Glossary

null hypothesis – in a study this sometimes just refers to the hypothesis, but more specifically it refers the idea that any difference between 2 study groups has only occurred by chance.

virion – the name for a virus when it is not inside a cell, for example when new viral material leaves a CD4 cell and is floating in blood or plasma

blip – small, occasional increase in viral load.

central line – tube inserted into a deep vein to deliver medicine (Hickman line or PortaCath).

lipid – medical term for fat. The term ‘blood lipids’ refers to cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood.