latest viral load test

[surf18]

i just received my blood results today and they informed me that they now use a test that can detect 20 whatever they test. the former test we used locally was 48. so it is pretty amazing how far they have come to determine undetectable.

[JustDoIt84]

Really? Where are you?

[aztecan]

I had heard this test was available in some areas. It isn't here yet.

They count how many viruses are in a cubic milliliter of blood.

I remember when less than 400 was considered undetectable. I also remember when I had my first viral load done.

It was in 1995 and it was before it was considered standard of care.

But I digress . . .

So, how were your results?

HUGS,

Mark

[surf18]

im in upstate ny. a smallish city so that is why i was taken aback.
yea he told me too that he remembered when ud was less than 400 too. all my other test were less than 48
this one showed me less than 20. he said that was pretty much non existant in me. that was cool.
cd 4 407 percent 22
started on meds in july with cd of 225 and 12% load of 16000

[Miss Philicia]

I had the "20" viral load test for the first time in November.  Big woop though as it's really no different than 48.

[eric48]

Actually, this is a question raised by some researchers here as measuring VL down to 5 appears to be attainable goal for commercial equipment down the road. (they do it down to 1 in Research labs)

Question is: is it really necessary ? and worth the extra cost. ?

That question remains open

Apparently a fair number of people who are UD for a while are in fact at/below/around 1 ...

My doc commented that , nonetheless, some people, included in research studies, remain in the 25s and they do not know why... Maybe some measurement bias ?

Anyway measuring down to 20 is not that uncommon.... Its cool, though, Surf, MP, I am happy for you

Eric

[surf18]

Well you know it maybe useless but if it makes me feel good then I'm good with it.
It makes me feel more healthy Im down with it.