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Terminology and glossary

A-Z glossary

Medical, scientific, public-health and community terminology with sources and usage notes.

Publisher
The Bach Foundation
Audience
Public · Professional · Research
Last reviewed
18 August 2026
Status
Source-linked
Jurisdiction
Global context; local guidance may vary

Essential answer

A-Z glossary is part of the Center’s terminology and glossary record.

HIV terminology should be scientifically precise, understandable and non-stigmatizing. A definition is strongest when it also shows context, pronunciation, related concepts and deprecated usage.

Complete public explanation

Medical, scientific, public-health and community terminology with sources and usage notes.

Use the information with its source date, population and jurisdiction. A general explanation cannot determine an individual’s diagnosis, eligibility, regimen or legal obligations.

Key considerations

  • Prefer person-first language and avoid labels that reduce people to a diagnosis.
  • Define abbreviations before relying on them.
  • Separate clinical, laboratory, legal and community meanings.
  • Flag outdated or stigmatizing terms rather than silently normalizing them.

Research and evidence questions

01Which terms create misunderstanding across languages?
02How should translations preserve clinical meaning and respect?
03Which deprecated terms still appear in policy and records?
04How can definitions remain synchronized with guidelines?

Professional and academic evidence

Professional interpretation of a-z glossary adds study design, population, comparator, outcomes, statistical methods, limitations, conflicts, guideline adoption, geographic applicability, replication and integrity status.

Evidence record fields for A-Z glossary
FieldWhat the Center displays
Meaning and scopeDefinition, mechanism, intended use and what should not be inferred.
Population and jurisdictionAge, sex and gender, geography, HIV subtype, clinical context and issuing authority.
OutcomeClinical, virologic, diagnostic, public-health or implementation outcome and follow-up.
ProvenanceOriginal source, identifier, version, funding, conflicts, access date and review.
IntegrityProtocol changes, corrections, expressions of concern, retractions and later evidence.

Principal sources and evidence gateways

Links checked 18 August 2026
01
NIH HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and research portalNIH HIVinfo · Research strategy · Access checked 18 Aug 2026
02
Clinical guidelines for HIV prevention and treatmentNIH Clinicalinfo · Guideline · Access checked 18 Aug 2026
03
NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research, updated 2025NIH Office of AIDS Research · Research strategy · Access checked 18 Aug 2026
Additional permanent evidence gateways