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.
Josh Peasegood
I only take for the virus Discovy and sustiva
Josh peasegood: thanks for answere I will give you my health history I’m having positive undetectable with cd4 298. I have Arnold chiari malformation type 1, migraines, anxiety, chronic colitis, cervicalgia well the dr said I have 26 illness in total I been feeling weak since January this year
I have my son that have a motorcycle accident he paraplegic so I always look a way to.be on my feet to give him his meds and food. And bathe my mom’s help me a lot my mom is hero.
Hi Ketsy, ARVs are the best and only way to help improve your CD4 count. What ARVs are you taking?
Also how is your general lifestyle? A CD4 count measures how healthy your immune system is. It doesn’t always equate to your general health. It is possible other factors are going on to cause you to feel weak. How long have you been feeling this way?
Hi mi viral is undetectable but my cd4 is 298. I feel weak all the time how can I improve my cd4?
Hi Sylvia,
I’m sorry to hear you had a bladder infection. But can I ask why you haven’t started HIV treatment (ART)? Do you have access to ART?
Please let us know if there’s a problem getting the treatment you need. And if you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign at this link for info and local support.
A CD4 count of 299 is not bad in itself. However, to make sure you don’t get sick again, it’s a good idea to try to access ART. ART can help your CD4 count to recover.
And there’s lots more info in this Introduction to ART.
I was diagnose 2013 bt never take treatment so now I get sick ,I had bladder, & my CD4 is 299, I just want to know if its bad?
Hi Mandy,
No your partner won’t have contracted HIV from you when doing oral sex on you. This is even if your viral load is now detectable. Have you been taking your meds as prescribed? Has your viral load ever rebounded before now?
I’m a female my viral load was undetectable for almost a year then sometime last month August on the 9th it happened that the guy I’m seeing did an oral sex on me. So on the 1st of August I went to the clinic to draw blood my results are back & they are showing that my viral load is 290 so what are the risks of me transmitting the virus on the guy?
Hi Poppy, if you and your doctor think you might have been positive for a few years, then yes, this is a good time to start. Taking treatment is one of the best ways of coming to terms with a new diagnosis – because are taking control of you health but doing the best thing possible. If you need a week or two to find out more information and to get used to the idea, this is fine. As your CD4 count is already below 350, sooner is better than waiting for months.
If the ‘flu sickness is likely to be related to a very recent infection – ie in the last 2-3 weeks – then your situation is slightly different. Your CD4 count might go back higher again without treatment. Even then, treatment is still recommended in most guidelines. Treatment in early infection might make HIV easier to cure in the future. Please see this guide for more information:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
I’ve been diagnosed three days ago when i was sick with flu that i am HIV with CD4count 290 and Viral Load 95000 so does this means i am bad i need to start treatment ASAP.