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 Azman,
When someone starts ARVs their viral load is supposed to become undetectable, (so be less than 50) within 1-3 months. However, for some people this can take longer. If you’d been on ARVs for 6 months and your viral load was 210, then in you’d been in the UK this is something that would be monitored. Is there any reason why you need to wait until July for another viral load test?
Though your viral load was still detectable, your CD4 count is doing great.
Hi,
I started ARV since May 2018. My test in November was CD4 count of 724 but my VL was 210. The doctor said to monitor again this July. Should i be afraid? When i was diagnosed my cd4 count was 410 dropping to 230 and VL was higher than 200(couldn’t remember the exact figure).
Hi Thando,
Please see the answer below about your first comment.
Thanks for letting us know your last viral load. There’s still a lot that your regimen 2 drugs should do to reduce your viral load down from 1900.
But it’s important to talk to your doctor to make sure that your regimen 2 drugs are working well. Please ask the clinic to check that your viral load is still going down.
I’ve been on ART since 2014 but have defaulted till they changed me to reg2 now my concern is I’m 4 months pregnant and my viral load it too high 1900 to have a negative baby when u give birth it there any possibility for it to reduce
Hi Thando,
Many congratulations on the news that you’re going to have a baby.
And it’s great that you’re on ART because that’s the best way to protect your health and your baby’s health. Modern HIV drugs can dramatically reduce viral load in the first few days treatment.
Your regimen 2 drugs should be able to do this too. What are your regimen 2 drugs? And do you know your last viral load and CD4 count results? Please let us know.
Please talk to your doctor about your HIV treatment. You can ask for your viral load to be checked over the next weeks to see that the meds are working well. You can also ask to make a plan for when your baby is due and after your baby is born.
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign. They might be able to help with local support.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. There’s lots of info in the guide, including about feeding your baby.
Well I’ve been on ART since 2014 just that I have defaulted and was changed to regimen2. My problem is I’m 4 months pregnant and my concern is to give birth to a negative baby any possible that my viral load will decrease when I give birth.
Hi Thando,
As you can see on this Q&A above, a CD4 count of 492 is within the normal range for someone who is HIV negative.
But how long have you been on HIV treatment (ART)? Please can you let us know. Can you also tell us what HIV meds (ARVs) you’re taking.
Once you start ART your viral load will go down dramtically quickly. With modern ARVs many people have a viral load that’s undetectable in just a few months.
Here’s the guide to ART in pictures.
Hi can I please ask if it bad for a viral load to be 1900 copies and CD4 492
Hi Dmitri,
I’m sorry but I’m not sure what you mean by your viral load being greatly influenced.
We are not doctors at i-Base unfortunately. But you can ask the doctor for another test just to check viral load is still undetectable.
My viral load has been undetectable since August 2018 and I last had it checked in March, roundabout the 8th and it was still undetectable at that time. I recently received a Hepatitis B immunisation. One in March shortly after I tested my viral load and the second one on the 15th of April. I also received an influenza vaccination on the 18th of April. In your opinion, would my viral load be greatly influenced by these vaccinations, to a point of being temporarily transmittible again?