HBV – hepatitis B, a virus that causes liver disease.
Glossary
Selected words and phrases
amniocentesis – test in which cells around a fetus are removed and examined to detect genetic abnormalities
RITA – this is a type of HIV test that can indicate whether you recemtly became HIV positive. This is defined as being the last six months.
RITA stands for Recent Infection Treatment Algorithm. In the UK, this test is used to be called STARHS (Serological Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion).
It is also sometimes called a de-tuned or recency HIV test.
See this Q&A on RITA testing.
non-nuke – a common term for NNRTI.
IRIS (immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) – illnesses that occur when HIV treatment is started when the CD4 count is very low.
IRIS occurs because the immune system quickly becomes stronger and identifies infections that it was previously too weak to fight.
IRIS can occur in 1 in 4 (25%) people who start with a CD4 count under 50 cells/mm3.
Although the symtoms are serious, IRIS can usually be easily managed.