Glossary

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

mucosal lining is the moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities (such as the nose, mouth, vagina, lungs, and stomach). Glands in the mucosa make mucous, a thick, slippery fluid. A mucosal lining is also called a mucous membrane.

undetectable – an amount smaller than a test can measure. For viral load tests, this means below 400 or, more commonly, below 50 copies/mL, depending on the make of test. In research laboratories, some very sensitive tests can measure down to 1 copy/mL.

drug resistant (HIV) – HIV that is harder to treat because of genetic changes.

PI (protease inhibitor) – a type of HIV drug.

HIV protease inhibitors include atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, lopinavir/r (Kaletra), ritonavir, saquinavir and tipranavir.

Drug targets in the virus life cycle

Different protease inhibitors have been developed to treat hepatitis C.