2 wk viral load results

[GingerB]

My pre-tx viral load was 2,840,000 IU.  My two week tx viral load results are 136,000 IU.  If I am converting to logs properly, I show 2.84 mil IU = 6.45 logs and 136,000 IU = 5.13 logs.  If I calculated this correctly, I come up with a 1.32 log difference.  Just wondering if this is an indication of what to expect for future vl results.    And is the 1.32 log drop at 2 wks considered good, average, or nothing 'to write home about' ? Thanks.  Ginger B.

[Terrylee8]

I started with 5,200,000, week 2,  I was 1,700,000.  Rather than slowing down, my VL load drop accelerated to 104,000 at week 4, 410 at week 6 and undectable at week 8.  My log drop accelerated with time.  Your numbers look very good to me.

[jacksonpotter]

T^hat is amazing.  My doc doesn't even know what a log is.

[charm27]

Hoping for the best for you!

Charm

[jdwithhcv]

Wow, you guys can take riba and do MATH!!!  Pretty good.

[zazza]

Your log math is 100% correct!

[GingerB]

Thanks all.  I am not 100% sure that I am doing the 'log math' properly - if anyone wants to confirm, please feel free.   Feb 5 will be my 4th week vl test...... Ginger B.

[wyntre9]

I only wish I'd had your results.  I barely had a 2 log drop at week 12 but was UND at week 17.

It looks like you are headed in the right direction and doing quite well.  My first PCR was at week 4 and I'd dropped from 1,140,000 to 93,0000.  You're doing twice as good and it looks like you have a shot at UND by week 4.  If not, you've got time.

Hang in there.

wyntre

[jdwithhcv]

I didn't get tested for viral load until week 4, and was one of the lucky ones - UND at week 4.  You are clearly headed in the right direction!  As zazza said, you are definately responding to the meds.

By now you're taking injection #4 so this week's viral load is THE one.  I'll be thinking of you and hoping you get the best possible news.  Isn't the wait for results is excruciating?

Its hard not to obsess over this.

jd

[zazza]

There aren't many of us who have had the opportunity of getting a 2 week viral load done, which may account for the lack of responses to your question so far. This is my view on this issue:

Best result for a geno 1 is to be UND by week 4, or if not UND to have at least a 2 log drop by this time. If the log drop is less than 2 log at week 4 it may indicate that you are a slow responder.

There is an initial steep drop at week 1 if you respond well to interferon. This drop then levels out and the decrease of viral load will from now on be slower.

So, you need at least another .68 log drop in the next 2 weeks, to get that 2 log drop by week 4. You already know you are responding to the meds, since you have more than a one log drop already, which is very good news of course. I had a 1.62 log drop by week 4, so you are doing better than me! Just keep at it, the drugs are working, and let's hope for a good result at week 4!