What laboratory study would further support the suspicion of HIV in a pregnant client with reported leukopenia and thrombocytopenia?

To support the suspicion of HIV in a pregnant client who is presenting with leukopenia (low white blood cell count) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), assessing T lymphocyte levels is crucial. Specifically, the CD4 T lymphocyte count is indicative of immune system function and can reveal the extent of immunosuppression that can accompany HIV infection. A low CD4 count can be a strong marker for HIV progression, providing important information regarding the risk of opportunistic infections and the need for antiretroviral therapy.

In contrast, checking hemoglobin A1C levels is primarily used to assess long-term blood glucose control and is not relevant for diagnosing or evaluating HIV. A platelet count may be useful but is already known to be low in this client, thus it wouldn’t further support the suspicion of HIV. Lastly, a urine culture is typically used to detect urinary tract infections and would not provide any pertinent information regarding HIV infection or its impact on the immune system. Therefore, T lymphocyte levels serve as the key laboratory study to further substantiate the clinical suspicion of HIV in this context.