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Summary

  • Your CD4 cell count gives an indication of the health of your immune system. Someone with a low CD4 cell count (below 200) is at significant risk of developing serious illnesses.
  • Viral load is the term used to describe the amount of HIV in your blood.
  • CD4 cell counts and viral load can vary naturally – you and your doctor will look at trends, not single results.
  • The aim of HIV treatment is a viral load which is so low that it cannot be detected by currently available tests.
  • Having a high viral load increases the risk of passing HIV on to your baby during pregnancy and childbirth, and increases the risk of HIV transmission to your sexual partner(s).
  • Your HIV clinic will perform blood tests regularly to monitor your CD4 count, your viral load and other indicators of your health.
  • Test results can take many different forms and lots of factors affect them. Your doctor will look at them in relation to you, your health and your lifestyle.
  • If either you or your doctor are concerned about particular test results, or if you are experiencing symptoms or side-effects, you may have other blood tests, scans or investigations done. These will provide more information to help guide decisions about your health and treatment.
  • Your doctor and the person performing the tests should explain these to you, and you should be able to ask any questions you have before they begin.

CD4, viral load & other tests

Published February 2017

Last reviewed February 2017

Next review February 2020

Contact NAM to find out more about the scientific research and information used to produce this booklet.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.