Question
What is an undetectable viral load?
27 March 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
What is an undetectable viral load? I had thought it was less than 50 but when I got my results today mine was 42 (down from 82 last time). Can labs measure almost any level of virus these days?
Answer
An undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in your blood is below the threshold needed for detection by this test.
A viral load test is a measurement of the amount of HIV in your body. The measurement is given in the number of copies in milliliter (copies/mL).
If you are on treatment, then your viral load should go down to undetectable level (less than 50 copies/mL). Once your viral load goes down, then slowly your CD4 count will increase, although not to the level before infection.
Since your viral load has reduced from 82 to 42, this is a good indication that your treatment is working for you. It is also possible for your viral load can go down further too.
Viral load technology has progressed during the last 30 years of HIV history. The tests have been greatly improved and tests used for research are even more sensitive – down to 5 or even 1 copy/mL.
All hospitals in the UK now routinely use viral load tests that measure down to 20, 40 or 50 copies/mL.
Hi Matsee,
Yes its very possible that a persons viral load can become undetectable this quickly. For you this is great news.
Hi
I tested possite and started treatment immediately then after 20 days my blood was taken to lol for viral load and it was undetectable,is it possible to have undetectable within short time of starting treatment
HIV viral load 6006 is it good oh bad I want to know which normal viral load is needed to a pregnancy women
Hi Nonkoorh,
For me to be able to answer this I’ll need to know when you started medication. Also what was your viral load when you were first diagnosed? How far into your pregnancy are you?
Hi Do matlho,
The good news is undetectable = untransmittable. Being stable on HIV treatment (ART) and having an undetectable viral load means you cannot transmit HIV to your partner if you don’t use condoms. There’s more info about U=U here.
If viral load is undetected can a person infect his or her partner?
Hi Khanya,
A viral load of around 20,000 means that it’s a good idea to start HIV treatment (ART). Are you on ART at the moment? Treatment guidelines recommend starting ART at any CD4 count.
You can find out more in the guide to starting ART.
What does less than 20 000 viral load mean
Hi Sinazo,
Your CD4 and viral load are the main blood tests used to monitor HIV. You can read more about these tests here.
Hi what does this means : cd4 503 and viral Load 3325…can you please expain to me I’m lost