Glossary

asymptomatic – showing no signs of illness.

surrogate marker – A surrogate marker is when something that is easy to measure is used as a marker for something that is difficult to measure directly.

The CD4 count doesn’t directly measure HIV. But it is a good surrogate (or indirect) marker for how HIV has damaged your immune system. It is closely linked to the risk of HIV-related complications.

Viral load in blood is a good surrogate marker for levels of HIV in your body overall including in other body sites.

cryptococcus (crypto) – a fungal infection. Can cause meningitis.

primary HIV infection (PHI) – early infection (usually first six months with after HIV infection). Sometimes called acute infection.

virological failure – the term for when viral load levels never reach undetectable, or if they rebound to higher levels after previously being undetectable. See clinical failure.