HIV Viral Load

What Is HIV Viral Load And Why Is It Important?

An HIV Viral Load test measures the amount of active HIV present in the blood. Results of this test are reported as the number of HIV copies per milliliter (ml) of blood. The goal of HIV therapy is to suppress HIV replication to the point where the amount of active HIV is below the sensitivity of the HIV viral load test being used. In other words, the goals is to have a viral load measurement below the lowest number the viral load test can report. The lowest number able to be reported is different depending on the sensitivity of the viral load test. Two primary sensitivities of viral load test are used.

Blood Test Fact Sheets

• Quantitative HIV Viral Load (QHIV)
  This was the first type of viral load test available and is the least sensitive. It measures an amount of HIV RNA as low as 400 copies/ml of blood. Therefore, an undetectable viral load would be any HIV RNA amount less than 400 copies/ml of blood. The upper limit of this test is greater than 750,000 copies/ml of blood. This test is best suited for those patients who the doctors believes have a poorly controlled HIV infection.

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• Ultrasensitive HIV Viral Load (UHIV)
  This viral load test can measure as little as 50 copies per ml of blood. When using this viral load test, an undetectable viral load would be any HIV RNA amount less than 50 copies/ml of blood. This test has an upper limit of 75,000 copies/ml of blood. This test is best suited for those patients the doctor believes has a well controlled HIV infection.

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  Your HIV Viral Load Guide