Question
Is a viral load of 67 copies/mL good?
9 August 2024. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Southern Africa, Starting treatment.
Hi, I tested HIV positive in March and started arv treatment immediately and I just got my blood test back and my viral load is 67. I don’t know what it was b4 treatment and I just wanted to know if 67 is a good number indicating that the treatment is working.
Answer
Hi there
Thanks, this is a great result.
Your viral load was probably at least 5,000 and maybe 100,000 or higher when you started.
This shows how well the treatment is working at bringing viral load down so much lower.
These are great results.
The aim is for viral load to go down a little lower to get less than 50 copies which is called undetectable.
Hello Amos and thanks for getting in touch.
A viral load of 67 copies can be considered a blip.
It can also mean you have missed a few doses so the HIV is not controlled as well or that you might have started a new medication or supplement that interacts with your current medication and they want to make sure they make any changes needed before you develop resistance.
It’s really good your clinic is so alert and informing you about small changes like this because it means they can offer information and support if needed.
If your viral load is deemed to be a blip your next viral load will be undetectable again.
For the purposes of U=U you still cannot pass on the virus – you are considered undetectable with any viral load under 200 copies.
My nurse just called me and said I must come answer why my viral load is 67. She sounds scared. Is it not norm.