List of medical abbreviations: Difference between revisions
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| PEG || [[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy]] |
| PEG || [[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy]] |
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| [[PERRLA|PERRL]] || Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light (e.g. "pupils PERRL") |
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| PERRLA || Pupils Equal |
| [[PERRLA|PERLA]] || Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation |
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| [[PERRLA|PERRLA]] || Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation |
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| Per Vag || per vaginam |
| Per Vag || per vaginam |
Revision as of 21:05, 22 March 2008
It has been suggested that List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2007. |
This is a partial list of medical acronyms and abbreviations, both formal and informal. Related lists, such as acronyms in healthcare and list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions, are also available.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
0–9
Abbrv. | Meaning |
Δ | Diagnosis; Also can mean "change" |
ΔΔ | Differential diagnosis, i.e. the list of possible diagnoses |
# | Fracture |
#NOF | Fracture to the neck of the femur |
℞ || (R with crossed tail) Prescription |
|
Ψ | Psychiatry |
Σ | Sigmoidoscopy |
x/12 | x number of months |
x/40 | x number of weeks of pregnancy |
x/52 | x number of weeks |
x/7 | x number of days |
5-HIAA | 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid |
5-HT | Serotonin, 5-Hydroxytryptamine |
A
B
Bx | Biopsy |
Ba | Barium |
BAL | Bronchoalveolar lavage |
BAL | British anti-Lewisite |
BAL | Blood Alcohol Level |
BAO | Basic acid output |
BAT | Brown adipose tissue |
BBB L | left bundle branch block - Electrocardiogram |
BBB R | right bundle branch block - Electrocardiogram |
BC | bone conduction |
BC | Blood culture |
BCG | Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination) |
BCP | birth control pills |
BCX | Blood culture |
BBMF | "Bone break, me fix" Orthopedic consent form |
b.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis die |
BD | Bipolar Disorder |
b.i.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis in die |
BE | Barium enema |
BE | Base excess |
BGAT | Blood Glucose Awareness Training - Diabetic hypoglycemia |
BGL | Blood Glucose Level |
BIB | Brought in by |
BIBA | brought in by ambulance |
BID | two times per day (lat.: bis in die) |
Bilat eq | bilaterally equal |
BiPAP | Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure - Positive airway pressure |
BiVAD | Bilateral ventricular assist device (left and right) |
BK | Bacterium Koch |
BKA | Below the knee amputation |
bl.cult | Blood culture |
bld | Blood |
BLS | Basic Life Support |
BM | Bowel movement |
BMC | Bone mass content |
BMD | Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement) |
BMI | Body mass index |
BMP | Blood Metabolic Profile |
BMR | Basal metabolic rate |
BMT | Bone marrow transplantation |
BNO | Bowel Not Open |
BNP | Brain natriuretic peptide |
BO | Bowel Open |
B/O | because of |
BOA | Born out of Asepsis |
BOI | Born on island, ie. a local patient. |
BOM | bilateral otitis media |
BOOP | Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia |
BP | Blood pressure |
BP | Bipolar disorder |
BPAD | Bipolar Affective Disorder |
BPD | Bi-Parietal Diameter |
BPD | Borderline personality disorder |
BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia |
BPH | Benign prostatic hypertrophy |
BPM | Beats per minute |
BPPV | Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo |
BR | bedrest or bathroom, depending on context |
BRCA1 | breast cancer 1, early onset - a human gene |
BRCA2 | Breast Cancer Type 2 susceptibility protein - a human gene |
BRAT | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast: acronym for bland diet |
BRATY | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast, Yogurt: acronym for bland diet for children |
BRP | Bathroom Privileges |
BRBPR | Bright red blood per rectum |
BS | Breath; Breath sound |
BS | Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope |
BS | Blood sugar |
BSA | Body surface area |
BSC | bedside commode |
BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
BSE | Breast self-examination |
BSL | Blood Sugar Level |
BSP | Bromsulphthalein |
BT | Bleeding time |
BTL | Bilateral tubal ligation |
BUN | Blood urea nitrogen |
BV | Bacterial vaginosis |
BVP | Biventricular Pacing - Artificial pacemake |
Bx | Biopsy |
C
D
E
E | Ecstasy |
E | Electrolytes |
E | Epinephrine |
EAC | External acoustic meatus |
EACA | Epsilon-aminocaproic acid |
EBL | Estimated blood loss - Bleeding |
EBM | Evidence-based medicine |
EBM | Expressed Breast Milk |
EBV | Epstein-Barr virus |
EC | Enterically Coated |
ECF | Extracellular fluid |
ECG | Electrocardiogram |
ECI | febris e causa ignota (normally writtean as: febris E.C.I.) |
ECLS | Extracorporeal Life Support |
ECMO | Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation |
ECP | Emergency Care Practitioner |
ECT | Electro-convulsive therapy |
ED | Emergency department |
ED | Erectile Dysfunction |
ED | Ectodermal dysplasia |
EDC | Estimated date of confinement (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) |
EDD | Estimated date of delivery (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy); Expected date of delivery |
EDD | Estimated date of discharge |
EDH | Epidural hematoma |
EDM | esophageal Doppler monitor |
EDRF | Endothelium-derived relaxing factor aka Nitric oxide |
EDTA | ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid |
EDV | End-diastolic volume |
EEG | Electroencephalogram |
EENT | ears, eyes, nose, throat |
EEX | Electrodiagnosis |
EF | Ejection fraction |
EFM | Electronic fetal monitoring - Cardiotocograph |
EFM | External fetal monitoring - Cardiotocograph |
EGD | Esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
EGF | Epidermal Growth Factor |
EJ | elbow jerk - Triceps reflex |
EKG | Electrocardiogram |
ELLSCS | Elective Lower Segment Caesarian Section |
ELISA | Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay |
EmBx | Endometrial Biopsy |
EMC | Encephalomyocarditis |
EMD | Early Morning Discovery |
EMD | ElectroMechanical Dissociation |
EMF | Endomyocardial fibrosis |
EMG | Electromyography |
EMLSCS | Emergency Lower Segment Caesarian Section |
EMU | Early Morning Urine sample (being the most concentrated generally used for pregnancy testing) |
Emul | Emulsion |
ENT | Ear Nose and Throat - (Otolaryngology) |
EOM | Extraocular muscles |
EOMI | Extra ocular movements intact - Eye movement |
EPH | Edema Proteinuria Hypertension |
EPO | Erythropoietin |
EPS | Electrophysiology |
ER | Emergency room, Emergency department |
ERCP | Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography |
ESL | Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (also ESWL) - see lithotriptor |
ESBL | Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase gram negative bacteria |
ESR | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
ESRD | End-stage renal disease |
ESV | End-systolic volume |
ESWL | Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (also ESL) - see lithotriptor |
ET | Endothelin |
ET | endotrachael |
Etiol | Etiology |
ETOH | ethanol or ethyl alcohol |
ETS | Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy |
ETT | Endotracheal tube |
EUA | examination under anesthesia |
EUP | Extrauterine pregnancy |
EUS | Endoscopic Ultrasonography |
EVF | erythrocyte volume fraction - Hematocrit |
Exam | Examination |
Exp Lap | exploratory laparotomy |
Ext | extremities |
F
Fx | Fracture |
FB | Foreign body |
FBC | Full blood count |
FBE | Full blood exam |
FBG | Fasting blood glucose |
FBS | Fasting blood sugar |
F/C | Fevers or Chills |
FDC | Follicular dendritic cells |
FDIU | Foetal Demise In Utero |
FDP | Fibrin degradation product |
FEV1 | Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second |
Fe | Iron |
FF | Free Fluids (non-thickened fluids) |
FFA | Free fatty acids |
FFP | Fresh frozen plasma |
FHR | Fetal heart rate |
FHS | Fetal heart sound |
FHT | Fetal heart tones |
FHx | Family History |
FIBD | Found in Bed Dead |
FLK | Funny Looking Kid (suggesting an unspecified syndrome, should now be termed "dysmorphic features") |
fl.oz. | Fluid ounce (about 28 cm³) |
FMF | Fetal movements felt |
FMP | first menstruation period - Menarche |
fMRI | Functional magnetic resonance imaging |
F→N | finger to nose test |
FNAC | Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology |
FNC | Full nursing care |
FOF | Found on Floor (Patient fell out of bed) |
FOS | Full of Stool |
FPG | Fasting plasma glucose |
FROM | full range of motion |
FSE | Fetal Scalp Electrode |
FSH | Follicle stimulating hormone |
FTA-ABS | Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption |
FTA | Fluorescent treponemal antibody |
FTT | Failure to thrive |
F/U | follow-up |
FUBAR | F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition, originally used to refer to corpses after horrendous (typically battlefield) trauma, but "FUBAR" is now sometimes used to describe very ill patients with little hope of recovery, including those that have not necessarily suffered trauma. Not very politically correct![citation needed] |
FUO | Fever of unknown origin |
FVC | Forced Vital Capacity (Spirometry test value used in assessment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) |
FWB | Full weight bearing |
FWD | Full ward diet |
Fx | Fracture of a bone |
G
H
h | hour |
H | Histamine or its receptors (if with subscripts), Hemagglutinin |
Hx | history |
HA | Hypertonia arterialis |
HA; H/A | Headache |
HAA | Hepatitis associated antigen |
HAART | Highly active anti-aetroviral therapy |
HACE | High altitude cerebral oedema |
HACEK | Acronym for group of bacteria frequent cause of endocarditis in children. |
HAE | Heriditary angioedema |
HAD | HIV-associated dementia |
H/A | Headache |
HALE | Health-adjusted life expectancy |
HAPE | High altitude pulmonary oedema |
HAV | Hepatitis A virus |
Hb | Hemoglobin |
HB | Heart block |
Hb% | Hemoglobin concentration in gram per deciliter |
HbA | Hemoglobin A (commonest type of hemoglobin |
HbA1C | Glycosylated hemoglobin (used as a measure of diabetes control) |
HbF | Fetal hemoglobin |
HBP | high blood pressure - Hypertension |
HbsAg | Hepatitis B surface antigen |
HBV | Hepatitis B virus |
HCC | Hepatocellular carcinoma |
Hct | Hematocrit |
hCG | Human chorionic gonadotropin |
HCL | Hairy cell leukemia |
HCM | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
HCT | Hematocrit |
HCT | Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation |
HCRP | Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme |
HCTZ | Hydrochlorothiazide |
HD | Hodgkin's disease |
HCV | Hepatitis C virus |
HDL | High density lipoprotein |
HDL-C | High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol |
HDU | High Dependency Unit |
HDV | Hepatitis D virus |
H&E | Hematoxlyn and Eosin standard tissue stain. |
HEENT | Head Eyes Ears Nose Throat (e.g. HEENT normal) |
HELP or HELLP | H=hypertension E=elevated liver enzynes LP=low platelets syndrome (in Pregnancy) - HELLP syndrome |
HEMA | Hydroxy ethyl methacrylate w.r.t soft contact lenses |
Hema | Hematest - e.g. Hema (-) - Fecal occult blood |
HES | Hydroxyethyl Starch |
HETE | Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid |
HEV | Hepatitis E virus |
HGB | Hemoglobin |
HGV | Hepatitis G virus |
HGPRTase | Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase |
HH | Hiatus hernia |
H&H | Hemoglobin and Hematocrit |
HHV | Human Herpes Virus |
HHT | Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectisia |
Hib | Haemophilus influenzae B |
HIDS | Hyper-IgD(and periodic fever) syndrome |
HIT | Heparin induced thrombocytopenia |
HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus |
HL | Hepatic lipase |
HL | Hodgkin's lymphoma |
HL | Hearing Level w.r.t. ENT |
HLA | Human leukocyte antigens |
HLHS | Hypoplastic left heart syndrome |
H&M | Hematemesis and Melena |
HMD | Hyaline membrane disease |
HMG-CoA | 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA |
HMGR | 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase |
HMS | Hyper-reactive Malarial Splenomegaly |
HMSN | Hereditary motor sensory neuropathy |
HN | Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase |
HND | Hemolytic disease of the newborn |
HNPCC | Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer |
H/O;h/o | History of....(Past medical history of) |
HOCM | Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy |
HONK | Hyperosmolar Non Ketotic Coma |
H&P | History & Physical examination |
HPA | Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis |
HPETE | Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid |
HPF | high power field - Microscopy |
HPI or H/oPI | History of Present Illness |
HPOA | Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy - Clubbing |
HPL | Human Placental Lactogen (same as Human chorionic somatomammotropin) |
HPV | Human papillomavirus |
HR | Heart rate |
HRT | Hormone replacement therapy |
h.s. | At bedtime, from Latin, hora somni |
hs | hours of sleep |
H→S | heel-to-shin test |
HSC | Human chorionic somatomammotropin (same as Human placental lactogen) |
HSG | Hysterosalpingogram |
HSP | Henoch-Schönlein purpura |
HSV | Herpes simplex virus |
HT | Hypertension |
Ht | height |
HTLV | Human T-lymphotropic virus |
HTN | Hypertension |
HTPA | Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis |
HTVD | Hypertensive vascular disease |
HUS | Hemolytic uremic syndrome |
HVLT | High-velocity Lead Therapy, also see GSW (gunshot wound) |
Hx | history (of) |
I
J
JIA | Juvenile idiopathic arthritis |
JMS | "Junior Medical Student" AKA "MS-3" |
JODM | Juvenil onset diabetes mellitus |
JRA | Juvenil rheumatoid arthritis (now termed Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis) |
JVD | Jugular vein distension |
JVP | Jugular venous pressure |
K
K | Potassium (from the word Kalium, in turn from "alkali" from Arabic al qalīy = "the calcined ashes") |
KA | Ketoacidosis |
Kcal | Kilocalorie, Calorie |
KCCT | Kaolin cephalin clotting time |
kg | Kilogram |
KIV | Keep in view |
KLS | Kidney liver spleen |
KS | Kaposi's sarcoma |
KUB | Kidneys, ureters, and bladder (x-ray) |
KVO | keep vein open (with slow infusion) |
L
M
N
Na | Sodium (Latin: natrium) |
NAD | No Abnormality Detected, i.e. the absence of abnormal signs on examination |
NAD | No apparent distress; no acute distress |
NAS | no added salt |
NB | Newborn - Infant |
NBN | Newborn nursery |
NC | Nerve action potential |
NC | Nasal cannula |
NCC | Noncompaction cardiomyopathy |
NCS | Nerve conduction study |
NCT | nerve conduction test - Nerve conduction study |
NCV | Nerve conduction velocity - Nerve conduction study |
ND | (examination) not done |
NE | Norepinephrine |
Ne | Neutrophil granulocytes |
Neg | negative |
Neo | Neoplasm |
NFR | Not For Resuscitation |
NGtube | nasogastric tube |
NGU | Non-gonococcal urethritis |
NHL | Non Hodgkin Lymphoma |
NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
NIDDM | Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
NK | Natural killer cells |
NKA | no known allergies |
NKDA | no known drug allergies. This abbreviation is also used in the military of the United States and may be printed on dog tags or a uniform. |
Nl | normal |
NLP | no light perception - [Blindness]] |
NMR | Nuclear magnetic resonance |
NNH | Number needed to harm |
NNT | Number needed to treat |
NO | Nitric oxide |
No. | number |
NOF | Neck of Femur Fracture (refers to Hip fracture) |
Non rep. | do not repeat |
NOS | Nitric oxide synthase |
NPH | Normal pressure hydrocephalus |
Npl | Neoplasm |
NPO | nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
NPTAC | no previous tracing available for comparison |
NRB | Non-rebreather mask |
NREM | non-Rapid Eye Movement |
n.s. | not significant |
NS | Normal Saline |
NSA | no significant abnormality |
NSAID | Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug |
NSCC | Non Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
NSD | normal spontaneous delivery - Childbirth |
NSE | Neurospecific enolase |
NSR | Normal sinus rhythm |
NSRI | Noradrenaline-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor |
NST | non-stress test - Cardiotocograph |
NSTEMI | non-ST elevation MI - Myocardial infarction |
NSU | Non-specific urethritis |
NT | not tested |
NTG | Nitroglycerin |
NTT | nasotracheal tube - Intubation |
N&V | Nausea & Vomiting |
NVD | Normal vaginal delivery |
NVD | nausea, vomiting & diarrhea |
NVDC | nausea, vomiting, diarrhea & constipation |
O
o | nothing |
O2 | Oxygen |
OA | Osteoarthritis |
OB-GYN | Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Obl | oblique |
OBS | Organic brain syndrome |
Occ | occasional |
OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
OCG | oral Cholecystogram |
OCNA | old chart not available - Medical history |
OCP | Oral contraceptive pill |
OD | right eye from Latin, oculus dexter |
OD | overdose |
od | every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case. |
OE | Otitis externa |
O/E | on examination |
OGTT | Oral glucose tolerance test |
Oint | Ointment |
OM | Otitis media |
om | every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case. |
OME | Otitis Media with Effusion - fluid in the inner ear without other symptoms. |
on | every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case. |
OOB | out of bed |
OP | outpatient department |
O&P | ova and parasites |
OPD | outpatient department |
OPPT | Oriented to Person Place and Time |
OPV | outpatient visit |
OR | Operating room, Operating theatre |
ORIF | Open reduction internal fixation |
ORSA | Oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
OS | left eye from Latin, oculus sinister |
OS | Orthopedic surgery |
OSA | Obstructive sleep apnea |
OSH | outside hospital |
Osm | Osmolarity |
Osteo | Osteomyelitis |
OT | Occupational therapy |
OTC | Over-the-counter drug |
OTD | Out the Door (discharged) |
OTPP | Oriented to Time Place and Person |
OU | Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque |
oz | Ounce |
P
Q
q | each, every, {from Latin, quaque} |
q.a.d. | every other day, (from Latin, quaque altera die) |
QALY | Quality-adjusted life years |
q.AM | every AM, (from Latin, quaque ante meridiem) |
q.d. | each day, {from Latin, quaque die} |
q.d.s. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater die sumendus} |
q.h. | each hour, {from Latin, quaque hora} |
q.h.s. | every bedtime, {from Latin, quaque hora somni} |
q.i.d. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater in die} |
q.m.t. | every month |
q.o.d | every other day |
QOF | Quality and Outcomes Framework system for payment of GPs in the UK National Health Service |
q.w.k. | weekly |
R
S
T
U
UA | Urinalysis | |
UBT | Urea Breath Test | |
UC | Ulcerative colitis | |
UD | As Directed, from Latin, Ut Dictum | |
UDS | Urine Drug Screening | |
U&E | urea and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) blood test, often including | creatinine |
URI | Upper Respiratory Infection | |
URTI | Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | |
US | Ultrasound | |
USG | Ultrasonography | |
USR | Unheated Serum Reagin | |
USS | Ultrasound scan | |
UTI | Urinary Tract Infection | |
UVAL | Ultraviolet Argon Laser |
V
W
WAP | wandering atrial pacemaker - Multifocal atrial tachycardia |
WAT | White adipose tissue |
WBC | White blood cells |
WC | White cells |
WDWN | Well developed, well nourished |
WNL | Within Normal Limits (Also: We Never Looked) |
WPW | Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
WWI | Walking While Intoxicated |
X
XR | extended release; x-ray radiography |
XRT | Radiation therapy |
Y
YO or yo | years old |
Z
ZIFT | Zygote intrafallopian transfer |
ZD | Zinc deficiency |
Latin abbreviations
Some of the following list are considered non-standardized abbreviations because their meanings could be easily misunderstood.
Abbrev. | Meaning | Latin origin |
a.c. | Before food | ante cibum |
a.d. | Right ear | auris dexter |
ad lib. | Freely as wanted | ad libitum |
a.l. | Left ear | aurix laevus |
alt. die | Every other day | alternus die |
alt. h. | Every other hour | alternus horis |
a.m. | Morning | ante meridiem |
a.n. | Before the night | ante noctum |
aq. | Water | aqua |
a.s. | Left ear | auris sinister |
a.u. | Each ear | auris utro |
aurist. | Ear drops | auristillae |
b.d. or bd | Twice a day | bis die |
b.i.d. or bid | Twice a day | bis in die |
gtt. | Drop | gutta |
h. | Hour | hora |
h.d. | at bed tim | hora decubitus |
h.s. | At bedtime | hora somni |
i.d. | during the day | |
i.d. | the same | idem |
i.d. | intradermal, between layers of the skin | |
mane | In the morning | mane |
narist. | Nasal drops | naristillae |
nocte | At night | nocte |
o.c. | Eye ointment | oculentum |
o.d. or od | Daily | omni die |
o.d. | Right eye | oculus dexter |
o.l. | Left eye | oculus laevus |
o.m. | In the morning | omni mane |
o.n. | At night | omni nocte |
o.r. | Right eye | oculus rectus |
o.s. | Left eye | oculus sinister |
o.u. | Each eye | oculus utro |
p.c. | After food | post cibum |
p.m. | Afternoon | post meridiem |
p.o. or po | Orally | per os |
p.r. | Rectally | per rectum |
p.r.n. | As occasion requires (as needed) | pro re nata |
p.v. | Vaginally | per vaginum |
q. | every | quaque |
q.2.h. | Every two hours | quaque 2 hora |
q.4.h. | Every four hours | quaque 4 hora |
q.6.h. | Every six hours | quaque 6 hora |
q.8.h. | Every eight hours | quaque 8 hora |
q.d. or qd | Every day | quaque die |
q.d.s. | Four times a day | quater die sumendus |
q.h. | Every hour, hourly | quaque hora |
q.i.d. or qid | Four times a day | quater in die |
q.q.h. | Every four hours | quarta quaque hora |
q.s. | A sufficient quantity | quantum sufficiat |
Rx or | for symbol ℞ meaning prescription || recipe |
|
s.i.d. or sid | Once a day | semel in die |
Sig. or S. | Write on the label | signa |
SL. | Sublingual, under the tongue | sub linguam |
S.O.S. | When required | Si opus sit |
Stat. | Immediately, with no delay | statim |
t.d.s. | Three times a day | ter die sumendus |
t.i.d. or tid | Three times a day | ter in die |
top. | Topically, applied to the skin | |
ut dict. or u.d. | As directed | ut dictum |
ung. | Ointment | unguentum |
"Do Not Use" list
The US-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires its members to follow a "do not use list":[1]
"Do Not Use" List Official in the United States | ||
---|---|---|
Do Not Use | Potential Problem | Use Instead |
U (unit) | Mistaken for “0” (zero), the number “4” (four) or “cc” | "unit" |
IU (International Unit) | Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten) | "International Unit" |
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day) |
Mistaken for each other. Period after the Q mistaken for "I" and the "O" mistaken for "I" (q.i.d. is four times a day dosing) |
"daily" "every other day" |
Trailing zero (X.0 mg) Lack of leading zero (.X mg) |
Decimal point is missed | X mg 0.X mg |
MS | Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate | "morphine sulfate" |
MSO4 and MgSO4 | Confused for one another | "morphine sulphate" and "magnesium sulfate" |
For possible future inclusion in the Official List: | ||
> (greater than) < (less than) |
Misinterpreted as the number "7" (seven) or the letter "L". Confused for one another |
"greater than" "less than" |
Abbreviations for drug names | Misinterpreted due to similar abbreviations for multiple drugs | Write drug names in full |
Apothecary units | Unfamiliar to many practitioners. Confused with metric units | metric units |
@ | Mistaken for the number "2" (two) | "at" |
cc | Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written | "mL" or "milliliters" |
µg | Mistaken for mg (milligrams) resulting in one thousandfold overdose | "mcg" or "micrograms" |
See also
- Acronyms in healthcare
- List of abbreviations for medical organisations and personnel
- List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions
- List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes
- Medical dictionary