Glossary

platelet – a blood cell that helps with blood clotting.

antiretrovirals – the common name for any HIV drugs. HIV is a retrovirus, so drugs to fight HIV are called antiretrovirals. Also abbreviated to ARVs.

qualitative (in a study) – where what is being measured either fits one of several categories, or includes descriptive results.

viral load test – a test that detects whether a virus is present (qualatitive) or that measures the amount of virus (quantitative).

This is usually in a sample of blood, but a viral load test can also be used to check viral levels in other samples including genital fluid, semen or spinal fluid.

Results are given as the number of copies of virus in a millilitre of blood (copies/mL).

confirmatory test – a second test to double-check the results of a previous one. For example, if your viral load is usually undetectable and then becomes detectable, you need a second confirmatory test. This is to check that the detectable result was not a laboratory error on just a temporary blip.