What is a viral load testing?
From the viral load test and the T-cell (CD4) count, doctors get important information: the amount of HIV in the blood of a person with HIV and the effect of HIV on that person’s immune system. The viral load test measures how much HIV RNA can be found in the blood. As the viral load increases, the chance of illness increases. The viral load test is used to help make decisions about treatment. The T-cell count gives a picture of the strength (or weakness) of the body’s defenses. As the T-cell count decreases, the possibility of illness increases.
