Question
Can you have a CD4 count of 290 and an undetected viral load?
22 July 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Is it possible to have a CD4 count of 290 and an undetected viral load? This concerns someone who started treatment six months ago when viral load was 5000 and CD4 was approximately 130.
Answer
Viral load is a measure of how much virus is in someone’s blood. When viral load is undetectable it tells you that the drugs are working well and that the person does not have resistance to the drugs in that combination.
The CD4 count is a marker for how strong the immune system is.
So someone can have an undetectable viral load at any CD4 count.
It sounds like your friend is doing ell on treatment and their CD4 count is also getting much stronger.
Hi Ketsy, thank you for sharing more information. It really sounds like you have a lot going on and I can only imagine how difficult this is for you. Given how complex this is, I don’t think there is going to be one good answer to help with this.
Given all the conditions you have noted, your CD4 count is excellent, and like previously said being on ART is the best and only way to help keep this stable/go up. It is great that you are undetectable as this does mean the medication is working.
It is great that your mum is there to support you. Again, I am sorry to hear about your son. Are you managing to cope with all of this? Making sure you are okay is the best way you will be able to help your son.
When did you start this combination of ART? If it is not around the time you started feeling weak, ART is unlikely to be the cause. Have you mentioned these new symptoms to your doctor as this feeling may be being caused by one of your conditions?