Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does high/low viral load mean?

Viral load is the amount of virus present in the bloodstream. It is expressed as the amount of viral genetic material (RNA) per milliliter of blood. High viral load is often seen in people who have been infected for a long time. People who acquired HCV because of a needle also tend to have high viral load. Viral load is not related to the amount of liver damage, or to how sick someone is. However, people with low HCV-RNA may have a better chance of treatment success.