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Real members of myHIVteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

% CD 8 Pos. Lymph

A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
San Bernardino, CA

Recently had labs done and got results online (no response from doctor yet), but this test came back Abnormal (it was high). Has anyone had a High reading on this?

My doctor will eventually contact me too follow up if a concern, but with Abnormal showing on test, I'm a bit concerned. (Although I have no clue what is for.) Thank you in advance for any input.

October 30, 2025
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myHIVteam

What does a high % CD8 positive lymphocyte reading mean?

CD8 cells are a type of immune cell that work differently than CD4 cells. While CD4 cells help organize your immune response, CD8 cells directly attack infected cells. A high CD8 percentage can happen for various reasons related to how your immune system is Show Full Answer

What does a high % CD8 positive lymphocyte reading mean?

CD8 cells are a type of immune cell that work differently than CD4 cells. While CD4 cells help organize your immune response, CD8 cells directly attack infected cells. A high CD8 percentage can happen for various reasons related to how your immune system is responding.

In people living with HIV, it's common to see changes in the ratio between CD4 and CD8 cells. When CD4 counts drop, the percentage of CD8 cells often increases, which can show up as "high" on lab results.

Why this happens:

Your immune system might be actively responding to HIV or another infection, causing more CD8 cells to be produced. This doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong - it's often just your body working to fight infection.

What to do next:

Wait for your doctor to review your complete lab results, including your CD4 count and viral load. These numbers together give a much clearer picture of your immune health than one marker alone.

Try not to worry too much until you can discuss all your results with your healthcare provider. They'll explain what this means specifically for you and whether any changes to your treatment are needed.

October 30, 2025
A myHIVteam Member

I didn't know the answer to that, but, if nobody had come around with an answer, I would have had to search for it 😁 my curiosity would've not allowed me to not have a solution to the conundrum 👍🤘

October 30, 2025
A myHIVteam Member

This happens as well. Sometimes the HIV virus causes inflammation which causes our lymphocytes to act up so that makes them higher. Mine were abnormal just because of inflammation and HIV.

October 30, 2025

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