How Often To Measure Viral Load

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Viral Load Tests

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New reference Ranges for measuring viral load and CD4 fluctuations

I just received my test reuslts from my recent set of labs...When the doctors office called me they told me that my load was 22 and I was confused because the last test I had didn't show an actual load number but the result read as undetectable...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

I can't speak for your doctor informing you or not, but I agree with his assessment and I would not be concerned about that viral load result. The results over the long term and acute increases in viral load to say 200 then 500-1000 is what we... Read more »

viral load measurement

Dear Mark:For a patient who has tested positive, but has an undetectable viral load via Amplicor 1.5 AND viral symptoms persisting with CD4 declining, would you recommend any other viral load assay? Would the bDNA be useful? If even that is...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Always worth while trying another testing platform. It is unlikely that one is more "accurate" than another.... Read more »

What does viral load measure?

I phoned the lab where the viral load is measured and they told me they really don't know what they are measuring.I have read viral load measures ALL virus dead or alive, which means viral particles that don't have an affect on the body...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

You are correct, viral load measures all viral particles that contain HIV RNA. The test cannot distinguish between infectious and noninfectious particles. However, the test has been validated in numerous studies for prognosis and treatment response.... Read more »

viral load measurement

If there are many different stains of HIV, how do they measure the viral load? Do they test for all the different strains?Mine is "undetectable", but how do I know they are testing for the strain that I have?...

Response from Renslow Sherer, M.D.

University of Chicago Hospitals

The viral load assays that are commonly used in the US at present do measure RNA from both B clade - the most common in North America - and non-B clades. The issue of the reliability of both the ELISA for HIV antibody and the tests for RNA, i.e.... Read more »

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viral load

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Does the viral load go up after exposure or during ARS ?
And then does it go back down after 6 months? Read more »

cd4 or viral load

Posted by Lilly, 2 Replies

When starting to think about treatment, does either counts (cd4s or viral load) play a bigger role? My viral load has recently dropped, but so has my cd4's. My counts are all still at a comfortable level for me with no meds, but at the clinic... Read more »

Tcells and Viral Load numbers

Posted by malias90, 1 Reply

My tcells are 617 and my viral load is 198,000. My viral load in May 05 was 60,000. They think I have inflammation in my urine, white cells in it. My nausea besides happening with the HIV meds I am on could be related to my intestinal issues.
Please... Read more »

viral load

Posted by kaliboo, 2 Replies

I've been trying to find out what your viral load is (approximately, of course) shortly after being infected... and have had no luck...

So I guess I'm just wondering... what was your viral load when it was first tested? Read more »

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