WHO strongly recommends CD4 testing to identify advanced HIV disease

New Delhi: CD4 tests is strongly recommended as the preferred method to identify advanced HIV disease among people living with HIV, said the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new recommendation is part of the 2025 guidelines on advanced HIV disease.

The WHO defines advanced HIV disease in adults, adolescents, and children five years and older, "as a CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3".

"Advanced HIV disease is the major cause of AIDS-related deaths among people living with HIV. It is a serious public health issue, including in settings with good coverage of HIV testing and treatment, and despite having achieved or made good progress towards the 95–95–95 targets," the WHO said.

At presentation, all children living with HIV younger than five years should be considered as having advanced HIV disease unless they have received ART for more than a year and are considered clinically stable.

“The 2025 guidelines respond to the need for better approaches to identify advanced HIV disease, improve the poor outcomes of people living with HIV being discharged from hospital,” the WHO said.