Pregnancy SmartSiteTM

Skip Navigation Schedule An Appointment

Normal Pregnancy

Staying Healthy

Alcohol and pregnancy Managing your weight gain in pregnancy Steps to take before you get pregnant When you need to gain more weight during pregnancy

What to expect during pregnancy

Aches and pains during pregnancy Choosing the right practitioner Common symptoms during pregnancy Hyperemesis Gravidarum Morning sickness Pregnancy and travel Pregnancy and work Problems sleeping during pregnancy Skin and hair changes during pregnancy Teenage pregnancy

Preparing to go home with your baby

Cribs and crib safety Eat right during pregnancy Preparing your other children

Visits and Tests

Amniocentesis Chorionic villus sampling Genetic counseling before pregnancy Glucose tolerance test-pregnancy Monitoring your baby before labor Nuchal translucency Prenatal care in your first trimester Prenatal care in your second trimester Prenatal care in your third trimester

B and T cell screen

Definition

B and T cell screen is a laboratory test to determine the amount of B and T lymphocytes in the blood.

How the Test is Performed

A .

Blood could also be obtained by (fingerstick or heel stick in infants).

After the blood is drawn, it goes through a two-step process. First, the lymphocytes are separated from other blood parts. Once the cells are separated, identifiers are added to distinguish between T and B cells.

How to Prepare for the Test

Tell your health care provider if you have had any of the following, which might affect your T and B cell count:

  • Recent or current infection
  • Steroid therapy
  • Surgery

    • How the Test will Feel

    When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

    Why the Test is Performed

    Your provider may order this test if you have signs of certain diseases that weaken the immune system. It may also be used to distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous disease, particularly cancers that involve the blood and bone marrow.

    The test may also be used to determine how well treatment for certain conditions is working.

    Normal Results

    Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

    What Abnormal Results Mean

    Abnormal B and T cell counts may suggest a possible disease. Further testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis.

    An increased T cell count may be due to:

  • Cancer of white blood cells called lymphoblasts ()
  • Cancer of white blood cells called lymphocytes ()
  • A viral infection called
  • Blood cancer that starts in the plasma cells in the bone marrow ()
  • Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
  • Toxoplasmosis, an infection due to a parasite
  • Tuberculosis

    • An increased B cell count may be due to:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • DiGeorge syndrome
  • Multiple myeloma

    • A decreased T cell count may be due to:

  • Congenital T-cell deficiency disease, such as Nezelof syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
  • Acquired T-cell deficiency states, such as HIV infection or HTLV-1 infection
  • B cell proliferative disorders, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or Waldenström macroglobulinemia

    • A decreased B cell count may be due to:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Treatment with certain medicines

    • Risks

    Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

    Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

    • References

    Liebman HA, Tulpule A. Hematologic manifestations of HIV/AIDS. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 157.

    Riley RS, Mageau R, Ben-Ezra J. Laboratory evaluation of the cellular immune system. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 46.

    Schedule An Appointment

    Contact Atlanta Obsetrics and Gynaecology at The Womens Center Millennium Hospital - 404-ATL-BABY

    GO

    Review Date: 12/4/2022

    Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.