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Teak and Chris
What actually causes a HIV positive person's viral load to be undetectable <48 copies? In other words, the literature states that the virus enters the body, multiplies fairly quickly over days and certainly over the first couple-few weeks. Then your body reacts by producing antibodies. It is my understanding that antibodies are created to fight the HIV virus just like antibodies that are produced to fight everyday bugs. I guess the difference with HIV is it continues to thrive in the body.
The reason I ask is because I know there is a lot of discussion around undetectable viral loads. Clearly it is possible for someone to have an undetecable viral load and still have HIV. However, if this is the case, would it make sense that their body would have produced detectable antibodies to squash the virus to undetectable levels? If this isn't the case, then what does control the virus so well in some people that makes it undetectable? By the way, I'm referring to acute hiv or early stages. I understand the medical therapies to treat HIV can also help reduce the viral load. I'm just not sure how someone could have an undetectable viral load when they are symptomatic after a couple weeks-2 mos post exposure. How does a HIV pos person know if they didn't ever have a detectable viral load if their viral load in undetectable today. It may have been high early on right?
Also, I know these tests are techinically not diagnostic tests. Teak, I know you aren't a big fan for this reason. Clearly there is some risk of false pos because the test is so sensitive and specificity is not 100% and the cost is high. It just seems like there aren't many or any documented cases of false neg during acute hiv...maybe I'm wrong but I can't seem to find anything.
The reason I ask is because I know there is a lot of discussion around undetectable viral loads. Clearly it is possible for someone to have an undetecable viral load and still have HIV. However, if this is the case, would it make sense that their body would have produced detectable antibodies to squash the virus to undetectable levels? If this isn't the case, then what does control the virus so well in some people that makes it undetectable? By the way, I'm referring to acute hiv or early stages. I understand the medical therapies to treat HIV can also help reduce the viral load. I'm just not sure how someone could have an undetectable viral load when they are symptomatic after a couple weeks-2 mos post exposure. How does a HIV pos person know if they didn't ever have a detectable viral load if their viral load in undetectable today. It may have been high early on right?
Also, I know these tests are techinically not diagnostic tests. Teak, I know you aren't a big fan for this reason. Clearly there is some risk of false pos because the test is so sensitive and specificity is not 100% and the cost is high. It just seems like there aren't many or any documented cases of false neg during acute hiv...maybe I'm wrong but I can't seem to find anything.
There is help for those like you. Contact the mental health system in your area.
i know what you mean,i am a pretty normal guy that use to be alot of fun, and have had 4 neg test over 11 months and undetechable pcr rna down to 48 copies, i asked the same question as you about if there is not one there has to be the other, after 3 months. that would make sense, i think teak answered me back a couple of weeks. hope we both get back to being the fun loving guys.
I hope you're right Teak. You have put up with a lot of questions from me and I do appreciate it. As I stated on this forum earlier, I'm married with 2 kids and my wife wants another. She knows about my work exposure and thinks I need to chill out. Everytime I think back to all my symptoms that I still experience today it just scares me. I just worry about her health too... If we try to have another baby I would never be able to live with myself if something bad happened regarding HIV or Hep C. So far, tests look ok...but I guess I just hope I'm not some sort of statistical phenomenon. Of course, my stupid fricking allergy test worries that we discussed are driving me nuts now too. I know you probably think I'm wacked-out. In reality, I'm a pretty normal guy that used to be a lot of fun. I feel like my life revolves around worrying about my health all the time now. I clearly need to find a way to stop this cycle.
You can't get anymore negative than that.
OK, thanks Teak. So basically it does seem clear that if there is no VL this is due to the antibodies controlling the virus's ability to replicate. An undet VL after a couple months past exposure should show antibodies if someone was infected...assuming the antibody test are newer generation and very sensitive. Therefore, no VL and no antibodies must be very conclusive that the person doesn't have HIV. The main reason for my sake is I had the VL test at 2 and 9 weeks...both <48c undet...and I had antibody tests at this time that were neg too...of course I had a 13 wk anti test too that was neg...I'm just trying to be 100% sure I'm neg...
The antibodies that one produces controlled the virus's replication. Without an overwhelming viral replication, there would be no detectable viral load. One shows a viral load when the viral replication is faster than the antibodies can control, hence the reason for antiretrovial medications for those that are not "elite controllers" or LTNP.
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