Question
What does lower than detectable mean?
30 May 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I’ve just been told that I’m lower than detectable, what does that mean?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
When someone is told that they are lower than detectable, this is referring to your viral load. Put simply, it means that your HIV is under control. There’s more info about being lower than detectable and why its important:
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/.
Hello Phuti and thanks for getting for getting in touch.
“Being lower than detectable” means that your virus is very well controlled.
We also use the term “undetectable” to describe how well your virus is controlled right now.
That means that your medication is working very well and that you cannot pass on HIV to your sexual partners.
You can also have a baby without passing on HIV to it.
Congratulations. You are doing everything right.
So, to answer directly to your question: yes you can stop using condoms.
As long as you remain on your medication and keep taking them so well as you already do, you cannot pass on HIV to your partner.
There is more information on this link: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
I am hiv positive and was told that I am lower than detactable and my partner is negative. We want to have a baby. Is it possible for us to have unprotected sex?
Hi Rolang, this means that your treatment is working. HIV treatment is used to suppress HIV in the body. When this happens the treatment stops HIV having any effect on your health. It also means you cannot pass on HIV to someone else via sex. This is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/