What finding does the nurse expect in a blood screening test for a client with AIDS?

In the context of a client with AIDS, a decrease in CD4 T cells is a hallmark finding in blood screening tests. HIV attacks and depletes CD4 T cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system by helping to coordinate the body’s response to infection. As the infection progresses to AIDS, the CD4 T cell count drops significantly, which indicates a weakened immune system and increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections and diseases.

In a healthy individual, normal levels of CD4 T cells would typically range between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm³, but for someone diagnosed with AIDS, the levels can fall below 200 cells/mm³. This drastic drop reflects the extent of immune system compromise caused by the HIV infection. Consequently, monitoring the CD4 T cell count is essential in managing the health of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, guiding treatment decisions, and assessing the risk of complications.