Rapid testing for HIV-Positive patient Prognosis and response to Antiretroviral therapy
Viral load is the amount (number of copies) of HIV in your bloodstream. There are several different types of lab tests that measure viral load. All these tests are accurate, but each has a different way to measure the amount of virus. It is best to stick with the same kind of test and not switch among them or it will be more difficult to compare results over time.
Viral load results are reported as copies of HIV in one milliliter of blood. The lower the number, the less virus there is in your blood. Numbers can range from about one million copies to as few as 50 copies. If you have fewer than 50 copies, your health care provider may tell you that your results are "undetectable."
Being undetectable is a great result because it means your virus is under control. The good news is that studies have shown that having an undetectable viral load prevents a person living with HIV from transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. However, undetectable does not mean you have been cured of HIV.
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