A 26-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Clinic for Routine HIV

A 26-year-old woman comes to the clinic for routine HIV care.  She mentions that she had "low platelets" when she was tested 2 months ago in an emergency department following a minor motor vehicle collision.  The patient has no mucosal bleeding and does not bruise easily.  Her menses have been normal.  Two years ago, she was diagnosed with HIV after attempting to donate blood.  The patient has not begun antiretroviral therapy, and she takes a multivitamin daily.  Her temperature is 36.9 C (98.4 F) , blood pressure is 116/78 mm Hg, pulse is 70/min, and respirations are 14/min.  On examination, the patient's nasal and oropharyngeal mucosae appear normal.  Her abdomen is nontender and nondistended, but the tip of the spleen is palpable on inspiration.  There are no purpura or petechiae.  Laboratory results are as follows: The patient begins antiretroviral therapy with a 3-drug regimen.  Viral load and CD4 cell count are monitored as recommended.  Assuming she is able to adhere to the 3-drug regimen, which of the following best represents her expected HIV viral load after 6 months of treatment?

A) <50 copies/mL
B) 500-1,000 copies/mL
C) 1,000-5,000 copies/mL
D) 10,000-50,000 copies/mL
E) 100,000-500,000 copies/mL