What is a viral load test?
A viral load test measures how much HIV is in your blood. Two important tests are:10 The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test uses an enzyme (a protein that accelerates chemical reactions in cells) to make more HIV in your blood sample. A chemical reaction happens, which marks the virus as different from everything else in the sample. Then the amount of virus in your blood can be counted. The bDNA (branched-chain DNA) test uses a chemical that produces light. This chemical is put in a blood sample and attaches to HIV. Each copy of the virus in the sample can now be easily seen and counted. Results from viral load tests are usually reported as copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.
A viral load test measures the amount of HIV in your blood. Why do I need a viral load test if I’ve already had an HIV test? An HIV test tells you and your doctor whether or not you are infected with HIV; the virus that causes AIDS. A viral load test measures the amount of virus in your blood. Knowing how much virus is in your blood may help you and your doctor make better decisions about treatments. What does a viral load test tell me? The viral load test helps predict your future health. If your viral load is low, it means you are less likely to develop AIDS in the near future than someone with a higher viral load. How is the viral load test different from a T-cell count? A T-cell count (or CD4+ test) measures how well your body is coping with HIV infection. The viral load test lets you know how much virus is present in your blood, regardless of how your body is dealing with HIV. What’s a normal viral load test? There is no normal value for a viral load test. It’s not normal to have
