How do you know if your HIV infection is changing or getting worse?

Your doctor will keep track of your HIV infection with blood tests (CD4 count test and viral load test). This way your doctor can measure the amount of HIV in your body. These tests also can tell your doctor if you are at risk of getting Opportunistic Infections or AIDS-Related Illnesses.

• CD4 count test: keeps track of your immune system and how much it has been hurt by the HIV virus. It's better to have a high CD4 count than a low CD4 count. This test should be done every 3 to 6 months.
  
  
• Viral load test: measures the number of copies HIV has made in your blood. It's better to have a low viral load than a high viral load. This count will go up and down a lot.