CD8 T Cell Count details

CD8 cells, also called 'cytotoxic T-cells,' are a type of white blood cell that directly targets and destroys cells infected by viruses or otherwise recognized as abnormal, such as some cancer cells. This test counts the number of CD8 cells circulating in your blood and is used, often alongside the CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio, to assess overall immune status — particularly in HIV monitoring, where CD8 counts can actually rise as the immune system responds to the virus, even as CD4 counts fall. It's also used in evaluating certain other immune conditions and after transplants where immune cell balance matters.