Is HIV-1 viraemia below 20 copies/mL in antiretroviral-treated patients associated with virologic outcome?

Background: We aimed to investigate whether very low-level HIV-1 viraemia (VLLV) <20 copies/mL in HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) whose VL was <20 copies/mL, was associated with a subsequent VL > 20 copies/mL.

Methods: VLLV was defined as VL <20 copies/mL and positive HIV-1-PCR. We compared patients with positive and negative HIV-1-PCRs <20 copies/mL at two time points, T0 and T1, after 21st of January 2016.