Glossary

half-life (T1/2) – the time taken a drug to clear from the highest concentration to half this level. Drugs have different half-lives in different compartments (ie half-life in blood can be different from the half-life inside a cell). It take 5 x the half-live for a drug to be considered cleared.

EVR (early virological response) – a 99% (2-log ) drop in HCV viral load after 12 weeks of HCV treatment.

chorionic villus sampling – test in which cells around an embryo are removed and examined to detect genetic abnormalities.

study population – the group of people in a study.

compartment – place in the body that has barriers limiting both HIV and HIV drugs from moving freely. Key sites include the brian, the genital tract and some organs. Also called sanctuary sites.