Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

CD3, CD4/CD8 Lymphocyte ratio test

A blood test measuring CD3, CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte counts and their ratio, used to monitor immune system health, particularly for people managing HIV.

Sample
Blood
Collection
Venous draw at clinic or nurse visit
Results in
5 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Lymphocyte Subsets (CD3/CD4/CD8)

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
blood
Collection method
venous draw at clinic or nurse visit
Turnaround time
5 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

  • Lymphocyte Subsets (CD3/CD4/CD8)

About this test

CD3, CD4 and CD8 are types of T-lymphocyte, a category of white blood cell central to your immune response. CD3 helps identify threats and activate other immune cells, CD4 cells coordinate the wider immune response, and CD8 cells directly target infected or abnormal cells. Because HIV specifically infects and depletes CD4 cells while CD8 cells often rise in response, the ratio between them is commonly used to monitor immune status in people living with HIV, including how well treatment is working.

This is the only lymphocyte subset test in our Better2Know data, so we have no direct in-house peer to compare its price or depth against. It is recorded as a single combined biomarker covering the CD3, CD4 and CD8 counts and their ratio, rather than several separately listed markers, and priced at £395 for that specialised analysis.

It scores in the lower half for clinical depth among the sexual health category tests we track, since it reports one combined ratio rather than multiple distinct biomarkers, and only moderately for collection convenience, since it needs a venous draw at a clinic or a booked home nurse visit and a five-day wait for results. Results and follow-up scores lower here than for most other tests in this catalogue, since Better2Know does not review your result with a doctor as standard. The provider is CQC registered, rated 4.2 on Trustpilot from 775 reviews, and has traded since 2008.

Who is it for?

This test is most relevant if you have been diagnosed with HIV, another condition affecting immune function, or an autoimmune diagnosis, and you or your doctor want to track how your CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes and their ratio are changing over time, including in response to treatment. It is not a general immune health check and is unlikely to suit someone without a specific existing diagnosis or clinical reason to monitor these cells.

We have no comparable Better2Know test to point you to for this specific marker set. If you are newly experiencing symptoms of a weakened immune system, start with your GP or HIV specialist rather than ordering this test independently.

How it works

A trained healthcare professional takes a venous blood sample, either at a Better2Know clinic or during a home nurse visit, and it is sent to the laboratory the same day. The sample is analysed for CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts and their ratio, with results typically available within five working days, accessible through Better2Know's secure online patient area. Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Reports CD3, CD4 and CD8 counts together with their ratio in one test.
  • A home nurse visit is offered instead of a clinic appointment.
  • Useful for tracking immune status over time if you have an existing diagnosis.

Cons

  • At £395 for a single combined biomarker, this is a specialised test rather than a broad panel.
  • Requires a five-working-day wait for results.
  • Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.
  • No comparable Better2Know test to check this price against.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score CD3/CD4/CD8 ratio test for ongoing HIV monitoring
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 5.8/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 21st percentile of sexual health tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 4.0/10

    Requires a venous draw at a clinic; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 5 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 2.0/10

    £395.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (+172%).

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