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Glossary

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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.

fixed dose combination (FDC) – several drugs combined in one tablet at a standard dose.

SC (sub-cutaneous) – under the skin. See IV (intravenous) and IM (intra-muscular).

mitochondria – energy producing factories that live inside other cells.

HPV (human papillomavirus) – a family of viruses associated with cervical cancer and anal cancer and genital warts.