The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums

FAQs About HIV Viral Load Tests From The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums

Viral Load Basics | Viral Load Test Results | Viral Load and HIV Treatment | Viral Load "Blips" | Viral Load and HIV Transmission

Viral Load Basics

Viral Load Test Results

Six months ago my partner's viral load was about 15,000. But recently we found out that it's over one million! What could potentially cause such a large viral load jump?
I was recently diagnosed with HIV. My CD4 count is 462 and my viral load is 58,300. Based on these numbers, would it be possible to determine when I was infected? Also, should I think about starting treatment?
Will steroid treatment affect my viral load test results?
My viral load jumped from 30,000 to 23 million. Could this be an error, or is it something more serious?
If I have a high viral load, can I still be a "long-term nonprogressor"?
(A long-term nonprogressor is somebody who has had HIV for a long time -- usually eight years or more -- but whose immune system remains perfectly healthy, even though they've never taken HIV meds.)
What does it mean to have an "undetectable" viral load?
Is it possible to have an "undetectable" viral load if you've never taken HIV medications?
How can two of the available HIV viral load tests -- PCR and NASBA -- both be legitimate when they each get different results?
Do different viral load tests have different definitions of "undetectable"?
What does the "log" mean in my viral load test results?

Viral Load and HIV Treatment

Viral Load "Blips"

Viral Load and HIV Transmission

For frequently asked questions on other HIV/AIDS topics, click here.

This article was provided by The Body's "Ask the Experts" Forums.

More on HIV Monitoring Tests

My Health Tracker

Widgets and RSS Feeds

U.S. ASO Finder

The First Man to Be Cured of AIDS: An Update on the Amazing Story -- This Month in HIV

In Search of a Cure: Working to Turn on HIV

HIV Antiretrovirals in Development: An Update From ICAAC 2009

AIDS Criminals and Innocent Victims: Is There Anything Wrong With This Picture? A Blog Entry by Catherine Hanssens, Esq.

Obama Announces Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization, Elimination of HIV Travel Ban

More >>

The Body is a service of Body Health Resources Corporation, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Body Health Resources Corporation, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.