Question
My viral load is quite low, could it be that I am not really infected?
17 March 2011. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed.
Firstly, thank you for your site. It is an amazing source of help and information and the fact that you answer all questions (no matter how silly they may seem) makes it so important to people like me.
I tested (4th gen test) negative for HIV mid-November. Another test at the end of January was positive and also I had a viral load of 4776 and CD4 of 479. I don’t recall any seroconversion symptoms.
At the end of February I had a viral load of 5824 and a CD4 of 459. I read on various sites that during seroconversion the viral load can go very very high and then drop back down. Is it possible for my viral load to fall to my values (which my Dr says are ‘very low’) so soon after infection (from my testing history I must have been infected November onwards)?
I read about people who don’t have HIV but still show a low viral load. In my mind I am wondering is my viral load low enough to mean that it may be a false reading, and that somewhere a mistake has been made in my diagnosis?
Thank you.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Your doctor is right, your viral load levels are relatively small. It is possible that viral load has already become very high and then got back down again. If you have any viral load above 50 it means you have HIV. I’m afraid they have not made a mistake in the diagnosis.
About 20% of people do not get any seroconversion symptoms so that is quite normal.
For more information about viral load and CD4 count please follow this link.
Hi Adetunji,
If this person isn’t on medication its possible that they might be what is known as an elite controller. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/elite-controller/
If there is a chance that they may not be positive, they will need to test.
I have a client with viral to be 10 and CD4 of 427. They were tested reactive. Please I will need explanation.
This means you are very lucky and is fantastic news! About 5% of people are able to maintain a low viral load and a good CD4 count without treatment. This is rare and you are fortunate to be in this situation. People who have this are called Long-Term Slow Progressors. For more information about this please follow this link.
Hang on.
Ive been + for 3 years not on treatment. My VL is 48 and CD4 1345. (yes I said 48!!!) What does this mean?