Glossary

haematology – study (-ology) of blood (haema-)

blip – small, occasional increase in viral load.

reverse transcriptase – an enzyme unique to HIV. It is used to convert single-strand RNA into double-strand DNA. This is needed before HIV’s genetic material can be integrated in the human DNA. HIV drugs that stop this process are called reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs).

immune system – the system that your body uses to fight infections.

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