Question
If my CD4 count is 1295, does it mean I no longer have HIV?
15 March 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I am HIV positive. My first CD4 count was 685 and then it went up to 1295 does that mean I am healthy and is the virus cleared in my body?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
A CD4 count of 1295 is fantastic! However, unfortunately it does not mean HIV is cleared from your body. CD4 counts do fluctuate up and down. It could also be that you were recently infected and your CD4 count is increasing after the initial infection. For more information please follow this link.
The good news is that your immune system is very good as your CD4 count is so high.
What is your viral load result? Usually this would be detectable, even with a high CD4 count, though a small percentage of people (less than 0.01%) maintain a high CD4 count and undetectable viral load, without needing HIV treatment.
taking arvs for 3 years and cd4 count is 975 and undetectable viral load but all of a sudden got sick loss of appetite why did this happen
Hi Jack,
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so unwell. But it’s great to agree with your doctor and be happy the treatment is working so well. I hope you’re also feeling a bit better now.
What ARVs are you taking? Please let us know.
Hello I have been out of hospital 4 weeks and on HIV treatment 5 weeks. I had PCP pneumonia and developed Sepsis, whilst in hospital I was diagnosed HIV Positive. At the time my CD4 count was 40 and viral load 1.6 milll. As of last Thursday my CD4 count is 240 and viral load 500. My consultant is very happy with the speed that I seem to be progressing at this early stage but I am very lucky to be here.
Hi Lebo,
When thinking about having sex without a condom, what’s important is a persons viral load, not their CD4 count. If your viral load is undetectable, so less than 50 copie ml/ then yes you can have sex without using a condoms. Please see here:http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hi
If my cd4 count is above 500 can I stop using condom with my partner and my partner is hiv neg?
Hi Sthembile,
It’s very possible that you’re an elite controller. This would explain the undetectable viral load. Please see here: http://i-base.info/elite-controller/
Hi
I tested positive for HIV in 2008, in 2009 I had a baby didn’t take any meds throughout and my baby was born Hiv neg. During my pregnancy my cd4 was 425. I didn’t start the treatment even after birth. In 2018 I tested to start treatment, then my cd4 wax 560 and virus not detectable before starting treatment.
How did that happen?
Hi Prasad,
It’s good that you’ve been on ART for 6 months. And a CD4 count of 367 is an improvement on 150.
But to check that your ART is working well you need to look at your viral load results. Do you have access to them? And can you let us know what ARVs you’re on too?
Please talk to your doctor and ask about the viral load results.
CD4 counts can go up and down, even during just one day. But the way to check if ART is working well is to look at your viral load.
last year i start HIV treatment.that time my CD4 count is 150 after start treatment and after six months at ART i check my CD4 is 562 but now this month i again check my CD4 that was 367…so i feel worried..what should i do?it is dangerous?Because ART check again it after 6 months again. Please give me suggestion what can i do?
Hi Emmanuel,
They look like very good results. A CD4 count of 514 is within the normal range for someone who is HIV negative. And a viral load of 10 is undetectable because it’s below 50 copies/mL.
Please see Undetectable=Untransmittable here.
What meds are you taking? They sound like they’re working well.