Abbreviation An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...

s are used very frequently in medicine. They boost efficiency as long as they are used intelligently. The advantages of brevity should be weighed against the possibilities of obfuscation (making the communication harder for others to understand) and ambiguity (having more than one possible interpretation). Certain medical abbreviations are avoided to prevent mistakes, according to

best practice A best practice is a method or technique that has been generally accepted as superior to other known alternatives because it often produces results that are superior to those achieved by other means or because it has become a standard way of doing ...

s (and in some cases regulatory requirements); these are flagged in the

list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions This is a list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions, including hospital orders (the patient-directed part of which is referred to as sig codes). This list does not include abbreviations for pharmaceuticals or drug name suffixes such as C ...

Orthographic styling

Periods (stops)

Periods (stops) are often used in styling abbreviations. Prevalent practice in medicine today is often to forego them as unnecessary. * Example: ** ''Less common:'' The diagnosis was C.O.P.D.
hronic obstructive pulmonary disease** ''More common:'' The diagnosis was COPD

Plurals

The prevalent way to represent plurals for medical acronyms and initialisms is simply to affix a lowercase ''s'' (no

apostrophe The apostrophe ( or ) is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritical mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet and some other alphabets. In English, the apostrophe is used for two basic purposes: * The marking of the omission of one ...

). * Example: ''one OCP'', ''two OCPs'' ral contraceptive pills

Possessives

Possessive forms are not often needed, but can be formed using apostrophe + ''s''. Often the writer can also recast the sentence to avoid it. * Example: ** ''BP's effect on risk of MI is multifaceted.'' ** ''The effect of BP on MI risk is multifaceted.''

Arrows

Arrows may be used to indicate numerous conditions including elevation (↑), diminution (↓), and causation (→, ←).

Pronunciation

Pronunciation follows convention outside the medical field, in which acronyms are generally pronounced as if they were a word (''

JAMA ''The Journal of the American Medical Association'' (''JAMA'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of biom ...

'', ''

SIDS Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexplained death of a child of less than one year of age. Diagnosis requires that the death remain unexplained even after a thorough autopsy and detailed death scene investigation. SIDS usua ...

''), initialisms are generally pronounced as individual letters ('' DNA'', ''

SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs that are typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and other psychological conditions. SSRIs increase the extracellul ...

''), and abbreviations generally use the expansion (''soln.'' = "

solution Solution may refer to: * Solution (chemistry), a mixture where one substance is dissolved in another * Solution (equation), in mathematics ** Numerical solution, in numerical analysis, approximate solutions within specified error bounds * Solutio ...

", ''sup.'' = "

superior Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places *Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lake ...

"). Abbreviations of

weights and measures A unit of measurement is a definite magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same kind of quantity. Any other quantity of that kind can be expressed as a multip ...

are pronounced using the expansion of the unit (''mg'' = "milligram") and

chemical symbols A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., wit ...

using the chemical expansion (''NaCl'' = "sodium chloride"). Some initialisms deriving from Latin may be pronounced either as letters (''qid'' = "cue eye dee") or using the English expansion (''qid'' = "four times a day").

Some common medical abbreviations

Notation conventions * This series of lists omits periods from acronyms and initialisms. * It uses periods for certain abbreviations that traditionally often have them (mostly older Latin/Neo-Latin abbreviations). For example, both ''bid'' and ''b.i.d.'' may be found in the list. * It generally uses the singular form of an abbreviation (not the plural) as the

headword In morphology and lexicography, a lemma (plural ''lemmas'' or ''lemmata'') is the canonical form, dictionary form, or citation form of a set of word forms. In English, for example, ''break'', ''breaks'', ''broke'', ''broken'' and ''breaking'' ...

. * This list uses significant capitalization for headwords (the abbreviations) and their expansions. {, class="sortable wikitable" , !width="50", EG abb !!width="300", EG full name !!width="80", Other
(ver change, need to know...etc.) , - , ABG , arterial blood gas , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ACE , angiotensin-converting enzyme , , - , ACTH , adrenocorticotropic hormone , , - , AFVSS , Afebrile, vital signs stable , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ADH , antidiuretic hormone , , - , AED , automated external defibrillator , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , AIDS , acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , , - , ALP , alkaline phosphatase , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ALT , alanine aminotransferase , old version is SGPT , - , ASA , acetylsalicylic acid , aspirin , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , AST , aspartate aminotransferase , old version is SGOT , - , ATP , adenosine triphosphate , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BCG , bacille Calmette-Guérin , , - , bd, bid , 2 times a day , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BIBA , brought in by ambulance , , - , BIBP, BIBPD , brought in by police , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BLS , basic life support , , - , BMR , basal metabolic rate , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BP , blood pressure , , - , BPAD , bipolar affective disorder , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BPD , borderline personality disorder , Often incorrectly used for bipolar disorder (BPAD is preferred) , - , BSA , body surface area , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , BR , bedside rounds , , - , BUN , blood urea nitrogen , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , C , Celsius; centigrade; complement , , - , Ca , calcium , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CAMP, cAMP , cyclic adenosine monophosphate , , - , CBC , complete blood count , , - , CDC , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , cGy , centigray , , - , Ci , curie , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CK , creatine kinase , , - , Cl , chloride; chlorine , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , cm , centimeter(s)/centimetre(s) , , - , CNS , central nervous system , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CO2 , carbon dioxide , , - , COPD , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CPK , creatine phosphokinase , , - , CPK-MB , creatine phosphokinase muscle bandisoenzyme , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CPR , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , , - , CSF , cerebrospinal fluid , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , CT , computed tomography , , - , Cu , cubic , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , D & C , dilation and curettage , , - , dL , deciliter(s)/decilitre(s) , 1 dL = 100 mL , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , DNA , deoxyribonucleic acid , , - , DTP , diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis(toxoids/vaccine) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , D/W , dextrose in water , , - , ECF , extracellular fluid , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ECG , electrocardiogram , , - , EEG , electroencephalogram , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , EGD , esophagogastroduodenoscopy , , - , ENT , ear nose and throat , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ERCP , endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography , , - , ESR , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , F , Fahrenheit , , - , FDA , U.S. Food and Drug Administration , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Ft , foot; feet , measure unit , - , FUO , fever of unknown origin , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , G, g , gram(s) , , - , GFR , glomerular filtration rate , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , GI , gastrointestinal , , - , GVHD ,

Graft-versus-host disease Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a syndrome, characterized by inflammation in different organs. GvHD is commonly associated with bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants. White blood cells of the donor's immune system which remain ...

, , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , G6PD , glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase , , - , GU , genitourinary , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Gy , gray , , - , H, h, hr , hour(s) , '/24' is generally used in some regions. , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Hb , hemoglobin , , - , HCl , hydrochloric acid; hydrochloride , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , HCO3 , bicarbonate , , - , Hct , hematocrit , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Hg , mercury , , - ,

HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA or the Kennedy– Kassebaum Act) is a United States Act of Congress enacted by the 104th United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 21, 1 ...

, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , HIV , human immunodeficiency virus , , - , HLA , human leukocyte antigen , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , HMG-CoA , hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A , , - , hs , at bedtime , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Hz , hertz , cycles/second unit , - , ICF , intracellular fluid , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , ICU , intensive care unit , , - , IgA , etc. immunoglobulin A , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , IL , interleukin , , - , IM , intramuscular(ly) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , INR , international normalized ratio , , - , IPPB , intermittent positive pressure breathing , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , IU , international unit , , - , IV , intravenous(ly) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , IVU , intravenous urography , , - , K , potassium , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , kcal , kilocalorie(s) , mean food calorie , - , kg , kilogram(s) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , L , liter(s)/litre(s) , , - , lb , pound(s) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , LDH , lactic dehydrogenase , , - , LDLc , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , M , molar , , - , m , meter(s)/metre(s) , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mane , in the morning , , - , mc , micro- , Required in some regions to avoid the confusion of 'μ' with 'm' ('milli-'). , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , MCH , mean corpuscular hemoglobin , , - , MCHC , mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mCi , millicurie , , - , MCV , mean corpuscular volume , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mEq , Milliequivalent , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , midi , midday , - , Mg , magnesium , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mg , milligram(s) , , - , MI , myocardial infarction , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , MIC , minimum inhibitory concentration , , - , min(s) , minute(s) , '/60' is used in some regions. , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mIU , milli-international unit , , - , mL, , milliliter(s)/millilitre(s) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mm , millimeter(s)/millimetre(s) , , - , mmol , millimole(s) , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mo , month , '/12' is used in some regions. , - , mol , wt molecular weight , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , mOsm , milliosmole(s) , , - , MRI , magnetic resonance imaging , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , N , nitrogen; normal , unit to measure strength of solution , - , Na , sodium , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , NaCl , sodium chloride , , - , NAEON , no adverse events overnight , , - , ng , nanogram , billionth of a gram; also known as millimicrogram , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , nm , nanometer , billionth of a meter; also known as millimicron , - , nmol , nanomole , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , nocte , at night , , - , Npo , nothing by mouth/nil by mouth , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , NSAID , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug , , - , O2 , oxygen , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , OTC , over-the-counter , pharmaceuticals , - , oz , ounce(s) , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , P , phosphorus; pressure , , - , PAco2 , alveolar carbon dioxide partial pressure , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Paco2 , arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure , , - , PAo2 , alveolar oxygen partial pressure , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Pao2 , arterial oxygen partial pressure , , - , PAS , periodic acid-Schiff , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Pco2 , carbon dioxide partial pressure , or tension , - , PCR , polymerase chain reaction , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , PET , positron emission tomography , , - , pg , picogram(s) , micromicrogram , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , pH , hydrogen ion concentration , , - , PMN , polymorphonuclear leukocyte , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , po , orally , , - , Po2 , oxygen partial pressure , or tension , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , PPD , purified protein derivative , tuberculin , - , ppm , parts per million , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , prn , as needed , From the Latin ''pro re nata'' , - , PT , prothrombin time , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , PTT , partial thromboplastin time , , - , q , every , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , qid , 4 times a day , , - , RA , rheumatoid arthritis , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , RBC , red blood cell , , - , RNA , ribonucleic acid , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , Sao2 , arterial oxygen saturation , , - , SBE , subacute bacterial endocarditis , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , sc , subcutaneous(ly) , , - , SI , International System of Units , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , SIDS , sudden infant death syndrome , , - , SLE , systemic lupus erythematosus , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , soln , solution , , - , sp , species , singular , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , spp , species , plural , - , sp gr , specific gravity , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , sq , square , , - , SSRI , selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , STS , serologic test(s) for syphilis , , - , T&A , tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , TB , tuberculosis , , - , tds , 3 times a day , tid preferred in some regions , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , TIBC , total iron-binding capacity , , - , tid , 3 times a day , tds preferred in some regions , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , TPN , total parenteral nutrition , , - , URI , upper respiratory infection , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , UTI , urinary tract infection , , - , WBC , white blood cell , , -style="background:#f8ecf2;" , WHO , World Health Organization , , - , WR , ward round , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , wt , weight , , - , μ , micro-; micron , , - style="background:#fcf0f5;" , μCi , microcurie , , - , μg , microgram(s) , , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , μL , microliter(s)/microlitre(s) , , - , μm , micrometer(s)/micrometre(s) , Also referred to as microns , - style="background:#f8ecf2;" , μmol , micromole(s) , , - , μOsm , micro-osmole(s) , , - style="background:#f5e8ec;" , mμ , millimicron(s) , Also referred to as nanometers/nanometres

References

*

* Available online (by subscription) a
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* *

External links

Glossary of Medical Terms - Tufts UniversityMedical Abbreviations EN
English Medical Abbreviations for Android
JD.MD, Inc. online Medical & Dental Abbreviations Glossary

Acronyms for Medical & Dental professional organizations

Medical Abbreviations for iPhone

Medical abbreviations on mediLexicon

Medical acronyms and abbreviations on allacronyms.com

Over 20,000 medical abbreviations sorted into specialist categories

Medical abbreviations in various categories such as Physiology, Oncology, Laboratory and more
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Medical Abbreviations Lists of medical abbreviations,