Viral load measurements can vary from one blood sample to the next, but this may have no long-term impact on an individual�s health. Researchers have found that two separate tests on the same sample of blood can give results that differ from each other by up to three-fold (three times greater than or less than the previous number).

This means that one should not be worried if viral load goes up from 5000 to 15,000, for example. The same is true if the change is from 50,000 to 150,000. Although these may seem like big increases, the changes are within the margins of error for a viral load test. This should be discussed with the doctor.