See also: Viral Resistance

General Information

General Fact Sheets:

• Viral load tests (AIDS InfoNet) and Spanish and Russian version
• Viral load (AIDSmap)

Other Fact Sheets from AIDSmap:

• Why monitor CD4 and viral load?
• Viral load
• Looking at CD4 and viral load together
• Frequency of testing

Other General Information:

• Personal tracking charts (Project Inform) – charts for tracking T-cell counts, viral load, medications, and other important health information
• Viral load test (Poz) and Spanish version
• FAQs about HIV viral load tests (TheBody)
• HIV viral load (labtestsonline)

Selected Recent Articles

• Spanish study gives reassurance: small HIV blips do not predict treatment failure.  (September 2016, AIDSmap)
• Viral load pilot study shows roll-out will depend on an educated workforce.  (July 2016, AIDSmap)
• Program Raises HIV Viral Suppression Levels in African Communities Above U.N. Targets.  (July 2016, Poz)
• Viral suppression not improved by interventions among patients with HIV, substance use.  (July 2016, Healio)
• Less frequent CD4 and viral load monitoring safe for people doing well on ART.  (June 2016, AIDSmap)
• HIV-Infected Vaginal Cells Still Won’t Transmit if the Viral Load Is Undetectable.  (April 2016, Poz)
• Indian study proves that more people virally suppressed in a population equals fewer HIV infections.  (April 2016, AIDSmap)
• More people with HIV are achieving viral suppression in US, but about 40% remain above transmission thresholds.  (April 2016, AIDSmap)
• Residual HIV RNA in Plasma Continues to Decline for at Least 11 Years on Treatment.  (March 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Self-Reported Suboptimal Adherence Tied to Rebound on Next Viral Load Measure.  (March 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Increased HIV viral suppression among U.S. adults receiving medical care, 2009 to 2013. (February 2016, Retrovirus Conference);  related coverage from MedPage Today, Healio and Poz
• HIV-infected vaginal cells do not transmit HIV if plasma viral load is undetectable, researchers find.  (February 2016, AIDSmap)
• HIVMA issues recommendations on HIV tests, procedures.  (February 2016, Healio)
• Undetectable & Low-level HIV Viral Replication.  (January 2016, Beta Blog)
• Continuous HIV care critical to viral suppression, long-term outcomes.  (January 2016, Healio)
• Detectable Viral Load Below 50 Copies Linked to 2-Year Viral Rebound Risk.  (December 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Does low-level HIV viral load raise the risk of disease progression and co-morbidities?  (November 2015, AIDSmap)
• Post-treatment control of HIV appears rare, biomarkers may help predict viral rebound.  (November 2015, AIDSmap)
• Higher Rate of Viral Suppression Found in ACA Enrollees Than in Those Supported Only by Ryan White.  (October 2015, TheBodyPro)
• One third of people with HIV in US study are not virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Affordable Care Act coverage improves chances of viral suppression for Americans with HIV.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Even People With Suppressed HIV Have a Lower Quality of Life.  (September 2015, Poz)
• ‘Undetectable’ is both a milestone and an identity for gay men recently diagnosed with HIV.  (September 2015, AIDSmap)
• STIs Have Minimal Effects on Viral Load of People on HIV Treatment.  (August 2015, Poz)
• HIV-positive postpartum women who rapidly re-engage with HIV care more likely to have viral suppression in longer term.  (August 2015, AIDSmap)
• Same-day start to antiretroviral treatment leads to faster HIV suppression in San Francisco.  (July 2015, AIDSmap)
• Men taking HIV treatment have undetectable viral loads in the rectum; sexually transmitted infections make no difference.  (April 2015, AIDSmap)
• Fat Gains After Starting HIV Treatment Associated With High Viral Loads.  (March 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Financial incentives don’t increase case linkage or viral suppression.  (March 2015, Project Inform)
• Antiretroviral treatment early in first stage of HIV infection adds to lasting impact on viral burden.  (March 2015, Science Speaks Blog)
• Abdominal Body Fat Gains on ART and Viral Load: It Matters Where You Start.  (March 2015, Beta Blog)
• Status disclosure patterns related to HIV care retention, viral load.  (February 2015, Healio)
• Financial incentives did not improve linkage to care or viral suppression in US study.  (February 2015, AIDSmap)
• HIV Viral Rebounds Predict Fibrosis in HCV-Coinfected People.  (February 2015, Hepmag)
• Comprehensive HIV Care Coordination Program Improves Viral Suppression Rates.  (January 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Elite controllers may pay a high price for their low viral load.  (January 2015, AIDSmap)
• Elite Controllers Hospitalized More Often Than Those Treated For HIV.  (January 2015, Poz)
• Financial Incentives for Undetectable Viral Load Are Well Received.  (December 2014, Poz)
• There Is a Chance to Build Upon One HIV Vaccine’s Moderate Success.  (November 2014, Poz)
• Groundbreaking HIV vaccine’s effects were real – and could be made to work better.  (November 2014, AIDSmap)
• Viral Rebound Is Significantly Delayed Among Some Who Interrupt HIV Treatment.  (October 2014, TheBodyPro)
• Factors Associated With 10 Years of Continuous Viral Load Suppression on HIV Treatment.  (October 2014, TheBodyPro)
• Program Ups Viral Suppression Rates and Retention in HIV Care.  (October 2014, Poz)
• Care programme improves clinic attendance and rates of virologic suppression among vulnerable HIV-positive patients in New York.  (October 2014, AIDSmap)
• HIV superinfection associated with accelerated viral load increase but has no impact on clinical disease progression.  (August 2014, AIDSmap)
• Viral Load Is Best Predictor of CD4 Loss Among South Africans.  (June 2014, Poz)
• Study shows prognostic value of viral load monitoring among people living with subtype C HIV in South Africa.  (June 2014, AIDSmap)
• Can we provide point-of-care viral load tests in poor countries?  (April 2014, AIDSmap)
• Cumulative Viral Load Predicts All-Cause and AIDS Death but Not Non-AIDS Death. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Race, Age, and Transmission Risk Affect Viral Suppression Chances in D.C. Cohort. (March 2014, NATAP)
• No-one with an undetectable viral load, gay or heterosexual, transmits HIV in first two years of PARTNER study.  (March 2014, AIDSmap)
• Older age associated with bigger increases in viral load and falls in CD4 count in patients not taking HIV treatment.  (February 2014, AIDSmap)
• Big gaps in engagement with HIV care and virological suppression between US states.  (February 2014, AIDSmap)
• A Low CD4 Count Despite Low Viral Load Raises Risk of Death.  (February 2014, Poz)
• A low CD4 cell count despite viral suppression with HIV treatment is associated with a big increase in mortality risk.  (February 2014, AIDSmap)
• Higher pill burden is associated with poorer adherence to HIV therapy and reduced chances of achieving an undetectable viral load.  (January 2014, AIDSmap)
• Successful HIV drug resistance testing is possible when viral load is low.  (January 2014, AIDSmap)
• Young People With HIV New to Care Have High Viral Loads.  (January 2014, Poz)
• Computerised counselling for patients taking HIV therapy can reduce viral load, improve treatment adherence and reduce rates of risky sex.  (January 2014, AIDSmap)
• High viral load levels in young people newly linked with HIV care in the US.  (January 2014, AIDSmap)
• Short course of ART during primary HIV infection has immunological and virological benefits after treatment is stopped.  (December 2013, AIDSmap)
• Implementing viral load testing in resource-limited settings: one size does not fit all.  (December 2013, AIDSmap)
• Unsuppressed HIV Viral Load Doubles Heart Disease Risk.  (December 2013, Poz)
• Good adherence to HIV treatment, undetectable viral load, reduce the risk of anal infection with high-risk HPV types for MSM with HIV.  (December 2013, AIDSmap)
• Is Your Patient’s HIV Diagnosis Truly New? Antiretroviral Drug Testing May Provide Verdict.   (November 2013, TheBodyPro)
• Baseline Viral Load, Time to Suppression Dictate Rebound Risk.  (November 2013, Poz)
• HIV rebound linked to higher baseline level, slower suppression and low-level viraemia.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• HIV Rebound Risk May Be Predicted by Baseline Viral Load, Time to Viral Suppression.  (October 2013, TheBodyPro)
• Big differences in virological outcomes among people taking first-line HIV therapy in resource-limited settings.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• HIV monitoring every six months is adequate for people on ART with stable viral suppression.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• Systematic review confirms that regular viral load monitoring assists adherence to HIV therapy.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Even Very Low Viral Loads Can Lead to Treatment Failure.  (September 2013, Poz)
• Intravenous AZT does not provide extra protection against vertical transmission in mothers with undetectable viral load.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Persisently detectable viral load at any level increases risk of HIV treatment failure.  (August 2013, AIDSmap)
• Opportunities being missed for a vaginal delivery for HIV-positive pregnant women in Europe with viral suppression.  (August 2013, AIDSmap)
• Viral Shedding May Occur in Semen Despite Undetectable Status.  (July 2013, Poz)
• Starting treatment at a CD4 count above 500 reduces the HIV reservoir for people with long-term infection.  (July 2013, AIDSmap)
• Five-Drug Cocktail Fights HIV Reservoir During Acute Infection.  (July 2013, Poz)
• People with HIV outside continuous care contribute disproportionately to viral load and infection potential, Canadian study finds.  (June 2013, AIDSmap)
• Undetectable viral load reduces the risk of HIV-associated anal cancer.  (June 2013, AIDSmap)