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 Fredah,
Please see Q9 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
My viral load is 30
Can I have unprotected sex?
Hi Nozuko,
Are you on medication? If you are what was your viral load when you gave birth? Has your baby taken HIV medication?
In the UK, women aren’t advised to breastfeed their babies if they are positive. However, the World Health Organisations recommendation are that a women can breastfeed if she is on medication. Ideally the mother should have an undetectable viral load. However, in areas of the world where there might be problems with access to clean water and sterilizing equipment for bottles, then breastfeeding is recommended, and that’s even when someone has a detectable viral load.
For more info, please see here:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/246260/1/9789241549707-eng.pdf?ua=1
Can I continue breastfeeding if my viral load is 159? If I shouldn’t what should I do to protect my baby?
Hi Nwe Nwe,
When someone is HIV positive, they will be positive for the rest of their life. However, ARVs are very effective at controlling HIV. They help people lead a normal healthy life.
Having an undetectable viral load is excellent, this is what should happen. This means that the treatment is working. When someone has an undetectable viral load the risk of transmission is close to zero. This is important if you prefer to have sex without using condoms.
The result of my husband viral load is less than 10 “undetected”.
Is it very good?
Does he expected to get negative?
Hi Sanet,
Its very possible that this is a blip. However, if its possible you should have your viral load retested.
When you had your viral load tests done, did you also have your CD4 count checked? And what medication are you on?
My viral load is 262. I’ve been positive for the last 17 years. My viral load was undetectable for a long time, please explain.
My viral load is 6670, can I get pregnant?
Hi Godewin,
Are you on meds? If you are, how long have you been on them for?
Being positive shouldn’t be a barrier to having kids. And for many women it isn’t. Therefore, if this is something that you’d like, then being HIV positive shouldn’t be an issue. Fore more about pregnancy and HIV, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy