Question
My CD4 is 500, VL is 1000, is that bad?
21 January 2013. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
My CD4 is 500 and viral load 1000, should I be worried?
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your email. Can I ask if you have just been diagnosed with HIV? If you have, how are you coping?
Both of your test results are very good.
A ‘normal’ CD4 count for somebody who is HIV negative is between 400-600. In the UK HIV treatment isn’t recommended until your CD4 count is 350 or below. This is because while your CD4 count is above 350 your immune system is still strong, and you are very unlikely to become ill because of HIV.
Your viral load is quite low, which is good. The viral load isn’t such an important test result unless you are on treatment already.If you are not on treatment then the viral load result is not usually used to make any treatment decisions. The exception would be if your viral load was 100,000 or above, which can be a reason to start treatment.
If you are on treatment the aim is to reach a viral load of less than 50. This is usually achieved within 3-6 months of starting treatment.
For more information about CD4 count and viral load please see our Introduction to combination therapy.
Hi Calvin,
Because you have an undetectable viral load the risk of transmission is close to zero. Therefore, if you wish too, then there’s no reason why you can’t have children naturally. For more info, please see the results of the PARTNER study:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Hi,
I’m a male age 36 and I have been HIV positive for over 11 years now. My CD4 is over 600 and my viral load is undetectable. Does this mean I’m able to get my girlfriend pregnant naturally without her getting infected?
Hi Jabu
Please talk to your doctor about if you can change treatment.
This is becasue have a detectable viral load on treatment is liekly to allow drug resistance to develop.
It sounds like this combination has worked well for a long time, but there might be new drugs you could use.
Please see these questions on life expectancy:
http://i-base.info/qa/?s=life+expectancy
You have a great chance of still living a long life.
Hi I started treatment in 2008 my viral load is 18800 CD4. 303 is this mean I’m going to die soon?
Hi,
Your viral load usually takes between 3-6 months to get to undetectable (which is less than 50) once you start taking ARVs. And so you can ask the sister for a second viral load test to make sure it’s still detectable.
It’s important to ask the sister if she thinks your ARVs are not working, and why that is. You can also ask if 6 months is long enough to tell whether your ARVs are going to be effective if you keep taking them.
There can be other reasons why your viral load is 106. It may be a lab or test error. This is why it is important to repeat the test.
If the repeat test is still ‘detectable’ you can discuss what other ARVs would be best for you. And you can to ask about possible side effects of any new meds to make sure that they suit you as an individual.
Hi, It’s been 6 months since I started my ARVs and went to the clinic for first time viral load and the results came back says my viral load is 106 and the sister said she must change me to another treatment. My question is that true what she said to me I’m worried about taking regimen 2 treatment.
Getting your viral load to under 50 means that your HIV treatment is working well. You can talk to your doctor about why your viral load is 919. You can ask if there are other HIV treatments that will work better for you. Once your viral load goes undetectable (under 50) your CD4 count should start to go up.
Hi, My CD4 count is 89 and viral load 919. Should I be worried?
Hi Noni,
Your CD4 count and viral load are both very good and a sign that treatment is working well. Atripla shouldn’t be taken with a high fat meal because this can increase drug levels which can make side effects worse. Other types of food are OK though. Most people take Atripla at night, an hour or two before bed. That way you’re likely to have an ’empty stomach’ (a couple of hours after eating) and drug levels will be at their highest while you sleep which makes side effects like dizziness easier. You can read more about Atripla here.
Hi
My CD4 count is 740 my viral load is below 40. So much better than in the previous tests done 6 months ago. I’m on Atripla.
when must I take my medication, with food or before or after?.
Regards
NoniM