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/.
Hi doctor say virus dissaper on my body..than lower than detectable limit.
Hi Claire, have you been regularly tested to know your viral load and CD4 count? Congratulations on becoming pregnant. There has been no reported transmission from an EC making this a safe exposure for both your husband and baby.
Hi all. I am an elite controller since finding out my status in 2008. So I do not need medication at all and my body somehow manages to keep the virus undetectable. However my husband and I tried normally for a baby after doctors advice saying I cannot pass it on, but there was some blood when we had intercourse (my blood) and now I am worried if I might have passed it to my husband. Good news is we are pregnant but I pray I cannot and did not pass it to him
Hi Eucine. This is exactly what this means. When your viral load is undetectable, you cannot transmit HIV via sex. Please follow this link for more information about U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hi please help me to understand I’ve been told my viral load is lower than detected does that mean I can’t transmit Hiv to my partner
Hi Ike, lower than undetectable does not exist. If the result is lower than detectable, this would mean the result is undetectable. For some tests this is different depending on how sensitive the test is. In general, any viral load lower than 200 is considered undetectable.
what does lower than undectable mean
Hi Siki,
Yes this is correct, when someone is taking ARVs and their viral load is undetectable they can’t transmit HIV, please see here: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Been hiv positive for the past 5years and im on ART all my test are done every year in November they all came back lower than detachable does it mean i won’t transmit hiv to my partner even though we don’t use condoms please advice and also explain if lower than detectable means undetectable
Hi Sravanthi,
Those results look very good. A CD4 count of 1043 is strong. It means your immune system can work normally.
And a viral load less than 45 copies/mL is said to be undetectable. Any viral load result less than 50 is undetectable.
What HIV treatment (ART) are you taking? It looks as though it’s working well.
It’s easy planning a 2nd child if you’re taking ART and have an undetectable viral load.
Please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.