Question
My viral load is zero, does this mean I’m negative?
16 September 2018. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I was tested positive 1 year back with a CD4 count of 310. After 3 months the CD4 went up to 540 and now after exactly a year it is 640.
I never got a viral load test before i started my treatment in the beginning but when i got a test now a year after medication the test results say Zero count. Is this possible? Or can it be due to an error in the test? How accurate can these results be?
If the count of 0 viral load is possible is there any chance that i could actually be HIV negative?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Viral loads aren’t usually given as a zero, but it is common to be “undetectable”. This is a good thing and it is the main goal of HIV treatment (ART).
Do you have a copy of the viral load test?
Might they have said that its simply undetectable?
Having an undetectable of zero viral load does not mean you are HIV negative. If you were to do another HIV antibody test it would come back as being positive.
Given that your CD4 count was 310 when you were diagnosed, I’d say that its very unlikely that you’re HIV negative. It is much more likely that the treatment is working well and this has increased it to 640.
Is syphilis or tpha,vdrl positive cause hiv test positive?
Hi Michael, for information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hello how many test can I do to say thats it’s conclusive that I’m negative
Hi Gaurav, yes you can. When undetectable there is no risk of transmission to your partner. It also means that risk to baby is as low as possible. Being on treatment with an undetectable viral load will mean it is more than 99% likely that your baby will be HIV negative.
Baby will also be given their own treatment for a short while after birth which is explained here: https://i-base.info/qa/19891
If VL is undetectable, can a hiv person plan for having babies with non hiv partner
Hi Jackie, a viral load this low means that HIV is not active in your body. Do you know your CD4 count? and have you had any follow-up tests to confirm your HIV status?
I tested HIV for the first time and I tested positive, and before taking HIV medication they tested VL and CD4 then the results show that VL is 0. What does it mean?
N.B haven’t taken HIV medication
Hi Collins, please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
what faint line means in hiv result
Hi Emily, please see here for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing