| Abbreviations |
| A |
artery |
| AAOH |
Asian Association of Occupational Health |
| Ab |
antibody |
| abdo. |
abdomen |
| ABG |
arterial blood gases (test) |
| ABX |
antibiotics |
| AC |
alternating current (electricity) |
| ACE |
angiotensin converting enzyme |
| ACS |
acute coronary syndrome |
| ACGIH |
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists |
| ACh |
acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) |
| ACTH |
adrenal corticotrophic hormone |
| ACP |
acid phosphatase |
| ACU |
acute care unit |
| ADD |
attention deficit disorder |
| ADH |
antidiuretic hormone |
| ADL |
Activities of Daily Living |
| ADR |
adverse drug reaction |
| AF |
amniotic fluid |
| AFB |
acid fast bacilli (group includes tuberculosis organisms) |
| Ag |
antigen |
| AIDS |
acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
| ALP |
alkaline phosphatase (enzyme) |
| ALT |
alanine transferase (enzyme) |
| AMA |
Australian Medical Association (also American Medical Association) |
| AMI |
acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) |
| anat. |
anatomy |
| APPT |
activated partial thromboplastin time (a coagulation test) |
| ARDS |
acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF |
acute renal failure |
| ASB |
asymptomatic bacteriuria |
| ASOT |
anti-streptolysin O titre (an antibody which is positive in rheumatic fever) |
| AST |
aspartate transferase |
| ASX |
asymptomatic (without symptoms) |
| ata |
atmospheric (absolute) pressure |
| ATPS |
ambient temperature and pressure standardised |
| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
| ATSI |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders |
| aux. |
auxiliary |
| AV |
atrio-ventricular or arterio-venous |
| AVM |
arterio-venous malformation |
| B. |
blood |
| Ba |
barium |
| BAL |
blood alcohol level; bronchoalveolar lavage |
| BGC |
bacille Calmette-Guérin |
| BCME |
bis-chloromethyl ether |
| BBB |
bundle branch block (cardiac); blood brain barrier |
| BE |
barium enema (x-ray examination of the colon) |
| Biol. |
biology |
| BMD |
bone mineral density |
| BMR |
basal metabolic rate (metabolic rate while resting) |
| BP |
blood pressure, British Pharmacopoeia |
| BPH |
benign prostatic hyperplasia |
| BPM |
(heart) beats per minute |
| BS |
blood sugar |
| BSA |
body surface area |
| BSE |
breast self examination |
| BTPS |
body temperature and pressure standardised |
| BUN |
blood urea nitrogen (blood urea level) |
| Bx |
biopsy |
| C |
Celsius (temperature scale) also known as Centigrade |
| Ca |
calcium |
| CA |
cancer, carcinoma |
| CABG |
coronary artery bypass graft |
| CAD |
coronary artery disease |
| CAPD |
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis |
| CAT |
computerised axial tomography (or CT) |
| CBC |
complete blood count - see also FBC |
| CCF |
congestive cardiac failure |
| CCOHS |
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety |
| CCU |
coronary care unit |
| CDC |
Centres for Disease Prevention & Control |
| CEA |
carcinoembrionic antigen (tumor marker) |
| cfu |
colony forming units |
| CI |
confidence interval |
| CK |
creatine kinase (enzyme) |
| Cl |
chloride, chlorine |
| cm |
centimetre (1/100 metre) |
| CNS |
central nervous system |
| CO |
carbon monoxide |
| CO2 |
carbon dioxide |
| COAD |
chronic obstructive airways (or pulmonary) disease also COPD |
| COSHH |
control of substances hazardous to health |
| CPR |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| C-RP |
c-reactive protein |
| CSF |
cerebrospinal fluid |
| CT |
computerised tomography (or CAT) |
| CVA |
cerebrovascular accident ("stroke") |
| CXR |
chest x-ray |
| d |
day (diem) |
| D & C |
dilatation and curettage |
| dB |
decibel (logarithmic noise pressure scale) |
| DC |
direct current (electricity) |
| D&C |
dilatation and curettage (surgical procedure) |
| DD / DDx |
differential diagnosis |
| DECOS |
Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Standards |
| DEXA |
dual energy x-ray absorptiometry |
| dL |
decilitre (1/10 of a litre or 100 mL) |
| DNA |
deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DNR |
do not resuscitate |
| DVT |
deep venous thrombosis |
| Dx |
diagnosis |
| EASHW |
European Agency foe Safety and Health at Work |
| EBV |
Epstein-Barr virus |
| EC |
European Commission |
| ECG |
electrocardiograph (in USA referred to as EKG) |
| ECT |
electroconvulsive therapy (psychiatry treatment) |
| EDAX |
energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer |
| EDV |
end diastolic volume |
| EEG |
electroencephalogram |
| E/LFT |
electrolytes and liver function test (pathology) |
| ELISA |
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay |
| EM |
electron micrograph |
| EMG |
electromyogram |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| ERCP |
endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography |
| esp. |
especially |
| ESR |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| ET |
endotracheal |
| ETT |
endotracheal tube |
| etc. |
et cetera |
| EtOH |
ethanol (or alcohol) |
| EX |
examination (findings)—see also O/E |
| FBC |
full blood count (examination), also CBC or FBE |
| Fe |
iron |
| FEV |
forced expiratory volume |
| FEV1 |
forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
| FiO2 |
concentration of inspired oxygen |
| fL |
fempto litre (10E-15 litre) |
| FSH |
follicle stimulating hormone |
| FTI |
free thyroxine index |
| g |
gram |
| GB |
gall bladder |
| GCS |
Glasgow coma scale, graduated compression stockings |
| GnRH |
gonadotrophin releasing hormone |
| Govt |
government |
| GP |
general practitioner |
| G6PH |
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase |
| GTT |
(oral) glucose tolerance test (also OGTT) |
| Gy |
gray |
| h |
hour |
| Hb |
haemoglobin |
| HbF |
foetal haemoglobin |
| HBV |
hepatitis B virus |
| HCG/hCG |
human chorionic gonadotrophin |
| HCl |
hydrochloric acid |
| Hg |
mercury |
| HIAA |
hydroxy indoleacetic acid |
| HIV |
human immunodeficiency virus |
| HLA |
human leukocyte associated antigen |
| HMMA |
4-hydroy-3-methoxy mandelic acid |
| HPF |
high powered (microscope) field |
| HPI |
history of presenting illness |
| HRA |
health risk assessment |
| HRCT |
high resolution computed tomography |
| HTLV-3 |
human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 3 |
| HVAC |
heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems |
| IBD |
inflammatory bowel disease |
| ICD |
International Classification of Diseases |
| ICSC |
International Chemical Safety Cards |
| ICU |
intensive care unit |
| IDC |
indwelling catheter |
| i.e. |
that is |
| Ig |
immunoglobulin |
| IM |
intramuscular (also im) |
| IMI |
intramuscular injection |
| IPCS |
International Program on Chemical Safety |
| IU |
international units |
| IUD |
intrauterine (contraceptive) device |
| IV |
intravenous |
| IVF |
in vitro fertilisation |
| IVI |
intravenous |
| IOS |
index of suspicion |
| IPC |
intermittent pneumatic compression |
| IVP |
intravenous pyelogram |
| K |
potassium; gestation expressed as a fraction of 40 weeks; e.g. K = 21/40 |
| k |
kilogram |
| kg |
kilogram |
| kJ |
kilojoule |
| kPa |
kilopascal (unit of pressure) |
| kph |
kilometres per hour |
| L |
litre |
| (L) |
left |
| LBBB |
left bundle branch block (cardiac) |
| LDH |
lactate dehydrogenase |
| LFT |
liver function test (pathology) |
| LH |
leuteinising hormone |
| LIF |
left iliac fossa |
| LMO |
local medical officer (general practitioner) |
| LMWH |
low molecular weight heparin |
| LVH |
left ventricular hypertrophy (cardiac muscle hypertrophy) |
| m |
metre |
| MAOI |
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (anti-depressant) |
| M/C/S |
microscopy culture and sensitivity |
| MCV |
mean cell volume |
| MEDLINE |
Medlars on LINE |
| MEF |
maximum expiratory flow |
| MEL |
maximum exposure limit |
| mEq |
milliequivalent |
| METs |
metabolic cost of activities |
| mg |
milligram |
| min |
minute |
| mL |
millilitre |
| mm |
millimetre |
| mmol |
millimole |
| mOsm |
milliosmole |
| MRI |
magnetic resonance imaging |
| MS |
multiple sclerosis |
| Msv |
millisieverts |
| Mx |
management, treatment (see also Rx, Tx) |
| N (N) |
normal |
| NBM |
nil by mouth (fasting) |
| ng |
nanogram |
| NIOSH |
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health |
| no. |
number |
| NSAID |
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| NSU |
non-specific urethritis |
| obs. |
obsolete |
| OC |
oral contraceptive |
| OD |
overdose |
| O2 |
oxygen |
| O/E |
on examination (findings) |
| OP, op. |
operation |
| OR |
odds ratio |
| OSHA |
Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
| OT |
operating theatre, occupational therapist/therapy |
| P |
plasma; pressure |
| PAHs |
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons |
| pCO2 |
partial pressure of CO2 |
| PCR |
polymerase chain reaction |
| PCV |
packed cell volume |
| PEF |
peak expiratory flow |
| pg |
picogram |
| pH |
measure of acidity (logarithmic scale) |
| physio. |
physiotherapy, physiotherapist |
| PKU |
phenyl ketone uria |
| pmol |
picomol |
| PMR |
proportionate mortality ratio |
| POCT |
point of care test |
| pO2 |
partial pressure of oxygen |
| post. |
posterior |
| PR |
per rectum |
| prn |
as required |
| Psych. |
psychiatry or psychology |
| Px |
prognosis |
| (R) |
right |
| RAST |
radio-allergosorbent test |
| RBC |
red blood cell |
| RCC |
red cell count |
| rel. |
relative |
| req. |
required |
| RI |
reference interval (also RR) |
| RIF |
right iliac fossa |
| RR |
reference range (also RI) |
| RUQ |
right upper quadrant (of abdomen) |
| Rx |
prescription or medication, also treatment plan (see also Tx, Mx) |
| S |
serum |
| SaO2 |
Arterial oxygen saturation (cf Sp02) |
| SC |
subcutaneous |
| SCI |
subcutaneous injection |
| sec |
second |
| SG |
specific gravity |
| SI |
System Internationale (of units) |
| SIDS |
sudden infant death syndrome |
| SLE |
systemic lupus erythematosus |
| SpO2 |
Peripheral oxygen saturation (cf Sa02) |
| SSRI |
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (antidepressant medication) |
| stat. |
once |
| T4 |
thyroxine hormone |
| TB |
tuberculosis |
| TENS |
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation |
| Theat. |
theatre, operating theatre |
| TIA |
transient ischaemic attack |
| TLC |
Total lung capacity |
| TSH |
thyroid stimulating hormone |
| TWA |
time weighted average |
| Tx |
treatment (see also Rx, Mx) |
| U. |
urine |
| U |
unit |
| uL |
microlitre |
| umol |
micromol |
| ug |
microgram |
| URTI |
upper respiratory tract infection |
| XRT |
x-ray therapy |
| US |
United States of America |
| VD |
venereal disease |
| VMA |
vanillylmandelic acid |
| vol. |
volume |
| WBC |
white blood cells |
| WCC |
white cell count |
| WR |
Wassermann reaction (test of syphilis) |