New Study Finds HIV Reservoir May Endure Longer Than Previously Thought

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In a 111-person group of people treated for HIV, the average viral reservoir half-life was 12 years.

November 23, 2016

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The HIV reservoir of those on successful treatment for the virus dissipates at a much slower average rate than previously thought, according to a new large study, the National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP) reports.


The persistence of the viral reservoir frustrates efforts to cure HIV.


Presenting their findings at IDWeek 2016 conference in New Orleans, researchers studied 111 people who thanks to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment had an undetectable viral load for at least five years—a median of eight years. They followed the participants for a median 1.4 years and took a median three tests of the size of their reservoirs through two different measurements of HIV’s genetic material.


The researchers estimated the average half-life (the time it takes to reduce by half the size) of the viral reservoir to be 144 months (12 years). The average estimated reservoir half-life was 64 months among those who always had an undetectable virus during the study, 146 months among those who had detectable but not quantifiable virus during the study, and 204 months among those who had had viral blips (temporary, small elevations of viral load to a quantifiable level).


To read the NATAP report, click here.

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