Question
My viral load is detectable again. How concerned should I be?
1 October 2010. Related: All topics.
I started combination therapy in December 2009 with a viral load of 580,800 and CD4 count of 148. It took longer than the Dr. seem to have predicted to get my viral load down to an undetectable level, until 47 in June 2010. By that time I was told my my CD4 count had increased only slightly to 197.
In August 2010 I had a CD4 count but no viral load count, CD4 was suddenly 421 but I have just been informed my results for September 2010 are CD4 416 (36.9%) but unfortunately viral load was 60. During the time that my viral load remained detectable beyond expectation I was told that the good news was that be it slowly, there was only a trend downwards.
This is the first time my CD4 from one test to the next has gone down and my viral load up again. Should I be concerned or is this something that is likely to happen? I am aware that there are issues that can affect viral load measurement and CD4 count.
Thanks once again for your time and excellent service.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Please do not worry. A viral load of 60 is just a very small blip and is nothing to worry about. It is so close to the undetectable level of 50 that it could even be a laboratory error.
For a comprehensive answer to a similar question about viral load blips please follow this link
CD4 counts can change all the time depending on time of day, exercise, how much sleep you had etc. Please follow this link to a question about CD4 fluctuations.
In your case a difference in CD4 count of 5 is so insignificant you can assume the CD4 count has stabilised. A CD4 count of over 400 is very good especially if you only started treatment in December 2009.
Hi Amanda, no you do not need to worry. As your viral load is still lower than 200, U=U still applies. There is no risk to you partner: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
A rise from undetectable to 60 is not significant. Can you explain what you mean by not taking your medication properly? There are other reasons that someone can have a temporary increase in viral load, most commonly a viral blip: https://i-base.info/guides/changing/blips
I have a questions I recieved my lab results today and my viral load is 60. I went from undetecetable to detectable I think it’s because I’ve been not been taking my medication properly. Should I be worried about transmission to my partner at this point?
Hi Joey,
If you’re adhering to your meds then it’s very possible that this is a lab error, are you able to have another test?
What’s your CD4 history?
Good evening I had a question. I’ve been undetectable for about 4 years now been taking my medication religiously maybe missed like 6 doses over the whole time. Now my viral load is 90 but my cd4 percent is 47.9 the percent is the same as last time I tested undetectable. Should I be concerned?
Hi Stacy,
Have you been adhering to your medication? If you have, this could be an error, are you able to have another viral load test?
I have gone from undetectable to 750 viral load. T 355. Very weak .info pls?
Hi Thando,
No, having a viral load of 270,016 isn’t a good thing. When someone is HIV positive the aim is to get their viral load down to less than 50 copies. Once its less than 50, this means that its undetectable. At the moment yours is high and this means that there is more virus in your blood. For for info please see here:
http://i-base.info/qa/6570
If my viral load is 270,016 is that a good thing?