ARVs (Antiretrovirals) help you stay healthy and undetectable, protecting the people you care about the most.
What is a CD4 Count?
Your immune system protects your body against illness and infections. CD4 cells are an important part of your immune system. A CD4 count tells us how many CD4 cells there are in a drop of your blood. The higher your CD4 count, the stronger your immune system is.
What is a Viral Load?
Your HIV viral load measures how much of the virus is present in your body and can go up to millions. If you have HIV and are taking antiretroviral medication every day, the amount of virus in your blood can drop below the level that it can be detected. We refer to this as having an “undetectable viral load”, and this is the best for your health and to avoid transmitting the virus to sexual partners.
If you have HIV, your viral load should be checked at least once a year – remind your nurse or doctor about this and be sure to ask about the results.
