After starting antiretroviral therapy what is an acceptable target for viral load that indicates the effective?

After starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, an acceptable target for viral load that indicates effective viral suppression is a viral load below the limit of detection (LOD) of the viral load assay. This typically corresponds to a viral load of less than 50 or 20 copies of HIV-1 RNA per milliliter of blood.

Achieving and maintaining a viral load below the LOD is an important goal of ART, as it indicates that the virus is being effectively suppressed and that the person's immune system is recovering. A viral load below the LOD is associated with a number of benefits, including:

- Reduced risk of developing AIDS and other HIV-related complications

- Improved survival

- Reduced risk of transmitting HIV to others

Therefore, achieving and maintaining a viral load below the LOD is a key indicator of the effectiveness of ART and is essential for long-term management of HIV infection.