ed. Washington, DC: ASM Press;1992:chap 25.

Stevens RA, Lempicki RA, Natarajan V, et al. General immunologic evaluation of patients with immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Detrick B, Hamilton RG, Folds JD, et al, eds. Manual of Molecular and Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 7th ed. Washington, DC: ASM Press;2006:chap 95.