Recruiting

Measuring Hidden HIV in African Patients on Treatment

Plain-English translation of NCT02154035 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

Researchers want to understand how much dormant (sleeping) HIV remains in the bodies of people in Uganda whose virus is well-controlled by antiretroviral therapy. Even when HIV medication works perfectly and you can't detect the virus in your blood, some virus can hide quietly in certain immune cells. This study will measure exactly how much hidden virus is present, which could help scientists develop better treatments aimed at a cure.

Most people with HIV live in Africa, and as more of them get access to treatment, researchers need to understand how HIV behaves in African bodies specifically. The hidden HIV reservoir may work differently in African populations because of different infections and immune responses compared to Western patients, so studying this is essential before new cure treatments can be tested and used widely.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have been diagnosed with HIV and have a positive test result in your medical records
your viral load has been undetectable (below 40 copies per milliliter) for at least 10–18 months, with no detectable virus in between
your most recent viral load test was done within the past year
you have a hemoglobin level above 11 g/dL and weigh more than 40 kilograms
you are willing to have genetic testing done

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant, as the blood draw could affect your health during pregnancy
you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning medications
you are currently taking steroids, immunosuppressants, or other medications that affect your immune system
you have active serious infections (other than HIV) in the past 2 weeks
you have been diagnosed with any type of cancer, including Kaposi's sarcoma

What participation looks like

You would attend study visits in Uganda where researchers will draw blood samples to measure the amount of hidden HIV in your cells. The study is observational, meaning you will not take any new medication — researchers are simply measuring and tracking what's already happening in your body as you continue your regular HIV treatment. Visits would occur over time to allow researchers to understand how the hidden virus changes, if at all.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 7, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Uganda

Rakai Health Sciences Program Uganda Virus Research Institute, Kalisizo