Is a lower t cell count a bad thing?

It can be.: The cd4+ t cell or t-helper cell count is measured to determine the competance of an infected patient's immune system. This is correlated well with the clinical manifestations of aids. If the count is <200/ul, there is high risk of pneumocystis carinii infection. If <100/ul, theres can be cmv, or mycobacterium avium-intracellulare. Some places measure t4/t8 ratio counts.