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.
I had a CD4 count of 173 last year when I started treatment. And 9 months later my viral load was undetectable. After a year my count rose up to 276, but also the viral load rose up to 276. What is the cause of the viral load rising, please help.
Hi, it’s great that your friends are thinking of having a baby. But it’s important that your friends ask about this at the clinic to make sure they get the support they need. CD4 counts are used to show how well your immune system is doing. The important thing is to be on treatment and to have an HIV viral load below 50. This will help protect your friend’s health and the baby’s health too.
Apart from getting support from the clinic you can find out more information about HIV and having a baby here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
My friend’s husband is HIV positive, and she’s HIV negative. They want to have a child. My friend’s CD4 count now is 507, is it safe to have unprotected sex?
It’s very good that you have an undetectable viral load and a high CD4 count. And yes it is OK to have a child. Congratulations that you’re thinking about it. It’s important for your health, and your baby’s health, to talk to your doctor about becoming pregnant.
You can find lots of information about HIV and pregnancy here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
I have an undetected viral load and CD4 count of 976. Is it OK to have a child? I hear that we lose blood in childbirth and it makes it worse. Please help.
It’s great that you’re on treatment. And it looks like it’s working well as your CD4 count has recovered to 557. It means that ART is helping your immune system get stronger. This will help you to fight off infections, and stop you from getting sick. Yes, people on ART can have CD4 counts of 1000 or more.
I started taking ART in February last year. Back then my CD4 count was 259. This January my CD4 count has increased to 557. What does this indicate and for me? Am I hardly sick compared to the time before I tested positive? Also, could I ever have a CD4 count of 1200. Please, I’d like a reply.
Hi,
It looks like you have had a very good response to treatment. It is great that your CD4 count has gone up so much. Do you know what your viral load is now? By now this should be undetectable (under 50). This is one of the main aims of HIV treatment. How are you feeling?
You can find more information about being on HIV treatment here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
I was diagnosed last October. My CD4 count is only 126 and viral load count is 44000. After 4 months of treatment my CD4 count rose to 473.
Hi Hope. A CD4 above 500 is very good and generally considered “normal” – ie similar to an HIV negative person. Staying on treatment will help keep your CD4 count this high, and it might even continue to increase eavery year.