Glossary

clinical cut-off (CCO) – a test result that is associated with an impact on clinical care. With resistance tests a lower CCO is the level below which a drug is still sensitive or active. This is often set at a 20% loss of activity (compared to wild-type HIV). An upper CCO is the level above which the drug is not considered active (ie resistant). This is often set at an 80% loss of activity (compared to wild-type HIV).

quantitative (in a study) – where what is being measured has a numerical value or fits a pre-defined scale or range of responses.

genome – term for the complete genetic material (RNA or DNA) of any organism.

compensatory mutation – this refer to an additional mutation, usually in the context of the fitness of a virus. For example, the mutations that stop a drug form working often stop the virus from reproducing as well. Additional mutations that return the virus to it’s former fitness are called compensatory mutations. They compensate for the reduced viral fitness. See revertant mutation.

antiretrovirals – the common name for any HIV drugs. HIV is a retrovirus, so drugs to fight HIV are called antiretrovirals. Also abbreviated to ARVs.