Viral load refers to the amount of viruses that can be detected in a person's blood.
- With HIV The viral load indicates how many HI viruses are present per millilitre of blood.
- It is controlled by a Laboratory test and is an important value for the treatment.
Significance:
- High viral load → More viruses in the blood, higher risk of transmission.
- Low or undetectable viral load → hardly any or no viruses detectable in the blood. In the case of HIV, this means: no transmissibility during sex (U=U).
Regularly checking the viral load helps doctors to assess how well a therapy is working.
