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.
My viral load went from many years undetected to 137 after getting the pfizer vaccine for Covid. Retested last week and viral load is 57. Did the vaccine cause a blip and should I be undetectable next blood test?
Hi Nolu,
Yes, that’s right. Any viral load result less than 50 means HIV is undetectable. Please see Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) here.
Hi my viral load is 23 copies is that undetectable
Hi Michael,
As a resident of the UK you can access HIV treatment free on the National Health Service (NHS). Please see this similar question about finding a clinic when you’re here.
Please bring a copy of your medical records from your HIV doctor in the Philippines. You can hand this to the doctors in the HIV clinic here. If you do this when you first attend it can make it easier for you to get the right HIV treatment quickly.
Hi. Good day! My name is Michael and i am planning to go to UK this september to study. I am quite anxious on how and where to get my medicine in the UK? My doctor here in the philippines will only allow me to bring 3 containers and told me that i can always access treatment in the UK. I will be staying the UK for 2 years to study. Im hoping that you guys can help me. Thank you in advance.
Hi Miss J,
These results look great. It looks like there’s nothing to worry about. A CD4 count of 595 is within the normal range for someone who is HIV negative. And a viral load of 33 is undetectable, because it’s below 50 copies m/L.
What HIV meds are you taking? They look like they’re working well.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. There’s a lot of info in this, inlcuding for after your baby is born.
Cd4 count is 595 and my viral load is 33.i found out May im hiv positive and I’m one month pregnant.Should I worry about my cd4 count and viral load.
Hi Primrose,
It’s great that your viral load is undetectable. It looks like Tribuss is working well. But please talk to your doctor about how you plan your delivery.
However, here in the UK guidelines recommend vaginal delivery for mothers on ART with undetectable viral load <50 copies/ mL. This is unless there are other complications.
And there's much more info in the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Hello iv been on Tribuss since April this year. N my viral load now in July is <40 copy ml . I’m 7 months pregnant I was 13 weeks pregnant when I started my treatment. Is it safe to have a natural birth?
Hi Nick,
This looks like the word ‘undetectable’ refers to <20 copies/mL. The symbol < means less than.
Undetectable viral load is any number less than 50 copies/mL. So, in June HIV wasn’t undetectable because it was 140 copies/mL.
CD4 counts can go up and down, often in a single day. But a CD4 count of 1088 is strong, and it’s as strong as the CD4 count of 791. That’s great, it shows your immune system should be able to cope with infections.
It looks like your HIV meds are working well. What meds are you taking and how long have you been on ART?
Please see this page from ART in pictures. It explains what happens to CD4 and viral load when you start treatment.