Question
Is my CD4 count and viral load within the normal ranges?
12 October 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I am currently on treatment my latest result were: viral load 29 and CD4 count 431 is this within accepteble ranges?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Your results are very good. Once you are on treatment the most important thing to monitor is your viral load which should, wherever possible, remain under 50 copies/mL. Some people get the occassional ‘blip’ where the viral load goes up a little bit and then down again. This is nothing to worry about. Your viral load of 29 is very good.
Which treatments are you on? Have you experienced any side effects? When did you start treatment?
For more information on CD4 counts and viral load please follow this link
Nucotrim whats i got to do with hiv huw does it help with hiv
Hi Mmonie,
That sounds like it’s fine. On average, the normal CD4 range for an HIV negative person is between 460 and 1600. This is an average. Anywhere in this range is good. What’s your viral load result? Are you undetectable on HIV meds?
My cd4count is 490
Hi Asiwa,
If you’re going to breastfeed your adopted child they’re going to need to be on ARVs. This is something that will need to be discussed with a doctor.
Hi ,can I breastfeed an adopted child, viral load not dictected ,just deed my cd4 test,pls I need advice on it
Hi Fkatt,
Your CD4 count is high, this is great. How long have you been on medication for? If its less than 3 months then you’re doing really well.
My cd4 count is 1036 and my vilal load is 1046 is this okay lam on treatment
I m karan my viral load is less than 20.but cd4 is 180 after using of 6month of medication.why my cd4 is so less after i m undectable
Hi Karen,
What was your CD4 count when you started medication? CD4 counts rise slower than viral loads fall, this is normal. The fact that your viral load is undetectable means that your HIV is under control.
Hi Beto,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. But although finding out you are HIV positive is a shock, it will get easier. There’s time to look at your results and understand what they mean.
You can read more about just finding out you’re HIV positive at this link. There’s a lot of info here that can really help.
But first, your results. Viral load is the amount of HIV detected in your blood. When HIV first gets into the body this result can be in the hundreds of thousands and even millions. So 33000 just means it’s a good idea to think about starting treatment with HIV meds (ART).
Your CD4 count tells you how well your immune system can work. HIV targets these CD4 cells to make copies of itself. So over time this figure gets lower and lower. Someone who is HIV negative can have a CD4 count anywhere between 460 to 1600. But people with lower CD4 counts can be as fit as people whose counts are higher.
Here is an introduction to ART. There’s lots in this to help you think about starting treatment, if you haven’t already done it.