Glossary

platelet – a blood cell that helps with blood clotting.

resistance – when the genetic structure of an organism (virus, bacteria, fungi etc) changes in a way that stops a drug from working. See mutation.

Changing treatment and drug resistance.

antibiotic – drug used to treat bacterial infections. Sometimes they work against other kinds of infection.

CD4% – percentage of total lymphocytes (white blood cells) that are CD4 cells.

The CD4% is generally more stable than the CD4 count. For example, if you ever get a CD4 count that is much lower than you expect, first see whether the CD4% has changed too,

If the CD4% is still roughly the same then the low CD4 count is unlikely to show a real change.

microbicide – a gel that may protect against infection.In reference to HIV, this is usually referring to a gel that could be applied before sex. In 2010 a study called Caprisa 004 provided the first evidence that a microbicide (in this case a gel containing the HIV drug tenofovir) might protect against HIV infection.