Question
What does lower than detectable mean?
11 January 2024. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed.
Hi, I tested HIV positive July 2019 and after a year doctor told me about my results. Says my viral load is lower than detectable.0.600ml.lower limit is 20rna copiesml. So I real don’t know what is detectable and he used the words the HIV disappear in your body. Can you explain more for me please?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
This is really good news. It means that your treatment is working and HIV is now suppressed as low as it can be in your body.
Being undetectable/lower than detectable is the goal of HIV treatment.
It suppresses HIV so much that it cannot be detected by tests. When this low HIV is no longer damaging your immune system and you cannot pass on HIV to someone else via sex.
It doesn’t mean that you are HIV negative. You will still test positive as these tests look for something different called antibodies. But it does mean your treatment is working as well as it can be.
Josh.
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