Viral Load & HIV

Viral load refers to the amount of virus in our bodies. Different tests are used to measure different types of viruses, and our viral load can be measured in different body fluids or parts of our bodies.

For those of us living with HIV and getting medical care, viral load is one of the things that our doctors typically check when we do bloodwork.

HIV medications do is lower the viral load in our bodies. Less virus in our bodies is good news for our health, and less HIV to potentially pass on to sex partners. When we get regular HIV care and follow our doctor’s instructions for our medications on an ongoing basis, many of us will be able to have a viral load that is undetectable.