fixed dose combination (FDC) – several drugs combined in one tablet at a standard dose.
Glossary
Selected words and phrases
ritonavir – a protease inhibitor (PI) that is now used boost levels of some other HIV drugs, especially other PIs.
Direct acting antiviral – See DAA.
phenotype — relating to how an organism behaves, based on how its genotype relates to the environment. Phenotypic resistance tests look at whether HIV continues to grow in a test tube after increasing concentrations of a drug are added. See genotype.
sensitivity – when referring to the accuracy of a test result, sensitivity refers to the proportion of people with an illness or disease who have a positive test result.
If a test has low sensitivity, then false-negative results are the concern – where people have a condition but it is missed.
If a test has high sensitivity, then people are accurately diagnosed – and only a few people are missed.
For a serious condition, high sensitivity is essential to be able to identify people early.
See specificity.
sensitivity – when referring to the activity of a drug, sensitive means that a drug still works. As resistance develops a drug becomes less sensitive.
A complete loss of sensitivity implies that a drug is no longer working.
It also means that your partner may benefit from counselling.