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What Does an Undetectable Viral Load REALLY Mean?By Gary Bell April 11, 2012 There are many well documented benefits to reducing the viral load of an HIV+ individual to an undetectable level. Unfortunately, there also remains a some haziness about the term "undetectable." In actuality, it is somewhat of a misnomer. For someone to truly have undetectable HIV would mean that the battery of sophisticated tests available could not find any virus in a person's body. Thus far there is only one case of an HIV+ individual, an American living at the time in Germany who received a bone marrow transplant from a donor who had a genetic resistance to the virus, who seems to have cleared HIV entirely from one's system. An undetectable viral load means that the HIV virus in one's blood has been suppressed to the point where either the HIV RNA is not present in your blood at the time of testing or that the level of HIV RNA is below the threshold needed for detection. Another factor is the sensitivity of the specific test that is utilized. Viral suppression, as its called, may allow for the partial rejuvenation of one's immune system, thereby making one less vulnerable to certain opportunistic diseases. Perhaps one of the most intriguing recent findings (HPTN 052) is that viral suppression may help to reduce HIV transmission in sero-discordant heterosexual couples (where only one of the two is HIV+) by as much as 96%. An earlier study with MSM found an approximately 60% reduction. However, 60 or even 96 percent is not 100%. The 2010 International AIDS Conference highlighted the following:
Now, a recent study of HIV+ MSM by Boston University School of Medicine found the presence of detectable HIV in the semen of approximately one-quarter of the men studied people with supposedly undetectable (through blood tests)viral loads. The researchers added that a major factor in the results of this study had to do with the high level of STIs in the study participants. While the study did not specifically look at whether these men were more likely to transmit HIV, it should serve to remind us that aggressive HIV treatment alone will not stop HIV transmission and that the importance of knowing one's status, treatment for STIs and condom use all remain as very important tools. Get email notifications every time this blog is updated.
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Transition to Hope This year marks Bell's 14th as the executive director of the Philadelphia-based BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health), founded in 1985 as the nation's first AIDS organization serving African Americans with HIV. Bell has been widely praised, not only for increasing funding and accountability at a time when HIV donations have plummeted, but also for launching such innovative programs as a women's initiative, prison-discharge planning, and, most recently, a diabetes intervention. More About Gary: Profile Subscribe to Gary's Blog:
Recent Posts:
May 16, 2014 - Thank You, Mr. Sterling: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell
May 2, 2014 - Ignorance Is Bliss (Not!): A Blog Entry by Gary Bell June 18, 2013 - Were Michael Douglas' Comments About HPV Helpful? A Blog Entry by Gary Bell May 16, 2013 - HPV Vaccination -- A Wasted Resource for African Americans? A Blog Entry by Gary Bell February 1, 2013 - The Opioid Solution and HIV: From the Frying Pan Into the Fire -- A Blog Entry by Dave R. A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
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