Labwork question

[Etay1207]

Hey all, I was looking over my labwork and noticed something I had not noticed before. The CD4 count is measured in microliters but the Viral Load is measured in milliliters. Why are they measured on different scales?

[skeebo1969]

     They'll probably measure your vl in one of these:

     

[eric48]

same here

CD4 : /mm3 (which is microL)
VL  : / mL

Therefore, I guess it is standard.

Cheers

Eric

[WillyWump]

     They'll probably measure your vl in one of these:

    

or one of these...

[PeteNYNJ]

I think that is the standard in the US as well. 

[Etay1207]

That doesn't make sense. That's like counting tcells in an eight ounce glass and then counting your viral load in an 8,000 ounce barrel and comparing the numbers.

[max123]

think in terms of relative size of the involved particles... a lymphocyte is larger than an hiv particle.

[Ann]

CD4 : /mm3 (which is microL)
VL  : / mL

mm3 is cubic millimeters - the volume of a cube of side length one millimetre (0.001 m) equal to a microlitre 1 mm3 = 0.000000001 m3 = 1 µL

mL is the same as CC, as a cubic centimetre is equal to a millilitre or mL.

That doesn't make sense. That's like counting tcells in an eight ounce glass and then counting your viral load in an 8,000 ounce barrel and comparing the numbers.

But nobody "compares" the numbers between VL and CD4. They are both tools or sets of information to be looked at both independently and together, but not compared. It would be like comparing apples and oranges.

If you look at the CBC sample chart found in the Lessons, you'll see that a variety of different units are used for measurement. It doesn't make it wrong.

[bocker3]

That doesn't make sense. That's like counting tcells in an eight ounce glass and then counting your viral load in an 8,000 ounce barrel and comparing the numbers.

Why would you compare these tihngs?  If you want them in the same units -- it's simple math, so get you calculator out.  Here you go -- I'll really freak you out -- some lab tests are measured in mmol, some in micromol, some in the "strange" IU (internation units) -- at the end of the day the units matter not at all -- so long as they are standard (but even then, we do have math to fall back on).

You really do worry about the strangest things and yet show no concern where you should?

Mike

[BlueMoon]

You really do worry about the strangest things and yet show no concern where you should?

Mike

He's good. . . .