wild-type virus – HIV that has no drug resistance mutations.
This is usually the virus that you were first infected with. However, approximately 10% of people who are diagnosed with HIV in the UK are likely to already have resistance to one or more HIV drugs.
This is called transmitted drug resistance. This is also why everyone diagnosed with HIV should also have a resistance tests.
Rates of transmitted drug resistance vary in different countries.
blip – small, occasional increase in viral load.
compartment – place in the body that has barriers limiting both HIV and HIV drugs from moving freely. Key sites include the brian, the genital tract and some organs. Also called sanctuary sites.
decimal fraction – a fraction turned into a number by dividing the top part by the bottom part. For example, the decimal fraction for 3/5 is 0.6.
drug resistant mutation – a mutation or change that occurs in the HIV genome that reduces a drugs ability to work.