Glossary

CDC – Centre for Disease Control, part of the USA health administration.

abdominal – in the area of your belly

drug resistant mutation – a mutation or change that occurs in the HIV genome that reduces a drugs ability to work.

genotype (or genotypic) – This term has several common uses:

1. a general term for the molecular structure of a living organism or virus.

2. a test that looks at the structure of an organism of virus (ie genotype resistance test looks for changes in the virus structure – called mutations).

3. a category for different types of similar viruses – ie hepatitis C has many subtypes, referred to as genotype-1, genotype-2 etc. HCV genotype is the strongest predictor of response to hepatitis C treatment.

See also phenotype.

formulation – the physical form that makes an active drug into a medicine.

Different formulations include

• Pills (capsules or tablets).
• Syrups or other oral solutions.
• Injections.
• Powders.
• Creams or lotions.

A co-formulation is when two active drugs are combined. For example: when two active drugs are in the same pill.