Monitoring treatment response

Treatment success is predictable as early as four to 12 weeks into treatment. A doctor will usually do a viral RNA test at four weeks and at 12 weeks. If the virus is undetectable at four weeks it is called rapid virological response (RVR). If at least 99% of the virus is cleared from the body at 12 weeks, it is called early virological response (EVR). Obtaining RVR or EVR is highly predictive of successful treatment. If a person does not get EVR at 12 weeks, it is likely their treatment will be stopped, as this person is not responding to treatment and will not achieve a sustained virological response. If a person does achieve EVR, the full course of treatment (as per genotype) will be completed to ensure that the virus is eradicated from the body.