Q and A

Question

My viral load is 20, is this OK?

Been on Atripla for 6 years now ,

went for my regular test ,got my results today and CD4 is on 900 but VL is less than 20 copies am very worried as it is usually undetectable.

what can i do to make sure it gets undetectable again?

Answer

Thanks for getting a touch.

The classification for an undetectable viral load is less than 50 copies. Therefore, you are still undetectable because your viral load is less than this. You’re doing well, and have nothing to worry about.

151 comments

  1. Susan

    M viral load is 20 is transmittable of what?

  2. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Ntombi,

    Firstly, both of you are undetectable. You’re undetectable because your results are both under 50 copies/ml. This is great news. There’s no reason why you can’t try for a baby. You both have your HIV under control. There’s more about pregnancy here: http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  3. Ntombi

    Hi im hiv positive and also my partner but last month we got our results im undectable and my parter says 31 copies and we really want to try for a bby it is safe because we have started unprotected sex

  4. Lisa Thorley
  5. Mabel

    Can HIV positive be tested negative with a strip when the viral load is less than 20?

  6. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Msanikhuze,

    Are you on medication? If you’re on medication and these are you’re results, it means that the meds are working and working really well. Your HIV is very much under control.

  7. Msanikhuze

    My VL is 20 copies and CD4 count is 1000 is this results or good

  8. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Sive,

    An undetectable viral load is anything under 50 copies ml, so you’re already undetectable. This means that it’s ok to have sex without a condom. Please see here: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

  9. Sive

    I am living with HIV for 6 years now ,

    went for my regular test ,got my results today and CD4 is on 1035 and VL is less than 20 copies so do I wait till it says it’s undetectable so as to not infect my partner as we want to try for a baby.

    He is negative

  10. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Kenneth,

    As Lisa says on this Q&A, any viral load below 50 is undetectable. So a viral load less than 20 looks as though your HIV meds are working well.

    What meds are you taking, and what’s your CD4 count? Please let us know.

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