Question
What does a low but detectable viral load mean?
22 August 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Resistance.
Way back in April 2011, I started HIV treatment.
At that time my CD4 count was 250 and my viral load was 29, 000. My ID doctor prescribed Combivir (AZT/3TC) and Sustiva (efavirenz).
In December my lab results were CD4 423 and my VL was undetectable.
Further results were carried out in March and in July 2012 however these results got me worried.
My lab results for March indicated that my CD4 dropped from 423 to 380 and my viral load has increased from less than 20 to 87.
On enquiring with my ID doctor he informed me that such a increase in the viral load could probably be a blip and he wanted to see the trend of another 2 lab results.
Today I have called for my results and found out that the viral load for the test carried out in July 2012 increased once again from 87 to 123 – CD4 count not yet established.
Even though they’re saying that such an increase is of insignificant value, I am still being very concerned about these results. Could it be that the treatment is failing?
Looking forward for your answers, please.
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your email.
The British HIV Association treatment guidelines define virological failure (treatment failure) as two consecutive viral load results of more than 400 after a previously undetectable viral load. This is the point at which treatment change is indicated.
Low levels of detectable virus (where the viral load is more than 50 and less than 400) occurs in up to 8% of people on treatment. Often this can be reversed through improved adherence or alteration of doses. Generally this is not considered treatment failure and not a reason to recommend changing treatment.
If your viral load is rebounding due to resistance you would expect to see a significant rise in your next viral load test. If your viral load remains at this low but detectable level your doctor may want to measure drug absorption levels, or talk about adherence.
I’ve done my blood test and the results says my viral load is lower than detectable and that there is no sign of HIV type 2. What does that mean?
Hi,
It is good that your viral load is undetectable. This is one of the main aims of HIV treatment. Your viral load tells you how much HIV is in your blood.
Having an undetectable viral load does not mean that there is no HIV in your blood. It means that it is at a very low level. Lower than tests can reliably measure. To maintain this you would have to keep taking hIV treatment.
You can find out more about viral load here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting/cd4-count-and-viral-load
Iam declared hiv positive last year.My cd4 count was 343. After a while they checked my VL and when I had a look on my file it said it was lower than detectable. This is what I wanted very precisely to know because it confuses me up to now
Hi,
This is good news! Your viral load tells you how much virus there is in your blood. Your viral load being lower than can be detected means that it is lower than tests can accurately measure. This is one of the aims of being on treatment. As long as you continue to take you treatment this should not change.
My results show that my viral load is lower than it can be detected what does this mean?
Having a less than detectable or undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in your blood is below the threshold needed for detection by the test. A viral load is used to monitor how much HIV is in your blood. It is great that you are undetectable.
A CD4 count is used to measure how well your immune system is doing. A count of 800 is strong and means you are less likely to catch infections and illnesses that are associated with lower CD4 counts.
You can find more information about viral load and CD4 here: http://i-base.info/guides/starting/cd4-count-and-viral-load
What is the meaning of less than detectable viral load? CD 4 is 800. Please tell me what this means.
Hi Lizzy – are you on treatment?
Hi Tumie,
Are you on treatment? If your viral load is ‘undetectable’ this means that treatment is working well for you. A CD4 count of 484 is also very good. You can read about CD4 and viral load testing here.
i tested positive on March 2011 and now my second test showed that my viral load is lower than the detectable level and my cd4 count is 484…what does that mean?