Healthcare Abbreviations: P to SGOT

Common Healthcare-Related Abbreviations

• PCD: partial pressure of carbon dioxide
• Peds: pediatrics
• PET: positron emission tomography
• pH: hydrogen ion concentration (measure of acidity or alkalinity)
• PKU: phenylketonuria
• PLT: platelet
• PMNs: polymorphonuclear leukocytes
• PNS: peripheral nervous system
• PO: postoperative
• p.o.: orally
• polys: polymorphonuclear leukocytes
• pos: positive
• post-op: after operation
• pp: postprandial (after a meal)
• PPBS: postprandial blood sugar
• PPD: purified protein derivative (TB test)
• preop: before operation
• prep: prepare for
• PRN, p.r.n: as necessary (pro re nata)
• protime: prothrombin time
• PSA: prostate specific antigen
• pt: patient
• PTT: partial thromboplastin time
• PT: prothrombin time/physical therapy
• PVC: premature ventricular contraction
• QNS, q.n.s: quantity not sufficient
• R: right
• RA: rheumatoid arthritis
• RBC: red blood cell or red blood count (lab: rbc)
• Rx: regulation
• RIA: radioimmunoassay
• R/O: rule out
• RPR: rapid plasma reagin
• RT: respiratory therapy
• RR: recovery room
• Rx: treatment
• SA: sinoatrial
• SAD: seasonal affective disorder

Unit II: Overview of the Human Body

Common Healthcare-Related Abbreviations (Continued)

• FS: Frozen Section
• FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone
• FUO: Fever of unknown origin
• Fx: Fracture
• Gr: Growth hormone
• GI: Gastrointestinal
• Gluc: Glucose
• GTT: Glucose tolerance test
• GYN: Gynecology
• H: Hour
• HAV: Hepatitis A virus
• HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen
• HEV: Hepatitis E virus
• HCG: Human chorionic gonadotropin
• HCL: Hydrochloric acid
• HCT/Hct: Hematocrit (take only)
• HCV: Hepatitis C virus
• HDL: High-density lipoprotein
• Hg: Mercury
• Hb/Hgb: Hemoglobin
• Hgb & Hct: Hemoglobin and hematocrit
• HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
• Hx: History of
• H2O: Water
• hs: At bedtime (hore somni)
• Hx: History
• ICU: Intensive care unit
• ID: Identification, intradermal
• IM: Intramuscular
• IP: Intraperitoneal
• IV: Intravenous
• IVP: Intravenous pyelogram
• K+: Potassium
• Kg: Kilogram
• L, ltr: Liter
• L: Left, lower
• Lat: Lateral
• lb: Pound
• LDH: Lactic dehydrogenase
• LDL: Low-density lipoprotein
• LE: Lupus erythematosus (lupus)
• LH: Luteinizing hormone
• LP: Lumbar puncture
• Lymph: Lymphocytes
• Lytes: Electrolytes
• M: Meter
• mcg: Microgram
• MCH: Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
• MCHC: Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
• MCV: Mean corpuscular volume
• Mets: Metastases
• Mg: Magnesium
• Mg+: Magnesium
• MI: Myocardial infarction
• ML: Milliliter
• Mm: Millimeter
• Mono: Monocyte
• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• MS: Multiple sclerosis
• Na: Sodium
• Neg: Negative
• NKA: No known allergy
• noc: Eight
• NPO: Nothing by mouth (nil per os)
• NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• O2: Oxygen
• O&P: Ova and parasite
• OB: Obsterics
• O/P: Outpatient
• OR: Operating room
• Oz: Ounce
• p: Pulse, phosphorus
• p.o.: Per oral
• PaO2: Partial pressure of oxygen
• PAP: Papanicolaou test (smear)
• Path: Pathology
• p.c.: After meals

Island Finance Trinidad

Table 4-6: Common Healthcare-Related Abbreviations

• ABG: arterial blood gases
• ABO: blood group system
• a.c.: before meals
• c/o: complains of
• ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone
• ADH: antidiuretic hormone
• AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• Alb: albumin
• ALL: acute lymphocytic leukemia
• ALT: alanine transaminase (see SGPT)
• AML: acute myelocytic leukemia
• Aq: water (aqual)
• ASO: antistreptolysin O
• AST: aspartate aminotransferase (see SGOT)
• AV: atrioventricular
• bid: twice a day (bis in die)
• bil: bilirubin
• BAP: basic metabolic profile
• BP: blood pressure
• BS: blood sugar
• BUN: blood urea nitrogen
• Bx: biopsy
• Dx: diagnosis
• C: Celsius, centigrade
• C&S: culture & sensitivity
• Ca: calcium
• CABG: coronary artery bypass graft
• CAD: coronary artery disease
• CAT: computed axial tomography
• CBC: complete blood count
• cc: cubic centimeter
• CCU: coronary (cardiac) care unit
• Chem: chemistry
• Chemo: chemotherapy
• CHF: congestive heart failure
• Chol: cholesterol
• CK: creatine kinase
• cm: centimeter
• CML: chronic myelogenous leukemia
• CNS: central nervous system
• CO2: carbon dioxide
• COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• CSF: cerebrospinal fluid
• CT scan: computed tomography scan
• CVA: cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
• CXR: chest x-ray
• D: dry
• DIC: disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Diff: differential count of white blood cells
• DA: dilute
• DKA: diabetic acidosis (ketoacidosis)
• DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
• DOB: date of birth
• DVT: deep venous thrombosis
• ECG: electrocardiogram
• ECHO: echocardiogram
• ECU: emergency care unit
• ED: emergency department
• EEG: electroencephalogram
• EKG: electrocardiogram
• EMG: electromyogram
• ENT: ear, nose, and throat
• Eos: eosinophils
• ER: emergency room
• ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• ETOH: ethyl alcohol
• exc: excision
• F: Fahrenheit
• FBS: fasting blood sugar
• Fe: iron
• FH: family history

Test your knowledge of common healthcare-related abbreviations, from PCD to SGOT, and improve your understanding of medical terminology.