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Glossary

Selected words and phrases

cirrhosis – severe scarring of the liver (see fibrosis) that makes it difficult for the liver to carry out its functions

HAV – hepatitis A, a virus that causes liver disease.

Hepatitis A.

chronic infection – established infection (everything after the first 6 months)

brand name drug – drug supplied under a marketing name. Brand name drugs are usually protected by patents, but some generic drugs also have brand names

sensitivity – when referring to the accuracy of a test result, sensitivity refers to the proportion of people with an illness or disease who have a positive test result.

If a test has low sensitivity, then false-negative results are the concern – where people have a condition but it is missed.

If a test has high sensitivity, then people are accurately diagnosed – and only a few people are missed.

For a serious condition, high sensitivity is essential to be able to identify people early.

Online calculator.

See specificity.

sensitivity – when referring to the activity of a drug, sensitive means that a drug still works. As resistance develops a drug becomes less sensitive.

A complete loss of sensitivity implies that a drug is no longer working.

It also means that your partner may benefit from counselling.