Glossary

bDNA – branched DNA. A type of viral load test.

matched – in clinical trials matched refers to each group having similar age, gender, ethnicity, HIV duration, health etc in a study.

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.

chronic infection – established infection (everything after the first 6 months)

antigen – a protein found on the surface of a virus or bacteria. It is recognised by the immune system which then generates antibodies.