Abbreviations
Abbreviations or acronyms are often used in working environments, where they serve a number of functions, including:
- ”Shorthand” – for speed of verbal or written communication
- Creating a sense of shared identity – we understand these abbreviations, others don’t. Eponyms and jargon can serve a similar purpose.
Some abbreviations are official in medical practice, such as those listed in the BNF (British National Formulary) for use in prescriptions. These are given in bold below. Wikipedia also has a list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions. A clinical trial abbreviations page exists in GANFYD.
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In the medical record use abbreviations only where their meaning is unambiguous and would be easily understood by colleagues. Never use abbreviations for making derogatory comments about patients. |
Abbreviations are often used in medical notes. Some are uncomplimentary 'in-jokes' (e.g. NFN – meaning Normal for Norfolk - or 'stupid'), and will be extremely embarrassing to explain at a minimum, and at worst could destroy your defence of a malpractice claim. Indeed many abbreviations are best avoided as they can be jargon specific for even a single medical school and explaining them to other doctors, yet alone patients who have the right to see their notes can be an unwelcome burden. Abbreviations are also often used in emails, text or instant messaging systems, and internet forums. There are many websites listing acronyms and abbreviations – see below.
Alphabetical list of abbreviations often used in medicine
If you can not find an abbreviation on this page do a search next. Please check also Category:Abbreviations, Category:Acronyms and Category:Initialisms as it is impossible to make this list all inclusive. For example the now official names of genes were all previously abbreviations and it is doubtful that GANFYD will ever get around to detailing all 40,000 odd.
Symbols
'# - fracture
A
- A&E - Accident and Emergency Department (aka "casualty").
- AAA - Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- AAACM - All Age, All Cause Mortality
- AAC - Advisory Appointments Committee (for appointing to consultant posts).
- AACE - Association of Ambulance Chief Executives
- AAD - Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhoea (typically associated with Clostridium difficile)
- ABCD - Age, Blood pressure, Clinical features, Duration stroke score
- ABG - Arterial blood gas
- ABHI - Association of British Healthcare Industries
- ABN - Association of British Neurologists
- ABPI - Ankle-brachial pressure index
- ABPI - Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
- ABPI VG - Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry ABPI Vaccines Group
- a.c. - before food (ante cibum) (Listed as official abbrevation in [1])
- ACAD - Ambulatory Care And Diagnostic unit
- ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
- ACBS - Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (See [BNF appendix 2)
- ACCEA Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards
- ACDP Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
- ACE - Adverse Childhood Events
- ACE - Angiotensin converting enzyme
- ACEI - Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor
- ACGM - Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification
- ACLS - Advanced Coronary Sife Support
- ACMT - Advisory Committee on Medical Training
- ACR - Transplantation: Acute cellular rejection
- ACS - Abdominal compartment syndrome
- ACS - Acute coronary syndrome
- ACTR - Additional Cost of Teaching and Research
- AD - Genetics: Autosomal dominant
- ADAS - Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service
- ADD - Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder
- ADH - Additional Duty Hours
- ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- ADL - Activities of Daily Living
- ADPH - of Directors of Public Health
- ADR - Adverse Drug Reaction
- ADT - Androgen-deprivation therapy
- AED - Accident and Emergency Department (aka "casualty").
- AED - Automated External Defibrillator (for cardioversion)
- AF - Atrial fibrillation
- AFAIK - As Far As I Know (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- AfC - Agenda for Change
- AFSSAPS - Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé
- AFSSPS - Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé - but apparently usually abbreviated as AFSSAPS or AFSSaPS.
- AKT - Applied Knowledge Test
- A(H7N9) - Influenza - H7N9 strain (typically avian influenza)
- AHSC - Academic Health Science Centre
- AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- AIUI - As I Understand It (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- aka - also known as
- ALS - Advanced Life Support
- approx. - approximately
- AMD - Age Related Macular Degeneration
- ANTT - aseptic, no-touch technique
- APC - Critical care: Activated protein C
- APC - Argon (laser) plasma coagulation (sometimes photocoagulation)
- APC - Adenomatosis polyposis coli (see Familial adenomatous polyposis)
- ARF - Acute renal failure
- AS - Aortic Stenosis
- ASA - American Society of Anesthesiologists as in ASA score
- a.s.a.p. - As Soon As Possible
- ASCUS - Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
- ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ASH - Action on Smoking and Health
- ASOT - Anti-Streptolysin-O Titre
- ATG - Anti-thymocyte globulin
- ATP - Adenosine triphosphate
- AV - AtrioVentricular
- AVM - Arteriovenous Malformation
- AXR - Abdominal X-Ray = Abdominal radiograph
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B
- BA - Benefits Agency
- BAN - British Approved Name (for a drug, now deprecated in favour of rINN)
- BAO - Baccalaureus in Arte Obstetricia (Bachelor of the Obstetric Art) - part of the basic medical qualification#Ireland in Ireland
- BASH - British Assocation for the Study of Headache
- BASHH - British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
- BASS - British Association of Spinal Surgeons
- BCC - Dermatology: basal cell carcinoma
- BCG - Bacille Calmette Guérin - a bacterium used to vaccinate against tuberculosis/treatment of bladder cancer
- BCh - Bachelor of Surgery (Chirugia in Latin) - part of the basic medical qualification
- BChir - Bachelor of Surgery (Chirugia in Latin) - part of the basic medical qualification
- BCP - Breast screening programme
- BCR - Benefit to Cost Ratio (see Economic analysis)
- BCS - Budd-Chiari syndrome
- BCSP - Bowel cancer screening programme
- BCT - Broad complex tachycardia
- BCT - Blunt chest trauma
- BCT - Brachiocephalic trunk
- b.d. - twice a day (bis die) (Listed as official abbrevation in [2])
- BLNAR - Beta-Lactamase Negative Antibiotic Resistance
- BLS - Basic life support
- BM - Bachelor of Medicine - part of the basic medical qualification
- BMA - British Medical Association
- BMI - Body mass index
- BNF - British National Formulary
- BNFC - British National Formulary for Children
- BNO - Bowels not open
- BO - Bowels open
- BP - British Pharmacopoeia
- BP - Blood pressure
- BPD - Borderline Personality Disorder (formerly known as "sociopath[s]").
- BPAD - Bipolar Affective Disorder
- BPC - British Pharmaceutical Codex
- BPPV - Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- BRONJ - Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw
- BS - Bachelor of Surgery- part of the basic medical qualification
- BSA - Body surface area; bovine serum albumin (in cell culture medium/cytology transport medium)
- BSO - bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of Fallopian tubes and ovaries)
- BSPGHAN - British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
- BTHA - British Travel Health Association
- BV - Bacterial Vaginosis
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C
- C&B - Choose And Book
- CABG - Coronary artery bypass grafting
- CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- CAMHS - Child and adolescent psychiatry
- CAPD - Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
- CAT - Cognitive Analytic Therapy
- CAT - Computer Axial Tomography
- CBG - Capillary blood glucose
- CBC - Complete Blood Count (USA); synonymous with Full blood count
- CBT - Cognitive behaviour therapy
- CCDC - Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
- CCR - Canadian C-spine rule
- CCT - Certificate of completion of training in Obstetrics: Controlled cord traction (of placenta)
- CD - Controlled Drug (BNF uses CD1, CD2, etc.)
- CDC - USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or their website)
- CDH - Congenital dislocation of the hip
- CDSC - Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre - subsequently renamed the Centre for Infections (CfI) of the Health Protection Agency, and since dissolved as an entity with its functions absorbed into other parts of Public Health England.
- CfH - (strictly NHS CfH since another org had the name well before) Connecting for Health - a govenment sponsored initiative to extend computerisation in the NHS (see NPfIT below)
- CfI - Centre for Infections (part of the Health Protection Agency, based in Colindale - formerly Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre).
- CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- ChB - Bachelor of Surgery (Chirugia in Latin) - part of the basic medical qualification
- CHB - Chronic hepatitis B (infection)
- CHB - Complete heart block
- CHD - Coronary Heart Disease
- CHF - Congestive Heart Failure
- CHM - Commission on Human Medicines
- CHMP - Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
- CIDP - Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
- CIEH - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
- CIN - Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
- CJD - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- CJDIP - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Incidents Panel
- CME - Continuing Medical Education
- CMV - Cytomegalovirus
- CNS - Central nervous system
- COAD - Chronic obstructive airway disease
- COBH - Change of Bowel Habit
- COBR ("Cobra") - Cabinet Office Briefing Room
- COE - Care of the Elderly
- COI - UK Central Office of Information
- COI - In journals: Conflict of interest
- COPD - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- COPMeD - Conference Of Postgraduate Medical Deans (UK)
- COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous To Health (Regulations)
- CPAP - Continuous positive airway pressure
- CPD - Continuing Professional Development
- CPC - Carbapenemase-Producing Coliform
- CPE – Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae
- CPHVA - Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
- CPR - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- CQUIN - Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUINs) payments framework
- CRB check - Criminal Records Bureau check - now known as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
- CRCE - Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards - part of Public Health England.
- CRE, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which includes not only all CPEs that express resistance, but also those Enterobacteriaceae that are carbapenem-resistant via combinations of AmpC or ESBL and impermeability.
- CRIP - Commonly Recognised Information Picture
- CRO - carbapenem resistant organism
- CRS - Congenital Rubella Syndrome
- CSCI - Commission for Social Care Inspection
- CSF - Cerebrospinal fluid
- CSM - Committee on Safety of Medicines (now subsumed under Commission on Human Medicines)
- CSX - Cardiac syndrome X
- CTD - Connective tissue disorder/disease
- CTD - Chemotherapy: cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone
- CT scan - Computed Tomography Scan
- CVA - CerebroVascular Accident
- CVA - CostoVertebral Angle - also known as "loin", or "renal angle".
- CVP - Central venous pressure
- CXR - Chest x-ray = chest radiograph
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D
- DAT - An imaging modality
- D&V - diarrhoea and vomiting (often used to refer to Gastroenteritis)
- DBS checks - Disclosure and Barring Service checks
- DBT - Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- DCA - Department for Constitutional Affairs (a UK government department)
- DCH - Diploma in Child Health
- DCP - Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry
- DCSF - Department for Children, Schools and Families
- DD - Transplant: deceased donor
- DDA - Dangerous Drugs Act
- DDA - Disability Discrimination Act
- DDD - Daily defined dose
- DDRB - Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body
- DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- DEN - Doctor's Educational Need
- DES - Directly Enhanced Service (or Directed Enhanced Service)
- DES - Diethylstilbestrol
- DHF - Dengue haemorrhagic fever
- DI - Designated individual (for Human Tissue Authority licence purposes)
- DI - Diabetes insipidus
- DIPC - Director of Infection Prevention and Control (often pronounced "dipsy")
- DIPJ - Distal interphalangeal joint
- DKA - Diabetic KetoAcidosis
- DMARD - Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug
- DME - Diploma in Medicine of the Elderly
- DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid
- DNA - Did not attend (an appointment)
- DNAR - Do Not Attempt (cardiopulmonary) Resuscitation
- DNACPR - Do Not Attempt CardioPulmonary Resuscitation
- DNUK - doctors
- DNR - Do Not Resuscitate
- DOI - Digital Object Identifier
- DOSA - Day of surgery admission
- DPF - Dental Practitioners’ Formulary
- DRE - Digital Retinal Examination (aka Digital Retinal Imaging [Examination])
- DRE - Digital Rectal Examination
- dsRNA - Double-Stranded RNA
- DTB - Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin
- DVT - Deep vein thrombosis
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E
- e/c - enteric coated
- EBM - Evidence-Based Medicine
- EBP - Evidence-Based Practice
- ECG - Electrocardiogram
- ECHR - European Convention on Human Rights - see Human Rights Act
- ECMO - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- EDD - Obstetrics: Expected date of delivery (sometimes estimated date of delivery)
- EEA - European Economic Area
- EEG - Electroencephalogram
- eGFR - Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
- EGFR - Oncology: epidermal growth factor receptor
- EIA - Enzyme Immunosorbant Assay
- EKG - Electrocardiogram (U.S.A.)
- EKU - Essential Knowledge Update
- EMD - Electromechanical dissociation
- ENDS - Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (mostly ‘e-cigarettes’).
- EOC - Emergency Operations Centre (as set up by regional offices and such like to respond to react to e.g. avian influenza)
- ERCP - Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram
- EPA - Enduring Power of Attorney - see Mental Capacity Act
- EPAC - Early Pregnancy Advisory Clinic
- EPP - Exposure-prone procedure[s]
- ERPC - Evacuation of Retained Products of Conception
- ESA - Employment and Support Allowance
- ESBL - Extended-spectrum β-lactamases
- ESR - Electron Spin Resonance
- ESR - Electronic Staff Record for the NHS
- ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- ESRF - End-stage renal failure
- ETKM screen - Every Test Known to Man screen
- ET - Haematology: Essential thrombocythaemia
- ET - Obstetrics: (in vitro fertilisation) embryo transfer
- ETT - Anaesthetics: endotracheal tube
- ETT - Cardiology: exercise tolerance test
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F
- FAP - Familial adenomatous polyposis
- FAP - Familial amyloid polyneuropathy
- FBC - Full blood count
- f/c - Film-Coated
- FDA - Food and Drug Administration
- FFLM - Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine
- FFPRHC - Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care
- FGM - Female Genital Mutilation
- FII - Facitious or Induced Illness (or Fabricated or Induced Illness) - see Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
- FISH - Fluorescent in situ hybridization
- FLAIR - Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
- FNA - Fine needle aspiration
- FOIAV - "Fuck Off, Its A Virus". Commonly used on medical forums to describe advice given to describe the advice given to patients who demand inappropriate antibiotics for minor upper respiratory tract infections.
-
FOB
- - Faecal occult blood; sometimes FOBT = FOB testing
- -Father of birth
- FOOSH - Mechanism of injury: fall onto out-stretched hand
- FPH - Faculty of Public Health
- FROM - Orthopaedics: Full range of movement
- FROEM - Eye examination: full range of eye movement; sometimes FROM
- FTE - Full-Time Equivalent – refers to somebody who is working "full time". More commonly WTE (Whole Time Equivalent) is used.
- FTT - Paediatrics: Failure to thrive
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G
- G6PD - glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase
- GANFYD - Get a note from your doctor
- GAVE - Gastric antral vascular ectasia
- GFR - Glomerular Filtration Rate (or see EGFR)
- GG - Radiology: gastrografin (water soluble contrast media)
- GI - Gastrointestinal
- GIST - Gastrointestinal stromal tumour
- G6PD - Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase; sometimes G6PDH
- GMC - General Medical Council (see also Registered medical practitioners)
- GMT - Geometric Mean Titre
- GMS - General Medical Services. See PMS and GMS
- GNDC - Gram-negative diplococci (Characteristic of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis)
- GNR - Gram-negative rods
- GPC - Gram-positive cocci; General Practitioners' Committee of BMA (GPC)
- G-PASS – General Practitioner Administration System Scotland. A computer system developed in Scotland.
- GSK - GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceutical company)
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H
- HAART - Highly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy (for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV))
- HAI - Hospital Acquired (or Associated Infection) - the term "healthcare associated infection" (HCAI) is now usually preferred.
- HAV - Hepatitis A Virus
- HBc - Hepatitis B Core antigen
- HBe - Hepatitis B 'e' antigen
- HBV - Hepatitis B Virus
- HBs - Hepatitis B Surface antigen
- HCAI - Healthcare Associated Infection
- hCG - Human chorionic gonadotropin
- HCM - Hypertrophic CardioMyopathy
- HCSA - Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
- HCP - HealthCare Professional (often used as an abbreviation in articles)
- HCP - Healthy Child Programme
- HCV - Hepatitis C Virus
- HCW - HealthCare Worker (often used as an abbreviation in articles)
- HDA - Health Development Agency
- HEA - Health Education Authority
- Hep B - [Chronic] Hepatitis B
- HFEA - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
- HFJV - High Frequency Flow Interruption
- HFJV - High Frequency Jet Ventilation
- HFOV - High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation
- HFPEF - Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- HFPPV - High Frequency Positive Pressure Ventilation
- HFV - High Frequency Ventilation
- HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus
- HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (USA)
- HMPV or hMPV- Human MetaPneumoVirus
- HNIG - Human Normal Immunoglobulin
- HNPCC Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
- HOCM - Hypertrophic Obstructive CardioMyopathy
- HOCM - Hypertrophic Obstructive CardioMyopathy (appears to be used in USA - the additional U seems to be there simply to make it pronounceable).
- HONK - Hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome
- HPA - Health Protection Agency
- HPC - Health Professions Council
- HPS - Health Protection Scotland (Was SCIEH)
- HPS - Health Protection Services division of the Health Protection Agency
- HPV - Human Papilloma Virus
- HPT - Health Protection Team (local unit of the Public Health England responsible for health protection - where CCDC, health protection nurses, and others are based).
- HPU - Health Protection Unit (local unit of the HPA - where CCDC, health protection nurses, and others are based) - renamed a "Health Protection Team" (HPT) since the formation of Public Health England on 1 April 13.
- HPV - Human PapillomaVirus
- HPV - Hydrogen Peroxide Vapouriser (used for disinfection)
- HRA - Human Rights Act
- HRT - Hormone replacement therapy
- HSE - Health and Safety Executive (or Health and Safety Executive website)
- HSIL - High-grade Squamous Intra-epithelial Lesion
- HSV - Herpes simplex virus
- HT (or HTN) - hypertension
- HTA - Human Tissue Authority/Act
- HTN (or HT) - hypertension
- HVZ - Herpes varicella zoster virus
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I
- IABP - Intra-aortic balloon pump
- IANAL – I Am Not A Lawyer. Used in e-mail when expressing an opinion on a legal matter.
- ICE - Ice, Compression, Elevation (in treating contusions and soft tissue trauma)
- ICE - Intracardiac echocardiography (as in cardiology and cardiac surgery)
- ICE - In case of emergency - an entry that people are recommended to have in the mobile phone or other address book they carry with them, so that if e.g. they are involved in an accident and cannot communicate, the emergency services know whom to contact.
- ICR - Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (see Economic analysis)
- ICC - Infection Control Committee
- ICP - Intracranial pressure
- ICT - Information and Communications Technology
- ICSI - Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
- ICT - Infection Control Team
- IDK - Internal Derangement of the Knee
- IDK - I Don't Know
- IDU - Intravenous Drug User (or, more often, IVDU - IntraVenous Drug User) - this term seems not to have been replaced by the currently "preferred" People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)
- IF - Immuno-Fluorescence
- IFR - Individual Funding Request (process)
- Ig - Immunoglobulin (see also Antibody)
-
- IgA - Immunoglobulin A
- IgD - Immunoglobulin D
- IgE - Immunoglobulin E
- IgG - Immunoglobulin G
- IgM - Immunoglobulin M
- IGT - Impaired Glucose Tolerance
- IHD - Ischaemic heart disease
- IIRC - If I Recall Correctly (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- ILI - Influenza-Like-Illness
- i/m - Intramuscular
- IM - Intramuscular
- IMCA - Independent Mental Capacity Advocate
- IMHO - In My Humble Opinion (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- IMO - In My Opinion (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- IMT - Information Management and Technology
- IMV - Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation
- INH - isonicotinylhydrazine, aka isoniazid
- INR - International normalised ratio
- IOL - Induction of labour
- IOP - Intra-ocular pressure
- IPCAS - Infection Prevention, Control, and Antibiotic Stewardship
- IPPC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Act
- ISQ - (Latin) In statu quo...
- ITP - Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- IT - Information Technology
- IUGR - Obstetrics: Intra-uterine growth retardation
- i/v - Intravenous
- IV - Intravenous
- IVDU - IntraVenous Drug User (or occasionally IDU) - this term seems not to have been replaced by the currently "preferred" People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)
- IVF - In vitro fertilization
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J
- JAN - Japanese Approved Name[s] (for pharmaceutical products). See Pharmaceutical naming
- JCQ - Joint Council for Qualifications - responsible for some of the rules about ganfyds for examinations.
- JCVI - Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
- JORRP - Juvenile Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
- JSNA - Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
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K
- KEGG - Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
- KUB - Kidney ureter bladder - a variation on the [[AXR] that includes the organs that make up the abbreviation
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L
- LABC - locally advanced breast cancer
- LAD - left anterior descending (coronary artery)
- LCP - Liverpool Care (of the dying) Pathway
- LECC - London Events Coordinating Calendar (correctly transcribed - but are sure it doesn't mean London Events Coordinating Committee??)
- LES - Local Enhanced Service - see Directly enhanced service (DES)
- LHRP - Local Health Resilience Partnerships (LHRP)
- LKKS - "Liver, Kidney, Kidney, Spleen". Used as shorthand in medical notes, usually in the negative ("No LKKS" meaning "liver, kidneys, and spleen not palpable/enlarged")
- LFTs - Liver function tests. Used on Lab forms. Usually bilirubin and some enzymes. The term is imprecise.
- LGV - LymphoGranuloma Venereum
- LMC - Local medical committee
- LMWH - Low Molecular Weight Heparin
- LMS - left main stem (coronary artery)
- LNC - Local negotiating committee (of the BMA
- LOCOG - London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
- LOL (in emails etc.) - "Laugh Out Loud" (i.e. responding to something that you found amusing)
- LOL (in medical forums) - Little Old Lady
- LOL (signing off e.g. text messages) - Lots Of Love
- LOOC - London Olympic Operating Cell
- LSIL - Low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion
- LPA - Lasting Power of Attorney - see also Mental Capacity Act
- LRCP - Licenciate of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Surgeons - with MRCS (Member of the Royal College of Surgeons) equivalent to the basic medical qualification in England, until 1999
- LRCPI&SI Licenciate of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Surgeons of Ireland - equivalent to the basic medical qualification#Ireland in Ireland
- LRF - Local Resilience Forum - multisector forum, part of England's emergency planning setup.
- LRTI - Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
- LSS - Lewis-Sumner syndrome, aka Multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor (MADSAM) neuropathy
- LSV - long saphenous vein
- LTFTE – Less Than Full Time Equivalent – refers to somebody who is working less than "full time"; used in preference to "part time".
- LVAD - Left ventricular assist device
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M
- MAC address - Media Access Control address
- MAD SAM neuropathy - Multifocal Acquired Demyelinating Sensory And Motor neuropathy
- MAOI - Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors
- MAP - morning after pill
- MAP - mean arterial pressure
- max. - maximum
- MB - Bachelor of Medicine - part of the basic medical qualification
- MBC - Minimum bacteriocidal concentration
- MCA - Mental Capacity Act
- MCCD - Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
- MC&S - Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity (request for microbiology, e.g. on a urine sample)
- MDDUS – Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland An indemnity provider
- MDM - Multidisciplinary meeting
- MDO - Medical Defence Organisation - generic term for indemnity providers
- MDU - Medical Defence Union - indemnity provider
- MDT - Multidisciplinary team
- ME - Myalgic Encephalitis
- MEE - Medical Education in England
- MEAT - Most Economically Advantageous Tender - see Overview presentation on the Public Procurement Regulations
- MeSH - Medical Subject Headings. From The US National Library of Medicine.
- MET - Medical emergency team
- MET - Cardiology: Metabolic equivalents
- MFPH - Member of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK (formerly MFPHM)
- MFPHM - Member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (now MFPH, since membership has been open to non-medics)
- MHA - Mental Health Act. Unless otherwise stated, refers to the 1983 Mental Health Act
- MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- MI - Myocardial infarction
- MIBE- Measles Inclusion Body Encephalitis
- MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration
- MIG - Medical Interoperability Gateway
- MICGP - Member of the Irish College of General Practitioners
- MIGP - Man [or men] in Green Pyjamas - refers to paramedic/ambulance staff.
- MLL - Breast histopathology: Mucocoele-like lesion
- MLPA - Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification
- MMC - Modernising Medical Careers. Government-led plan to improve the training of junior doctors/shaft doctors and create an under-experienced junior consultant grade by the back door* (*delete as appropriate)
- MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine
- MMR - Mass Miniature Radiography
- MMSE™ - Mini Mental State Examination for assessing conitive impairment
- MMN - Multifocal Motor Neuropathy
- MND - Motor Neurone Disease
- MoM - Map of Medicine
- MPIG - Minimum Practice Income Guarantee
- MPS- Medical Protection Society - indemnity provider
- MPU- Medical Practitioners Union- trade union for doctors, part of Amicus
- MRC - Medical Research Council Based in Mill Hill, London. Major source of UK medical research ideas.
- MRCGP - Member of the Royal College of Practitioners
- MRCOG - Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- MRCP - Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
- MRCP - Member of the Royal College of Physicians
- MRCPCH - Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- MRCPath - Member of the Royal College of Pathologists
- MRCPsych - Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
- MRCS - Member of the Royal College of Surgeons
- m/r - modified-release
- MR scan - Magnetic resonance scan
- MRI - Magnetic resonance imaging
- MRM - Modified radical mastectomy
- MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- MSA - Multi System Atrophy
- MSM - Men who have Sex with Men
- MSW - Men who have Sex with Women (used e.g. in contexts considering the differential occurrence of disease in MSM and MSW.[1])
- MUD - Transplantation: matched unrelated donor
- MVP - mitral valve prolapse
- MVR - mitral valve replacement
- MVR - mitral valve regurgitation
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N
- NaTHNaC - National Travel Health Network And Centre (for travel health advice).
- NAFLD - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NASH - Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- NASS - National Asylum Support Service (see also Eligibility for NHS primary care)
- NBFD - Neville Barnes Forceps Delivery
- NBM - nil by mouth
- NCAS - National Clinical Assessment Service
- NCBI - US National Center for Biotechnology Information, home of PubMed.
- NCEPOD - National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death; formerly National Confidential Enquiry into Peri-operative Deaths
- NEAD - Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder
- NCL - no cautionary labels - see BNF appendix 3
- NeLH - National Electronic Library for Health; moved to National Library for Health on 1st April
- NFA - No Fixed Abode
- NFR - not for resuscitation
- NICE - National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
- NIEH - Non-Infectious Environmental Hazard(s)
- NIV - Non-invasive ventilation
- NHS - National Health Service
- NHS with strikethrough - used in a box in [[BNF] to mean "not prescribable under National Health Service (NHS)".
- NHS24 - Scotland's Out of Hours Service
- NLH - National Library for Health
- NLM - National Library of Medicine (U.S.A.) Source of PubMed.
- NMC - Nursing and Midwifery Council
- NMSC - Non-melanoma skin cancer
- NOF - Neck Of Femur (as in #NOF - fracture[d] neck of femur, or hip fracture)
- NPF - Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary
- NPfIT - National Programme for Information Technology
- NPSA - National Patient Safety Agency
- NSAID - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- NSTEMI - Non S-T elevation myocardial infarction
- NSVT - Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia
- NTHi - Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae
- nvCJD - New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- NWC - Nurse With Clipboard - see DNUK thread (members only)
- NYHA - New York Heart Association as in NYHA scale
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O
- o.d. - every day (omni die) (Listed as official abbrevation in [3])
- o.m. - each morning (omni mane) (Listed as official abbrevation in [4])
- o.n. - each night (omni nocte) (Listed as official abbrevation in [5])
- OCP - Gynaecology: oral contraceptive pill
- OCP - Ophthalmology: ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
- OFT - Oral Fluid Test.
- OGD - oesophagogastroduodenoscopy = upper GI endoscopy
- OME - Otitis Media with Effusion aka Serous Otitis Media with Effusion (SOME) or glue ear
- ORO - Office of the Responsible Officer
- OSA - Obstructive sleep apnoea
- OSCE - Objective structured clinical exam
- OOH - Out of Hours Service. Telephone service for medical help in the evening, overnight and at weekends
- OOHCA - Out of hospital cardiac arrest
- OT - occupational therapy
- OT - operating theatre
- OTC - Over The Counter (describing medicines that can be bought and sold freely, without a prescription).
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P
- PANDAS - Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections
- PAM - Professions allied to medicine e.g. Physiotherapy
- p.c. - after food (post cibum) (Listed as official abbrevation in [6])
- PCA - Anaesthetics: Patient controlled analgesia
- PCA - Neuroanatomy: Posterior communicating artery
- PCC - Post coital contraception
- pCR - pathological complete response
- PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
- PCT - Primary care trust
- PCV - Packed cell volume - see haematocrit
- PCV - Pneumococcal vaccine
- PDS - Personal Demographics Service (previously Patient Demographics Service)
- PE - Pulmonary embolism or embolus
- PEA - Pulseless electrical activity
- PEG - Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
- PEG - Polyethylene glycol
- PEP - Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy
- PEP - Post-exposure prophylaxis (usually to HIV)
- PERL - Eye examination: Pupils equal and reactive to light; sometimes PEARL or PERLA
- PET scan - Positron emission tomography scan
- PFGE - Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis
- PFO - Patent foramen ovale
- PFO - casual: pissed, fell over
- PFR - Gynaecology: Pelvic floor repair
- PFR - Respiratory: Peak flow rate
- PFT - Pulmonary function tests
- PGD - Patient group direction
- PGD - Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
- PHCSG - Primary Health Care Specialist Group of the British Computer Society
- PHOF Public Health Outcomes Framework
- PII - Patient identifiable information (or Person Identifiable Information)
- PIL - Patient Information Leaflet (for drugs and medicines)
- PIC - Punctate inner choroidopathy
- PIP - Proximal interphalangeal joint
- PISS - Pin Index Safety System
- PLC - Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica - the mild chronic form of pityriasis lichenoides
- PLEVA - Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta - the acute form of pityriasis lichenoides
- PLoS - Public Library of Science. Online publisher of high quality medical and scientific papers
- PM10, (PM2.5) - Particulate matter less than 10 nanometers (2.5 nanometers) in largest dimension - a measure of air quality
- PMID - PubMed unique IDentifier
- PMS - Personal Medical Services. See PMS and GMS
- PND - Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
- PND - Post-Natal Depression
- PNE - Patient Notification Exercise
- POD - Surgery: post-operative day
- PoM - Prescription only Medicine - see Prescribing
- POP - Plaster of Paris (usually refers to plaster cast made of any material)
- POP - Progestogen only pill
- PORN - Progressive outer retinal necrosis
- PPLO - Pleuropneumococcal like organism Older term for mycoplasma
- PPPD - Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy
- PR - Per Rectum meaning "through the rectum" - e.g. Examination Per Rectum (digital rectal examination), or as a route of e.g drug administration (suppositories), passage of substances or objects (blood, faeces, or flatus).
- p.r.n. - as required (pro re nata) (Listed as official abbrevation in [7])
- PROM - Patient Reported Outcome Measure[2]
- PRHO - Pre-registration house officer
- PSD - Patient Specific Direction (see patient group direction)
- POSSUM -Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity
- PSARP - Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (procedure for repair of anorectal malformations)
- PSV - Pressure Support Ventilation; see NIV
- PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder
- PTWR - Post-Take Ward Round
- PUPPP - Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy
- PUVA - psoralen and ultraviolet A
- PV - Per Vaginam, meaning through the vagina - e.g. vaginal examination or as a route of e.g. delivery, drug administration (pessaries) or passage of substances or objects (blood, faeces, or flatus). (Passage of substances that would normally be passed per rectum suggests the presence of a fistula.)
- PWID - People Who Inject Drugs - this seems to have replaced other acronyms such as IVDU (IntraVenous Drugs User)as the "politically correct" form of words.
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Q
- q.d.s. - four times a day (quater die sumendus) (Listed as official abbrevation in [8])
- QFT-G - QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test for TB
- QOF - Quality and Outcomes Framework
- q.q.h. - four hourly (quata quaque hora) (Listed as official abbrevation in [9])
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R
- RACGP - Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- RAG - Red Amber Green (RAG rating) (not to be confused with RAG1 and RAG2 genes)
- RCC - Red cell count
- RCGP - Royal College of General Practitioners
- RCPath - Royal College of Pathologists
- RCPCH - Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- RCT - Randomised Controlled Trial
- RCN - Royal College of Nursing
- RFI - Request For Information
- RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
- rINN - Recommended International Non-proprietary Name (for a drug) (see MHRA site)
- RNA - Ribonucleic acid
- RNIB - Royal National Institute for Blind Persons - (was Royal National Institue for the Blind)
- RO - Responsible Officer (or "ORO - Office of the Responsible Officer" in some organisations)
- RPR - Rapid plasma reagin - equivalent to VDRL qv.
- RPSGB - Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
- RSM - Royal Society of Medicine
- RSS feed - probably Really Simple Syndication (news feed)
- RSV - respiratory syncytial virus
- RVGE - RotaVirus GastroEnteritis
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S
- SAH - Sub-Arachnoid Haemorrhage
- SALT - Speech and Language Therapy
- SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- s/c - sugar-coated
- SCC - Oncology: squamous cell carcinoma
- SCIEH - Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (Now Health Protection Scotland)
- SCIWORA - Trauma: [Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality]]
- SEQUIN - see CQUIN
- SERM - Pharmacology: Selective estrogen receptor modulator
- SFE - General practice finance Statement of Financial Entitlements
- SFH - Obstetrics: symphysis-fundal height
- sFLC - Haematology: serum free light chains
- SHA - Strategic Health Authority (UK)
- SHO - Senior House Officer
- ShOT - Shape Of (medical) Training
- SHOW - Scottish Health On the Web A website which attempts to give all the information there is about the NHS in Scotland
- SIDS - Sudden Infant Deaths Syndrome
- SitRep - Situation Report
- SMA - superior mesenteric artery
- SMC - Scottish Medicines Consortium. The Scottish equivalent of NICE
- SLS - Selected List Scheme (used in BNF)
- SLUNGS - Self Limited Unusual No Great Significance (Many conditions seen in primary care are SLUNGS. Abbreviation invented by a DNUKer.)
- SMC - Scottish Medicines Consortium
- SOB - Short of breath
- SoMe - Social Media
- SOME - Serous Otitis Media with Effusion aka Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) or glue ear
- SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
- SOSR - Some Other Substantial Reason (to dismiss a doctor)
- sp - species (singular)
- SPC - Summary of Product Characteristics
- SPECT - Single Positron Emission Computed Tomography. An Imaging modality
- SPMSD - the drug (vaccines) firm Sanofi Pasteur MSD
- spp - species (plural)
- SpR - Specialist Registrar
- SRS - Stereotactic radiosurgery
- SSRI - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. A type of antidepressant
- STAC - Science And Technical Advice Cell - part of the arrangements for providing medical and public health advice in an emergency.
- stat - immediatedly (Listed as official abbrevation in [10])
- STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection(s)
- SUDI - Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy
- SUI - Serious Untoward Incident
- SVAB - Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board
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T
- TAH - total abdominal hysterectomy
- TATT - Tired all The Time
- Tb - Tuberculosis
- TB - Tuberculosis
- TBI - Traumatic brain injury
- TCA - Biochemistry: tricarboxylic acid
- TCA - Tricyclic antidepressant. A type of antidepressant
- t.d.s. - three times a day (ter die sumendus) (Listed as official abbrevation in [11])
- TCRF - Gynaecology: Transcervical resection of fibroid
- TEDs - ThromboEmbolic Stockings - Elastic support stockings with (hopefully) effectiveness in preventing Deep vein thrombosis but also used as treatment to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome, varicose veins and venous leg ulcers.
- TFCC - Orthopaedics: Triangular fibrocartilage complex (of distal ulnar)
- TFT - Thyroid function tests
- THR - total hip replacement (arthroplasty)
- TIA - transient ischaemic attack
- TIC - Tongue In Cheek (commonly used in email and internet forums)
- t.i.d. - three times daily (ter in die) (Listed as official abbrevation in [12])
- TIMI - Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction - in reference to trials and a score.
- TKR - total knee replacement (arthroplasty)
- TLC - Tender loving care
- TMA - Renal pathology: Thrombotic microangiopathy
- TNM - Tumour, Node, Metastasis
- TOIL - "Time Off In Lieu" – refers to time off in compensation for time spent working e.g. beyond the usual hours, on out of hours on call work, or on a bank holiday
- TORCH - Obstetrics: Toxoplasmosis, (others or 'o' from Toxoplasmosis), rubella, cytomegalovirus, Herpes virus
- tPA - tissue plasminogen activator (thrombolytic)
- TPPA - Treponema pallidum particle agglutination - serology test for treponema pallidum
- TPN - total parenteral nutrition
- TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone
- TSI - thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin
- TSE - transmissible spongiform encephalopathy e.g. vCJD
- TST - tuberculin skin test
- TTA - To Take Away - drugs on discharge
- TTFN – Ta-Ta for now. Used as sign off at end of an e-mail exchange.
- TTP - thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- TURBT - Urology: transurethral resection of bladder tumour
- TURP - Urology: transurethral resection of prostate
- TVT - Gynaecology: Tension-free vaginal tape (operation)
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U
- U&E - urea and electrolytes
- UK - United Kingdom
- UKAP - United Kingdom Advisory Panel for Healthcare Workers Infected with bloodborne Viruses
- UPSI - UnProtected Sexual Intercourse (risk of pregnancy and STIs)
- UPT - non-standard: urine pregnancy test
- URTI - Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- USAN - United States Adopted Name (for pharmaceutical products). See Pharmaceutical naming
- USS - Ultrasound scan
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V
- v - Very
- VBAC - Vaginal birth after Caesarian
- vCJD - variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
- VD - Venereal Disease (no longer widely used - sexually transmitted infection(s) is now more generally used)
- VDRL - Venereal disease research lab - test for Syphilis
- VE - Efficacy
- VE - Vaginal Examination
- VE - Voluntary Exit (an alternative to redudancy that may be offered in the NHS/pubic sector)
- VF - Ventricular fibrillation
- VGEF - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
- VHF - Viral haemorrhagic fever
- VIN - Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia
- VLA - Veterinary Laboratories Agency
- VLCD - [Low-carbohydrate diet Very Low Carbohydrate Diet]
- VNTR - Variable Number Tandem Repeat
- VRE - Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus
- VT - Ventricular tachycardia
- VTE - Venous thromboembolism
- VZV - Varicella zoster virus, or Varicella zoster vaccine
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W
- WBC - White Blood Cell. Usually seen in WCC, FBC or urine microscopy report
- WCC - white cell count
- WHO - World Health Organisation
- WNV - West Nile virus
- WR - Wassermann reaction
- WTE - Whole-Time Equivalent – refers to somebody who is working "full time". Sometimes FTE (Full time Equivalent) is used.
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X
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Y
YGM - You've Got Mail (used in electronic forums, such as Doctors) to indicate to somebody that they have been sent somebody a private message, so that they can check their personal mail).
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Z
Z-N (stain) - Ziehl-Nielsen stain
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External links
- Acronym finder. On their home page they say "Over 163,000 acronyms, abbreviations, initialisms and their definitions. The Acronym Finder is the web's largest database of its kind. Here you'll find definitions for acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms about all subjects, including information technology, telecommunications, military, government, and much more." They have 14 definitions for "BTW".
- What is. A more Information technology based site. BTW was listed with about 140 other Chat acronyms.
- Medi-lexicon. A dictionary of over 200,000 medical, pharmaceutical, biomedical & healthcare acronyms and abbreviations.
References
- ↑ Nyitray AG, Smith D, Villa L, Lazcano-Ponce E, Abrahamsen M, Papenfuss M, Giuliano AR. Prevalence of and risk factors for anal human papillomavirus infection in men who have sex with women: a cross-national study. The Journal of infectious diseases. May 15; 201(10):1498-508.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
- ↑ Department of Health. The standard NHS contract for acute hospital services and supporting guidance. (13 December). Gateway Ref No: 9164.