Question
Do my lab results show that I am a fast or slow progressor?
1 November 2007. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment.
In middle of July 2007 I was diagnosed HIV positive. My lab results on in July 2007 were CD4 374, VL 13,339 and CD4% 30%. After three months, in October, I went for new test and the results are CD4 377, VL 10,794 and CD4% 27%
I am not on treatment yet. I am worried about my CD% drop from 30% to 27% and a such a small recovery of CD4.
How good is the news about drop in viral load?
What do my results say in terms of trends. Am I a fast or slow progressor?
Answer
Thanks for posting your results and letting us answer online.
CD4, CD4% and viral load can have a lot of variation, without it meaning much about your health.
To a doctor, these results would read as completely stable. Your viral load could be anywhere between 5,000 and 30,000 and it wouldn’t necessarily mean any change had taken place.
CD4 cell counts can easily fluctuate by 50 cells/mm3 between the morning and evening, and also shouldn’t make you concerned. A similar fluctuation can occur for CD4%.
Only when all three tests indicate a similar trend, is this likely to indicate a real change.
You also will need more that two sets of test to build up a picture of how quickly or slowly HIV is progressing. At least from these results you know that HIV is not progressing rapidly, as everything seems roughly the same, and all the results are within safe levels.
Comment