For Suzanne

[Guest guest]

When " they " talk about " logs " it refers to logarithms. A logarithm

is a mathematical term that basically means " How many zeros " ...The

log of 10 is 1 (1 zero), log of 1,000 is 3 (3 zeros) and log of

1,000,000 if 6 (6 zeros). So count the zeros and that is an

approximate log. The log of 10,000,000 is 7. My log is a 7

(45,000,000) .Now if I had a two log drop my viral load would then

be 450,000 . Doctors use the log drop during treatment to determine

the whether or not a person is going to be successful at attaining a

sustain viralogical response . Its a guidline that if a person

doesnt have a 2 log drop withing 16weeks then treatment will in most

cases be unsuccessful , so they discontinue treatment . Here is a

copy of the viral load chart (part of it anyway)

Viral Load Equivalents per Milliliter (EQ/ML)

Conversion to Logarithmic Form

(Viral Load is how many viral particles per ML of blood)

*[HCV-RNA (qPCR)-negative] is defined as less than 100 copies/ml of

hepatitis C

viral RNA as measured by the National Genetics Institute assay.

200,000 to 1,000,000 low

1,000,000 to 5,000,000 medium

5,000,000 to 25,000,000 high

above 25,000,000 very high