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n
naloxone
drug that can block the effect of opiates and is used in stopping overdoses
nasal cavity
chamber lined with mucous membranes that connects the nose and the throat
nausea
feeling sick to the stomach and perhaps wanting to vomit
needle exchange program
type of harm reduction service that provides needles and other injection equipment to people who use drugs along with counselling and other services related to drug use
neutropenia
abnormal decrease in a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil
non-invasive
describes a procedure that does not require puncturing the skin or entering the body
non-responder
person who does not respond to treatment by a certain time or date, indicating that treatment does not work for them
NSAID
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; medicine that lowers fever, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain
nucleic acid
molecules in living cells, which carry hereditary or genetic information. DNA and RNA are two main types of nucleic acid that allow cells to replicate.
nucleic acid testing
NAT; testing that detects HCV RNA in the blood, regardless of a persons immune response; a positive or reactive result means there is active virus present. Two types of NAT are the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and the branched chain DNA technique.
nucleoside
building block of nucleic acids that make up RNA and DNA
nucleoside analogue
artificial molecule that is similar to the building blocks of DNA and RNA. When incorporated into a viral DNA or RNA during viral replication, the nucleoside analogue prevents the production of a new virus. An example of a nucleoside analogue is ribavirin, the drug used in combination with interferon to treat hepatitis C.