What Is Meant By Viral Load

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I recently had to start meds, but I was a little confused on my lab results. I have always heard that as HIV progresses your CD4 goes down while the viral load goes up. However, I have had the problem of my CD4 decreasing, while my viral load has...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Although you had a low level of viral load (and therefore replication) it appears that this virus was able to significantly destroy your CD4 cells. It is not always the case that your viral load has to be really high in order for this to occur.... Read more »

Low Viral Load, Impossible to Transmit?

Someone we know has married an HIV+ person. His attitude towards HIV is very concerning for our family. He point blank, word for word said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to get HIV from HIM because his HIV is not contagious since his T Cells are low. (I...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

HIV, even with an undetectable viral load, is potentially transmissible. For instance, his blood-to-blood scenario would definitely be extremely risky! However, without very specific circumstances blood-to-blood, unprotected sex, sharing... Read more »

Influencing Viral Load

I was tested positive a year ago. My Viral Load has stayed relatively high @100,000 and this seems to have meant that my CD4 count keeps on dropping and will continue to drop.In your opinion is there anything I can do to reduce the impact of the...

Response from David Wohl, M.D.

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

The natural history of HIV infection is what you are experiencing. The CD4 cell count declines at a rate that is proportional to your viral load (the higher the viral load, the faster the drop in CD4 cells). There are certainly things that people... Read more »

no viral load means what?

Dr Bob,i've been diagnosed positive today while my doctor told me that a treatment can bring my viral load to zero.Does that mean that one day I can dream of being HIV negative, and does that mean i can become HIV free?Thank you for your...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello Sam,Your doctor was incorrect if he told you he could bring your HIV plasma viral load to zero. Most likely what he said (or at least meant) was that with successful combination antiretroviral therapy he could drive your HIV plasma viral load... Read more »

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CD4 668 - Viral Load 227567 ? about viral load

Posted by Courtkidx, 1 Reply

I just got these results via phone and im just curious if anyone can tell me if I should be worried about my semi high viral load? I know my cd4 count is good. I am newly diagnosed as of dec. 30, 2009. Any info would be appreciated. Read more »

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 »

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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