MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS

ABGs arterial blood gases
ABO blood group system
a.c. before meals
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ad lib as desired
AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
ALL acute lympocytic leukemia
ALT alanine transaminase
AML acute myelocytic leukemia
aq water
AST asparate aminotransferase
ASO antistrepolysin O
b.i.d. twice a day
bili bilirubin
BP blood pressure
BUN blood urea nitrogen
Bx biopsy
C with
Ca calcium
CAD coronary artery disease
CBC complete blood count
cc cubic centimeter
CCU coronary care unit
chem chemistry
chemo chemotherapy
CK creatine kinase
cm centimeter
CML chronic myelogenous leukemia
CNS central nervous system
CO2 carbon dioxide
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
crit hematocrit
C-section cesarean section
CSF cerebrospinal fluid
CT scan computed tomography scan
CVA cerebrovascular accident
CXR chest x-ray
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
diff differential count of white blood cells
dil dilute
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DOB date of birth
Dx diagnosis
EBV Epstein-Barr virus
ECG, EKG electrocardiogram
EEG electroencephalogram
ENT ear, nose and throat
Eos eosinophils
ER emergency room
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate)
exc excision
FBS fasting blood sugar
Fe iron
FSH follicle stimulating hormone
FUO fever of unknown origin
gluc glucose
GI gastrointestinal
Gm, gm, g gram
GTT glucose tolerance test
GYN gynecology
h hour
Hb, Hgb hemaglobin
HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen
HBV hepatitis B virus
HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HCL hydrochloric acid
Hct hematocrit
HCV hepatitis C virus
HDL high-density lipoprotein
Hg mercury
HH (H&H) hemoglobin and hematocrit
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
h/o history of
H2O water
h.s. at bedtime
hx history
ICU intensive care unit
IM intramuscular
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous pyelogram
K potassium (kalium)
Kg kilogram
L liter, left
lat lateral
LD/LDH lactic dehydrogenase
LDL low-density lipoprotein
LE lupus erythematosus
lymphs lymphocytes
lytes electrolytes
m meter
MCH mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MCV mean corpuscular volume
mcg microgram
mets metastases
mg milligram
Mg magnesium
MI myocardial infarction
mL milliliter
mm millimeter
mono monocyte
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MS multiple sclerosis
Na sodium
neg negative
NG nasogastric
NPO nothing by mouth
O2 oxygen
OB obstetrics
O&P ova and parasite
OP operating room
oz ounce
P pulse, phosphorus
Path pathology
p.c. after meals
PCO2 pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood
Peds pediatrics
pH hydrogen ion concentration
PKU phenylketonuria
PMNs polymorphonuclear leukocytes
PO2 pressure of oxygen in the blood
p/o postoperative
p.o. orally
polys polymorphonuclear leukocytes
pos positive
post-op after operation
PP after a meal
PPD purified protein derivative (TB test)
pre-op before operation
prep prepare for
PRN, prn as necessary
PT prothrombin time/protime
PTT partial thromboplastin time
pt patient
PVC premature ventricular contraction
QNS, q.n.s. quantity not sufficient
R right
RA rheumatoid arthritis
RBC red blood cell count
req requisition
RIA radioimmunoassay
R/O rule out
RPR rapid plasma reagin
RT respiratory therapy
RR recovery room
Rx treatment
s without
Sed rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate
segs segmented white blood cells
SGOT serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SMAC sequential multiple analyzer computerized
sol solution
Staph staphylococcus
STAT, stat immediately
Strep streptococcus
Sx symptoms
T temperature
T3 triiodothyronine (thyroid gland hormone)
T4 thyroxine (thyroid gland hormone)
TB tuberculosis
T cells lymphocytes from the thymus
T & C type and crossmatch
TIBC total iron binding capacity
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TPR temperature, pulse and respirations
Trig triglycerides
TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone
Tx treatment
UA urinalysis
URI upper respiratory infection
UTI urinary tract infection
UV ultraviolet
VCU voiding cystourethrogram
VD venereal disease
VDRL venereal disease research laboratory
W with line through it water reactive
WBC white blood cell count
wd wound
WT weight
y/o years old