DNA – an abbreviation for the scientific word for genes and genetic material. It is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. See RNA.
Glossary
Selected words and phrases
internal fetal labour monitoring – where an electrode is inserted through the vagina and placed on the baby’s scalp to record the baby’s heart rate during labour.
viral load – the amount of virus in a sample of blood or other fluid. With HIV this is commonly the amount of HIV in a millilitre (mL) of blood. See viral load test.
PI (protease inhibitor) – a type of HIV drug.
HIV protease inhibitors include atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, lopinavir/r (Kaletra), ritonavir, saquinavir and tipranavir.
Drug targets in the virus life cycle
Different protease inhibitors have been developed to treat hepatitis C.
weight loss – a general reduction in weight. Weight loss can often be a symptom of other opportunistic infections.