Q and A

Question

My viral load is 50, is this OK?

I’ve just been told that my viral load is 50 copies m/L. Does this mean that I’m doing OK?

Answer

Thanks for getting in touch.

Yes a viral load of 50 is OK. Actually it’s excellent. It means that you’re undetectable and your HIV is under control

16 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Nomazwe, your doctor is right and it is safe for you to have unprotected sex. A viral load below 200 means HIV is suppressed so much that you cannot pass on HIV to someone via sex.

    This is explained by U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

  2. Nomazwe

    Hey Doctor my viral load is on 29 is it safe to have unprotected sex?

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Katleho, yes a viral load of 78 is okay. It is actually excellent.

    It means that your treatment is working and HIV is being suppressed in your body. When your viral load is this low in your body it means that HIV is no longer damaging your immune system and your CD4 count will be able to recover.

    As your viral load is below 200, it also means that it is impossible for you to pass on HIV to someone via sex. This is called U=U. It means that when you are on treatment and your viral load is suppressed, there is so little HIV in your body that there is no risk of transmission when having sex.

    U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

  4. Katleho

    If your viral is 78 is okay?

  5. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Tony, a viral load of 50 is excellent. It means that HIV is being suppressed and it not damaging your immune system. While this low it also means that you cannot pass on HIV to someone else via sex. This is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

  6. Tony

    My viral load is 50 is it ohk because I asked my doctor and she don’t respond me back am worried about it

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