Cindy Chen, a 28-year-old Asian female complaining of the inability to sleep and

Question

Cindy Chen, a 28-year-old Asian female complaining of the inability to sleep and nervousness, arrives at the office. She tested positive for HIV in 2005. Currently, she lives with her aunt and is going to school to become a phlebotomist. She has lost 20 pounds since her last visit to the clinic. She also has had a persistent cough and sore throat for the last 3 months. The physician orders a series of blood tests, including the helper T-cell test and a throat culture. Dr. Whalen asks you to send the throat culture to the reference lab for culture instead of doing a rapid strep test in the office.

Why are Cindy’s helper T cells being tested?

What special precautions should you take when drawing Cindy’s blood?

As Cindy’s HIV infection progresses, what symptoms might she exhibit?

Why do you think Dr. Whalen asked you to send the throat culture to the reference lab instead of doing a rapid strep test in the POL?

Explanation / Answer

Answer: Helper T cells are a type of T cell that play an important role in the immune system, particularly in the adaptive immune system. Lymphocytes are white blood cells which is responsible for the immunity. They help the activity of other immune cells by releasing T cell cytokines. These cells help suppress or regulate immune responses. People with HIV/AIDS have regular T-cell tests to check their CD4 cell counts. Because people with HIV positive are prone to many other diseases and their immune system becomes weak.

While withdrwaing the blood sample,some precaution should be taken as the virus can be transmitted through blood, semen and pre-seminal fluid, vaginal and cervical secretions, and breast milk. She should as soon as take the sample and discard the syringe and needle instantly.

The symptoms are:

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