Question
What is a genotype test – can we stop using condoms?
16 January 2009. Related: All topics, HIV reinfection (superinfection), HIV transmission, Other tests.
What does genotype and phenotype stand for? My wife is also HIV+ but we are on diffrence medication. She’s on Kaletra and lamivudine two times a day, while I’m on Sustiva, tenofovir, lamuvidine, once a day at bedtime. Can we have unprotected sex? Is it good to work out much while I’m HIV+? Can it affect or reduce my CD4 count?
Answer
Genotype and phenotype when used in HIV monitoring sense are resistance tests.
Genotype tests check for changes in the structure of your HIV. Those changes are called mutations. Some mutations make the virus resistant to some or many of the medications. By checking for those, your doctor will know which meds are not likely to work for your virus.
Phenotype tests check whether different meds are still able to work against your HIV (in a test tube).
This link has more information on resistance tests.
If you have an undetectable viral load, then you do not currently have resistance to your meds, and the same is true for your partner.
An undetectable viral load also dramatically reduces the chance of transmitting HIV. Many couples where both partners are positive decide not to use condoms. This can be good for your quality of life, but it has to be something that both partners are happy with.
Condoms also protect against pregnancy and some other STIs so this is another thing to discuss first.