Question
What does a viral load of 2.8 mean?
14 June 2007. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I have been given my viral load – it has been expressed as 2.8.
What does this mean? I thought viral loads were expressed in the 10,000 and 1000,000 etc
Answer
A viral load of log 2.8 = a viral load of about 650 copies/mL.
You are right that viral load results are usually given as larger numbers – and can be anywhere from 50 copies/mL to over 1,000,000 copies/mL.
Another way of expressing numbers that have a large range though is to use a log scale. This is where the actual number is expressed as a factor of 10.
- 1 log = 10
- 2 logs = 10×10 = 100
- 3 logs = 10x10x10 = 1,000
- etc
Another way to remember the conversion is that the number of ‘zeros’s is the same as the log number: 5 logs is 1 with 5 zeros, or 100,000.
For log numbers in between whole numbers:
- 1.3 logs = approximately 20 copies/mL
- 1.5 logs = approximately 32
- 1.7 logs = approximately 50
- 2.7 logs = approximately 500
- 4.7 logs = approximately 50,000
We’ll add a conversion table to the i-Base website over the next week or so, with a link to this question, so it is easy to check again in the future.
One of the ways that ‘logs’ make life easier, is that guidelines recommend that when you start treatment your viral load should drop by at least 1 log within 4 weeks. This gives a simple target for people who could be starting at very different viral loads – eg 20,000 copies/mL or 500,000 copies/mL.
If you have just started treatment, you will be aiming to get your viral load to under 50 copies/mL – or below 1.7 logs.
I have been taking complera for about two years. Only once
was I undetectable, the last two test one showed 2.079 and the
last one 1.602.
Not sure if I should ask my Dr. to change medication? I was undetectable for
many years but lost my job and had no ins. for about a year.
What do all these numbers mean, specially the last exam 1.602- Good, bad…
thnxs so much
Hi Olive,
This all sounds great. Being undetectable means having a viral load under 50 cp/ml. Viral load can go up and down, so this is a tiny change.
One valid and reliable study is the Partner study. See, ZERO: no linked HIV transmissions in PARTNER study after couples had sex 58,000 times without condoms. Couples were only included in the final analysis when the most recent viral load for the positive partners was undetectable – defined as viral load under 200 cp/mL.
It’s good news for you and your partner if you plan to have a baby. Your physician is right to advise you that U=U.
Hi there
Ive been living positively with the HI virus since 2004. When i discovered i was infected. I started meds in 2012 :
My last three stats are as follows;
27 May 2018= HIV RNA copies 28 cp/ml.
13 Sep 2017= HIV RNA copies less 20 cp/ml
26 Oct 2016 = HIV RNA copies less that 20 cp/ml
The increase in my RNA copies is this a cause for concern. My partner wants a baby and physician has advised that undetectable = un transmittable.
How valid and reliable are these studies.
Am i still undetectable despite the increase.
Please help.
Sorry i forgot to mention im on the generic of Atripla which is Trivens and once a day regimen. And have been 100% adherent. Never missed a dose since 2012.
Great work guys. At least we are managing to learn a lot, and also know what to do.
Hi Adriaan, Getting viral load to undetectable, and under 50, is the aim of HIV treatment. What meds are you taking at the moment?
3250 copies viral load.been on treatment for 3years is this good or bad .
Hi Nokuthula,
It’s difficult to say much about these results without a bit more information.
Are you on treatment yet, and if you are how long for?
Do have any previous test results or are these the first ones?
Please follow this link for more information about CD4 count and viral load.
My CD4 count is 388 and my Viral load is 22821 copies /ml, is this good or bad ?
Hi Pearl
No problem. The online comment hasn;t come to me yet, but if there is a problem I will add both your post, and my reply below, back on the site later.
6.9 = 7,940,000 – this was really pretty high
5.4 = 251,000 – getting better – and more than the 1 log drop that you need to see after 4 weeks (1 log would have taken you to 790,000)
2.8 = 680 – which is around a drop of 4 logs from your baseline (starting) level
You are aiming for under 1.7 = under 50 copies/mL (below the range of detection for current tests) – so you have about 1 log more to go…
What is your treatment?
An online resource where you can add your own figures, and also see other ways of getting results is on this page.
http://www.roche-hiv.com/portal/eipf/pb/hiv/Roche-HIV/sliderule
Thanks for that. My maths is a little rusty so have trouble working this out. My starting viral load was 6.9 after 4 weeks 5.4 and 12 weeks 2.8 could you please translate these numbers for me as I don’t understand the bit about log numbers inbetween whole numbers.
Many thanks Pearl