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 Londy,
Are you on medication? If you are and your viral load is undetectable, so less than 50copies ml this means that your HIV is under control and that you’re doing well. A person’s HIV can be under control even if their CD4 count is low.
If you’re on meds, even if your CD4 is low, in time this will rise. Were you told what your CD4 is?
Hi my nurse say my cd4 is low but my viral load is right what it means
Hi Lolo,
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, How is it going?
Its not possible for me nor anyone else to say if your daughter will be positive or not. This is why its important to test.
Breastfeeding guidelines vary depending on where someone lives. If you live in an areas where there is a high prevalence of HIV then breastfeeding is recommended if someone has an undetectable viral load.
Gud morning
I was diagnosed when i was pregnant last year November and my cd4 was 575. I gave birth to my beautiful baby gal on the 09th april 2018. My Vl was 61 on feb this year. I got tested again after giving birth and it is <40
I'm breastfeeding, my baby can be infected even though my vl is undetectable? She is taking her Neverapin and i'm also taking my meds
Hi Zee,
You have nothing to worry about. Your CD4 is very high and your viral load is undetectable. You’re really in control of your HIV, this is great.
I’m HIV positive my CD4 is
1245 my viral load is 24 . Should I be worry. I’m also taking my medication
Hi Nancy Anne,
It’s great that your viral load is undectectable, it shows your meds are working. If your CD4 count was very low when you first started treatment it can sometimes mean it doesn’t recover to very high numbers. There is more info at this link about normal CD4 count for HIV negative people – which is anywhere between 460 and 1,600. generally though, an HIV negative person with a normal CD4 count of 1200 is not more healthy than someone whose normal count is 400.
My viral load is undetected and my Cd4 is 320
Should I be worried. I am in the second line of drugs. Thanks
Hi Cindy.
A CD4 of 534 is good. Are you on treatment, if you are when did you start? If you’re new to meds, your viral load should become undetectable within 1-3 months of starting.
hi dear my CD4 534 and my Viral load 1510 is this bad number