Question
Why is my viral load now detectable?
10 June 2022. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I have been undetectable VL for few years. Recent blood test in March 2022 showed VL is detectable, but below 40.
What make the cause of this and will the VL gets higher?
Answer
Hi, how are you?
Your viral load is still suppressed and is still generally considered undetectable.
Newer tests are more specific. This means your previous tests may not have been able to detect anything below 50. It is possible your viral load has always been around 40, but a new test is now able to determine the level.
A further reason is that you were ill or had recently had a vaccine. These are both known to temporarily raise viral load even while on medication. It could have also been a random occurrence – a viral load blip. These are common and nothing to be concerned about.
It is also possible for this to have been a lab error. However a viral load of 40 is still not a significant increase from undetectable to be considered a reason for a second test.
How often do you have viral load testing? As your medication is still working, there is no reason to believe that your viral load will continue to increase.
Josh.
Hi Li, it is good that your doctor is looking for other reasons why your CD4 count fell and has remained ~350. As your viral load still remains so low/undetectable it indicates that you do not have a treatment resistance. Resistance would be seen with good medication compliance and your viral load increasing – this is not your case.
What was your CD4 count when your found out your status? Starting with lower CD4 counts sometimes means a person will ever have a complete recovery of their CD4 count. There may be a small spike when first starting treatment but it can settle at a lower count.
When you had your test done August last year did your doctor do any further investigations?
Hi Josh,
Thanks for your reply. Last viral load testing was in Sept 2020, and result was undetectable with CD4 at 404.
Last year August 2021, doctor only took blood test for CD4 and the result was 337(slight reduced from 2020).
While this year March 2022, CD4 is 347 and VL below 40. Had my Covid Booster Vaccine on 31/12/2021.
My doctor mentioned it could be caused by VDRL (as i was diagnosed with VDRL 8 or 9 years ago). Hence, doctor advise to test for VDRL in October.
Always on time for my Haart and safe sex always.
Today result concern me as I really worry that the virus is resistant to the medicine.