Viral Load Overview from Treatment Action Group

A 58-page in-depth review of viral load, written by Mark Harrington of the Treatment Action Group (TAG), is based on presentations at the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver, July 8-11, 1996.

From the Introduction: "After the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver... it is clear that monitoring of plasma HIV RNA levels will become a standard tool for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of HIV infection and for the medical monitoring of antiretroviral therapy. CD4+ T-cell monitoring remains an important parameter, especially in more immune-compromised persons, but viral load will be a key determinant in initiating and changing treatment regimens.

"Unfortunately, while its usefulness is clear, how best to use viral load monitoring is still far from obvious, and there are several competing approaches to controlling viral load, which must be rigorously compared."

The report is available from the Treatment Action Group, 200 E. 10th St., #601, New York, NY 10003, phone 212/260-0300, fax 212/260-8561. A $10 donation is requested, but the report will be provided regardless of ability to pay.