Question
My viral load is 40, is this OK?
11 February 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I just got the the following Viral Load Results:
HIV-1, RNA: less than 40 Copies
CD4+: 592
CD8+: 964
CD4/CD8: 0.61
Can you tell me if it is ok?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
You’re doing great. Your HIV is under control, this is because your viral load is undetectable. Your CD4 count is also within the range that it should be.
Hello Tero and thanks for the question
Taking your medication a bit later, won’t be a problem, if you are asking about ARVs.
Yes, continue at your regular time.
If it’s more than 12 hour delay then skip the dose and continue your schedule as regular.
I forgot to take the medicine at the appointed time, but I took it when I remembered, which was after 5 hours. The question is, should I take the medicine at the appointed time the next day, as usual?
Hello and thanks for the question.
The CD4 counts and immune system of a person on medication only improves with time.
The amount of time it takes for someone to recover is not fixed and can be very different for each person.
You are definitely on the right track and your medication works very well for you.
Well done for this improvement. It means you take your medication regularly.
You can find more about the immune system here:
https://i-base.info/ttfa/section-1/9-interpreting-cd4-results-cd4-count-and-cd4-percentage/
My CD4 count was 25 a year ago. After 1 yr on ART treatment it is 191 count today.
Please let me know if the reports are normal.
Hi Haussaire, a viral load of 40 is excellent. It means that your viral load is suppressed and that your treatment is working. As long as you have a viral load below 200 U=U (https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/) can still apply. There is no benefit to trying to have a viral load suppressed further than this. being below 200 will have the same benefit of a viral load below 40.
Thanks,if viral load is 40 can it be reduce,and how?
Hi Simanga,
What is it that you’d like help with?
not started my treatment and i don’t even know my CD4, how can i get help?
Hi Yolanda,
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Testing positive can be a shock for most people.
It will probably take a while for the news to sink in. But even if you feel worried, frightened, upset or angry now, it will get easier.
Treatment (called ART) is highly effective and generally easy to take. ART is now routinely recommended for anyone who is HIV positive.
There’s much more info on this page about just finding out you’re HIV positive.
And here’s an Introduction to ART for info about starting treatment.
I hope this can answer some questions. Please let us know if you’d like to know more.
Just find out am HIV positive on Friday, it’s a shock I dnt sleep got lost of questions what to do now