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 Okuhle,
It’s great that you’ve started medication. Your CD4 count is strong. But you need to know about your viral load to see how well the medication is working. You can ask the clinic to test for viral load to make sure it is coming down. Getting viral load to undetectable is the aim of the HIV medication (ART). Here’s an Introduction to ART.
I started my medication 1 month ago my cd4 count was 650 and I feel like I want to stop talking medication how can I be infected
Hi Yoli, Being ready to start treatment (ART) is important for all HIV positive people. So thinking about it while you still have a strong CD4 count can help. Starting ART can get your viral load to undetectable. This usually happens within 3 months of starting treatment. Here is an introduction to ART.
Hi
My cd 4 count is about 955 however my viral load is 2900 I’m not yet ready for treatment is there a way I can help get it to go down ?
Hi Lucky,
When were you diagnosed? Are you currently on medication? If you are how long have you been on it for?
hi i’m hiv positive and my cd4 count is 106, can my viral load be more than 1000
Hi Nombuso,
What was your viral load when you started meds? Though a persons viral load should usually become undetectable within 3 months, so less than 50 it can sometimes take longer. You’re is very close to being undetectable which is great news. Info about viral load results can be found here:
http://i-base.info/ttfa/learning-resources/log-value-to-number-conversion-table/
Hi iv been taking treatment for 6months so my viral load results reads as following 60ml/min/1.73 is it good or bad
Hi Francina,
A CD4 count of 588 is strong. However, the START study in 2015 showed there are benefits to starting treatment with CD4 count above 500. Many countries now recommend starting at any CD4 count.
Benefits include, reducing the risk of other illnesses. This includes both HIV and non-HIV complications. And stopping risk of transmitting HIV to your sexual partners.
It can help keep your CD4 count high too.
There’s more info here
Hi
I need to know if my CD4 count is 588 & viral load is 1398 is the any risk
I am not on treatment as yet , diagnosed 2016