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 Vincent,
Has your viral load ever gone below 50? With regards to the genital ulcer, this is something that you’ll need to discuss with a doctor.
Hello
I have been on ARVs for one year and my Viral Load is 68 copies/ML. However, I’ve had a resistant Genital Ulcer for three years that has refused to Heal. Biopsy was done and was negative/nonmalignant (no Cancer cells). I have used all types of acyclovier in vain. What could be the problem.
Thanks Ntombi.
Thank you so much for your feed back, to my question
Hi Lungile,
A viral load around 30 sounds very good! Any viral load result under 50 copies m/L is undetectable. And being undetectable means U=U. Your ARVs look like they’re working well.
hi,
my viral load is 38 or 32 not sure but along the 30 margin. is this good? i only started taking ARVs in September 2017.
Hi Paulus,
Please can you explain a bit more? ARVs have not been linked to loss of the ability to move. What ARVs are you taking?
HOW DO SOMEONE PARALYSES WHEN TAKING ARVs?
Hi Merriam,
A CD4 count of 1394 is strong. But has your viral load been undetectable before now? If so, then this could be just a blip. And you can ask for another viral load test to confirm there’s not viral rebound. Please see more info about blips here.
Please also see the PARTNER study. This showed ZERO transmissions when the HIV positive partner’s viral load was undetectable. And in this study the cut off for undetectable was 200 copies/mL
Hello,
I have been taking ARV since 2013, my cd4 count is 1394, and my viral load is 157. Must I be worried since my partner is HIV negative?