Cytotoxic (CD8) T Cell Count

The Cytotoxic (CD8) T Cell Count, often simply referred to as the CD8 T Cell Count, is a measure of a specific type of white blood cell in your body. These cells, known as CD8 T cells, are like the special forces of your immune system. They play a crucial role in your body's defense against infections and diseases, including viruses and cancer. CD8 T cells are called 'cytotoxic' because they have the ability to kill infected or damaged cells in your body. They do this by recognizing and binding to these harmful cells, and then releasing substances that destroy them. This count gives us an idea of how many of these important 'soldiers' you have in your bloodstream, ready to protect your body from harm.