Question
My viral load is 20, will it go lower?
29 January 2013. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I had PCP in July 2012 my CD4 was 20 and my viral load was 196,000. Now my CD4 is 200 and my viral load is 20 im on Atripla and dapsone.
Will my viral load go down and will I be undetectable?
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your email.
This is a great response to treatment and you should be very pleased! How are you feeling generally?
Your viral load would already be considered ‘undetectable’. Any viral load result of 50 or below is considered ‘undetectable’.
I can understand that this is a bit confusing. The reason for this is that older viral load tests could only detect and viral load above 50. So under 50 was ‘undetectable’. Some hospitals now have newer tests that can measure lower levels than this which is why you might get a lower reading like this. You can read more about this at this previous question.
Dear DNP, thank you for posting about your situation. I am really sorry that you are in this situation.
I have posted your comment as a new question here.
https://i-base.info/qa/25930
This explains why you should NOT split pills becasue it is too risky.
It does explain another way to make your meds last longer though.
My viral load reads below 20 for the past 2 years..I’m concerned becos we are now not going to hve medication due to friction between 2 presidents..to save my meds till this dilemma is sorted van I take half a tablet every 2,Nd day or is this risky
Hi Tariro, thanks. Please I need to first check whether this is your viral load or CD4 count:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/two-essential-blood-tests
The results mean two very different things.
I am double checking this because viral load that is very low is usually reported as being “undetectable”.
Viral load tests do not usually report a number when this is less than 20 copies/mL.
I want to ask my viral load is 19. Should i worry much…
Hello Ann and thank you for the question.
We don’t know what happens with viral load higher than 200 copies/ml.
All the research studies that proved U=U were done with viral loads of below 50 copies and up to 200.
Please read here about U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Will viral load 1,300 transmit HIV?