viremia

n.
The presence of viruses in the bloodstream.

viremic vi·re'mic (-mĭk) adj.

(vīrē′mē-ə)
n

An elevation of virus levels occurring 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV

The presence of viruses in the blood either as free virus or a cell associated viremia. In generalized virus infections there may be local invasion, proliferation in regional lymph nodes, followed by primary viremia with dissemination to other tissues. For some infections there may be a secondary viremia followed by increasing tissue damage and severe clinical disease sometimes including spread of virus to the central nervous system.

• persistent v. — virus can be isolated from the blood for periods longer than a few days.