Glossary

STI (sexually transmitted infection) – other STIs include herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis etc.

partially active – the HIV treatment in question will work against this virus but this is reduced compared to wild-type HIV. This is the same as partial resistance, or intermediate resistance etc.

seroconversion – the immune reaction when you develop antibodies to a new infection. HIV seroconversion usually starts a couple of week after infection. Because this is when viral load is very high (often millions of copies/mL), this is when symptoms occur.

About 70% people have HIV seroconversion symptoms. Some people become very ill and need immediate ART, and other have no symptoms.

point of care – referring to you doctors office (or wherever you access care)

expanded access programme (EAP) – a scheme that allows people to access a drug before it has been approved (but when approval is expected).

EAPs are for people urgently need treatment as a life-saving option and who do o have the time to wait for the six months that it takes for approval to be finalised. EAPs are usually available for most HIV drugs after the main studies (phase 3) have been completed.

They were an important early result of community activism. They are also called ‘early access’ or ‘named-patient’ programmes.