Why can we get HIV to a viral load of 0 but can’t get rid of the virus?

Question

Why can we get HIV to a viral load of 0 but can’t get rid of the virus?

In: 1087

Answer 1

HIV is a DNA retrovirus. That means that it alters the DNA of cells that it infects with the sequences needed to make more HIV.

So zero viral load means that no HIV is in your system, but there are still cells in your body that have DNA that codes for HIV and that cell can make more at any time. HIV drugs prevent cells from making new HIV, but if you stop the drugs your infected cells will just start pumping it out again.