Resistance test

This test determines whether the particular virus in your body is resistant to anti-HIV medications. This test used to be done later in the course of HIV disease, but now many doctors are doing the test before HIV treatment is started.

HIV reproduces rapidly and, as the virus makes copies of itself, little changes (or mutations) sometimes result. These changes can lead to different HIV strains. A person can have many strains in his or her body.

If a strain that is resistant to your HIV drugs develops, the virus will be able to grow even though you are on medication. Your viral load will start to rise. The resistant virus soon will become the most common strain in your body.

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