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
Hi Andrey,
Having knee pain isn’t a sign of resistance.
How long has your relative been on meds for?
Hie
My relative is on ART and taking tenolam and atanazavir , the VL stands at 133copies .
Currently having severe low back pain radiating to just above the knee. Could this be a signal for resistance to current pills.
Hello Lisa,
Thank you, At first she wasn’t taking it well, but now living a day at a time, she was given septrin tablets to last her a month before she can start on ART. We(she) haven’t joined any support groups, instead we have been reading widely about HIV and watching different clips on the internet on people’s experiences. We both stopped alcohol consumption and trying to eat healthily as I await time for my next blood work.
Hi Somejo,
Thanks for getting back to us.
Reading about HIV can help. It is however important to use trusted sites.
Having an understanding of how others have come to terms with their status is also a good thing to do.
There’s no need for you to cut out all of the things that you like doing, you do after all have to live. And life should be pleasurable.
Is there any reason why she can’t start ART now?
Hi Somejo,
Firstly, how is your partner doing? How are they coping with the news? Are they able to get support?
In relation to your questions. You should refrain from having unprotected sex until you know your status. If it turns out that you have recently contracted HIV, then and only then should you consider not using condoms.
You should follow the testing guidelines are instructed and also see Q’s 1 and 5 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
If you are positive, as with your partner it’s recommended that a person start treatment straight away.
It isn’t possible to tell when a person became infected with HIV through tests. The only way to know is to think about possible risky exposures.
With regards to children, yes you can have kids. Be this is both of you are positive, or serodiscordent. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
And Q 6 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hello i-base,
Thank You so much for the wonderful work you are doing, this last few days have been very long and hard for us, my partner tested HIV Positive 5 days ago, she did three rapid tests from different clinics that all confirmed that, a day later after informing me, I visited two different VCT centers, I tested negative from both, my worry is, while she was told to submit her blood work for further CD4 and VL tests, I was told to wait and come back after a month for confirmatory tests. I am lost, not sure what to do, it is not even a week but the anxiety is killing me, are there any meds for post exposure? Will it be too late by the end of the 30 days? If after the period my results turn out positive what’s the recommended time to start ART? Is it possible to tell approximately when each of us was infected? Assuming we are discordant, can we still have healthy babies?
Please advice,
Thank You.
Hi Lekan,
If you’re wife has been diagnosed with HIV and she isn’t on treatment, she will need to stop breastfeeding. Your baby will also need to be tested for HIV and she should be given some medication. Because this is an urgent situation, please talk to your wife’s doctor. They will be able to advise.
Your wife will also need to start medication.
My wife is positive after her first test. She did another test and it was discordant. She now did a DNA PCR test that said positive again with cd4 count of 247. She’s a nursing mother. I’m worried, will my child be safe? She has breastfeed my child for 2 weeks. If anything happens to my child I may kill myself.
I’m hiv negative.
Although am HIV negative, I do appreciate your service for guiding and counseling our brothers and sisters.
Hi Winny,
It can take a few months for your viral load to become undetectable. Therefore, you still have some time before you’re due to give birth. What was your viral load before you started meds?
For more on viral loads please see:
http://i-base.info/qa/4669