Laboratory Abbreviations

This list collects 779 laboratory abbreviations — test names and shorthand used in laboratory orders, results and reports. Every entry shows the full form and a plain-English meaning. One abbreviation can appear in several specialty lists when it is genuinely used in more than one area, and abbreviations with more than one common meaning get a row for each meaning. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists: write them out in full wherever possible.

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Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D	1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D	Active form of vitamin D	Laboratory Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
14-3-3	14-3-3 protein (CSF)	Prion disease spinal fluid marker	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
17-OHP	17-hydroxyprogesterone	Hormone measured when adrenal disorders are suspected	Endocrinology Laboratory Pediatrics
1h GTT	one-hour glucose challenge test	First-step gestational diabetes screen	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
21-hydroxylase	21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH)	Commonest adrenal hyperplasia enzyme defect	Pediatrics Endocrinology Laboratory
25-OH vitamin D	25-hydroxyvitamin D	Storage form of vitamin D measured to check vitamin D status	Laboratory Endocrinology
3h GTT	three-hour glucose tolerance test	Confirmatory gestational diabetes test	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
4Ts	4Ts score	Probability score for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
5'-NT	5-prime nucleotidase	Liver enzyme checked alongside alkaline phosphatase	Laboratory Gastroenterology
5-HIAA	5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid	Urine test used for carcinoid syndrome	Laboratory Endocrinology Gastroenterology
A1C	hemoglobin A1C	Blood test showing average sugar over about three months	Laboratory Endocrinology
AAT	alpha-1 antitrypsin	Protein that protects the lungs from enzyme damage	Respiratory Laboratory
Abeta42	amyloid beta 42 (CSF/blood)	Alzheimer marker peptide	Neurology Laboratory
ABG	arterial blood gas	Blood test from an artery measuring oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity	Respiratory Laboratory
ABMR	antibody-mediated rejection (activity)	Antibody attack on a transplant	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
ABO	ABO blood group system	Main blood group classification, A, B, AB or O	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ACA	anticentromere antibody	Antibody linked to limited scleroderma	Laboratory
AChR ab	acetylcholine receptor antibody	Main myasthenia gravis antibody	Neurology Laboratory
aCL	anticardiolipin antibody	Antiphospholipid antibody linked to clots and pregnancy loss	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
ACR	albumin-to-creatinine ratio	Urine test measuring protein leakage from kidneys	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
ACT	activated clotting time	Bedside test of blood clotting during procedures	Laboratory Cardiology Surgery
ACTH	adrenocorticotropic hormone	Pituitary hormone stimulating the adrenal glands	Laboratory Endocrinology
AD biomarkers	Alzheimer biomarkers (ATN)	Amyloid tau neurodegeneration framework markers	Neurology Laboratory
ADAMTS13	ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13)	Enzyme measured when TTP is suspected	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ADH	antidiuretic hormone	Hormone telling kidneys to conserve water	Laboratory Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
AdV	adenovirus	Virus causing respiratory, eye and gut infections	Infectious Disease Laboratory
AdV-F	enteric adenovirus	Gut adenovirus types causing diarrhea	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
AFB	acid-fast bacilli	Bacteria, including TB, that hold a special stain in the lab	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
AFP	alpha-fetoprotein	Protein marker for certain liver and germ cell tumours	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology Obstetrics & Gynecology
AFP tumor	alpha-fetoprotein (tumor)	Marker for liver and germ cell tumors — tumor	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
AG	anion gap	Calculated gap between measured blood electrolytes	Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
AGC	atypical glandular cells (Pap result)	Abnormal glandular Pap finding	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
AHG	anti-human globulin	Reagent used in Coombs testing	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Alb	albumin	Main protein made by the liver, measured in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
ALBI	albumin-bilirubin grade	Score grading liver function from two blood tests	Gastroenterology Laboratory
ALC	absolute lymphocyte count	Calculated number of lymphocytes in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ALK	anaplastic lymphoma kinase	Gene change targeted by some cancer medicines	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
alloimmunization	red cell alloimmunization (pregnancy)	Mother making antibodies against fetal blood cells	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ALP	alkaline phosphatase	Enzyme related to liver and bone, measured in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
ALT	alanine aminotransferase	Liver enzyme measured in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
AM labs	morning labs (batch)	Routine early-morning blood tests	Nursing Laboratory
AMA	antimitochondrial antibody	Antibody strongly linked to primary biliary cholangitis	Laboratory Gastroenterology
AMH	anti-Mullerian hormone	Hormone marker of ovarian reserve	Endocrinology Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
AMH	anti-Müllerian hormone	Hormone reflecting the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries	Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology Laboratory
AMH fertility	anti-Müllerian hormone (fertility)	Ovarian reserve blood test — fertility	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
amnio	amniocentesis (genetic testing use)	Fluid sampling test for fetal genetic conditions	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
ANA	antinuclear antibody	Immune antibody test used in autoimmune conditions	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
ANC	absolute neutrophil count	Calculated number of neutrophils in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ANC clozapine	absolute neutrophil count (clozapine monitoring)	White cell count gating clozapine supply	Psychiatry Laboratory
ANCA	antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody	Antibody linked to small-vessel vasculitis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
anion gap	anion gap (acid-base calculation)	Calculated gap used to classify metabolic acidosis	Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology
ANNA	antineuronal nuclear antibody	Paraneoplastic antibody group in nerve syndromes	Laboratory Neurology
anti-AChR	anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody	Antibody causing myasthenia gravis	Laboratory Neurology
anti-C	anti-C antibody	Red cell antibody of the Rh system	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-CCP	anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide	Antibody test supporting rheumatoid arthritis	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
anti-D	anti-D antibody	Antibody against the Rh D antigen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
anti-DNase B	anti-deoxyribonuclease B	Antibody test for recent streptococcal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-dsDNA	anti-double-stranded DNA antibody	Antibody strongly linked to lupus	Laboratory
anti-E	anti-E antibody	Red cell antibody of the Rh system	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-Fya	anti-Duffy a antibody	Red cell antibody of the Duffy system	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-Fyb	anti-Duffy b antibody	Red cell antibody of the Duffy system	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-GAD	glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody	Autoimmune marker antibody in type 1 diabetes	Endocrinology Laboratory
Anti-GBM	anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody	Antibody attacking kidney and lung filters	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
anti-GQ1b	anti-GQ1b antibody (Miller Fisher)	Antibody of the eye-movement variant	Neurology Laboratory
anti-HAV	hepatitis A antibody	Marker of hepatitis A immunity	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
anti-HBc	hepatitis B core antibody	Marker of past or current hepatitis B infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HBe	hepatitis B e antibody	Antibody appearing as hepatitis B activity falls	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HBs	hepatitis B surface antibody	Protective antibody after vaccination or recovery	Laboratory Infectious Disease
anti-HCV	hepatitis C antibody	Screening marker for hepatitis C exposure	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
anti-Hu	anti-Hu antibody	Paraneoplastic antibody linked to small cell lung cancer	Laboratory Neurology Hematology & Oncology
anti-IF	anti-intrinsic factor antibody	Specific antibody in pernicious anemia	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-Jka	anti-Kidd a antibody	Antibody notorious for delayed transfusion reactions	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-Jkb	anti-Kidd b antibody	Kidd system red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-Jo-1	anti-Jo-1 antibody	Autoimmune antibody linked to muscle inflammation	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
anti-K	anti-Kell antibody	Potent red cell antibody causing hemolysis	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-La	anti-La/SSB antibody	Autoimmune antibody linked to Sjogren's syndrome	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
anti-Lea	anti-Lewis a antibody	Usually insignificant cold red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-Leb	anti-Lewis b antibody	Lewis system red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-M	anti-M antibody	Usually cold-reacting red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-MOG	anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody	Antibody in a demyelinating disease of brain and eyes	Laboratory Neurology
anti-MuSK	muscle-specific kinase antibody	Antibody found in a form of myasthenia gravis	Laboratory Neurology
anti-N	anti-N antibody	Cold-reacting red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-NMDA	anti-NMDA receptor antibody	Antibody causing autoimmune encephalitis	Laboratory Neurology Psychiatry
anti-P1	anti-P1 antibody	Common cold-reacting antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
anti-PLA2R	anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody	Antibody linked to membranous kidney disease	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
Anti-RNP	anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody	Autoimmune antibody linked to mixed connective tissue disease	Laboratory
Anti-Ro	anti-Ro/SSA antibody	Autoimmune antibody linked to Sjogren's and lupus	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
anti-S	anti-S antibody	MNS system red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-Scl-70	anti-topoisomerase I antibody	Autoimmune antibody linked to systemic sclerosis	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
anti-Sm	anti-Smith antibody	Highly specific lupus antibody	Laboratory
anti-SMA	anti-smooth muscle antibody	Autoimmune hepatitis antibody	Laboratory Gastroenterology
Anti-Smith	anti-Smith antibody	Autoimmune antibody strongly linked to lupus	Laboratory
anti-Tg	anti-thyroglobulin antibody	Antibody against a thyroid protein	Laboratory Endocrinology
Anti-TPO	thyroid peroxidase antibody	Antibody found in autoimmune thyroid disease	Endocrinology Laboratory
Anti-tTG	tissue transglutaminase antibody	Blood antibody test for coeliac disease	Gastroenterology Laboratory
anti-Vel	anti-Vel antibody	Rare but hemolytic red cell antibody	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Anti-Xa	anti-factor Xa level	Blood test measuring heparin-type medicine effect	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
APC	adenomatous polyposis coli gene	Gene mutated in familial colon polyps and cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
APCR	activated protein C resistance	Inherited clotting tendency test, linked to factor V Leiden	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ApoA1	apolipoprotein A1	Main protein of HDL cholesterol particles	Laboratory Cardiology
ApoB	apolipoprotein B	Protein counting artery-related cholesterol particles	Laboratory Cardiology
APOE	apolipoprotein E	Gene influencing cholesterol and Alzheimer's risk	Laboratory Neurology Cardiology
APRI	AST to platelet ratio index	Blood-based score estimating liver scarring	Gastroenterology Laboratory
aPTT	activated partial thromboplastin time	Blood clotting test used to monitor heparin effect	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
AQP4	AQP4 antibody (neuromyelitis)	Water-channel antibody of NMOSD	Neurology Laboratory
AQP4	aquaporin-4 antibody	Antibody causing neuromyelitis optica	Laboratory Neurology
AQP4-IgG	aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G	Antibody defining neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder	Laboratory Neurology
ARR	aldosterone-to-renin ratio	Ratio used when screening for primary aldosteronism	Laboratory Endocrinology Cardiology
arteriolar hyalinosis	arteriolar hyalinosis (CNI lesion)	Small vessel change of CNI injury in biopsies	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
ASC-US	atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance	Cervical screening result with cell changes of unclear significance	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
ASMA	smooth muscle antibody	Antibody seen in autoimmune hepatitis	Laboratory Gastroenterology
ASO	antistreptolysin O	Antibody showing recent streptococcus infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Musculoskeletal
ASO titer	antistreptolysin O titer	Blood level showing recent strep infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
AST	aspartate aminotransferase	Liver and muscle enzyme measured in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
AstV	astrovirus	Diarrhea-causing virus	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
ATIII	antithrombin III	Natural clot-preventing protein measured in clotting disorders	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ATM	ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene	DNA repair gene in cancer risk testing	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ATN	amyloid tau neurodegeneration (framework)	Alzheimer research classification framework	Neurology Laboratory
ATN transplant	acute tubular necrosis (graft)	Storage injury delaying graft function — graft	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
AVP	arginine vasopressin	Hormone controlling water balance, also called ADH	Laboratory Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
B12	vitamin B12	Vitamin measured in blood, needed for nerves and red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Neurology
BAC	blood alcohol concentration (measurement)	Alcohol level measurement	Psychiatry Laboratory
BAL	blood alcohol level (legal/clinical)	Measured alcohol concentration — clinical	Psychiatry Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
Bands	band cells	Immature neutrophils released early during infection	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
Banff	Banff classification (rejection grading)	Transplant biopsy grading system	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
Baso	basophils	Least common white cells, linked to allergy	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
BCID	blood culture identification panel	Rapid molecular panel naming organisms from positive blood cultures	Laboratory Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
BCx	blood culture	Test growing germs from a blood sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
BCYE	buffered charcoal yeast extract agar	Culture medium for Legionella bacteria	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
BDG	beta-D-glucan	Fungal marker in blood for invasive fungal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
BE	base excess	Measure of the base component of acid-base balance	Laboratory Respiratory
beta-hCG	beta human chorionic gonadotropin	Measured part of the pregnancy hormone	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
beta-hCG tumor	beta-hCG (tumor marker)	Marker for some germ cell tumors	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Bili	bilirubin	Yellow pigment measured in blood, related to liver function	Laboratory Gastroenterology
biopsy graft	graft biopsy (rejection check)	Transplant kidney sampling	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
biotinidase	biotinidase deficiency (metabolic)	Vitamin-processing enzyme disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
BJ protein	Bence Jones protein	Free light chains found in urine in myeloma	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology
BK	BK virus (transplant)	Virus injuring transplant kidneys	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Laboratory
blaKPC	blaKPC gene	Gene encoding the KPC carbapenemase	Laboratory Infectious Disease
blaNDM	blaNDM gene	Gene encoding the NDM carbapenemase	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Blasto Ag	Blastomyces antigen	Test for blastomycosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
Blasts	blast cells	Very immature blood cells, abnormal in circulation	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
BLL	blood lead level (screening)	Lead concentration — screening	Pediatrics Laboratory
BMA	bone marrow aspiration (procedure)	Marrow sampling — procedure	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
BMB	bone marrow biopsy (procedure)	Marrow core sampling — procedure	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
BMP	basic metabolic panel	Blood panel of salts, kidney function and sugar	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
BNP	B-type natriuretic peptide	Blood marker released when the heart is stretched	Cardiology Laboratory
BRAF	BRAF (oncogene)	Gene mutation tested in melanoma and colon cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
BRCA1	breast cancer gene 1	Inherited gene raising breast and ovarian cancer risk	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
BRCA2	breast cancer gene 2	Inherited gene raising breast and ovarian cancer risk	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
BS	blood sugar	Glucose level in the blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
BUN	blood urea nitrogen	Blood test reflecting kidney function and hydration	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
Bx	biopsy	Removal of a small tissue sample for examination	Laboratory Surgery Hematology & Oncology
C&S	culture and sensitivity	Test identifying germs and which antibiotics affect them	Laboratory Infectious Disease
C-pep	C-peptide	Marker of the body's own insulin production	Endocrinology Laboratory
C-peptide	connecting peptide	Marker showing how much insulin the body itself makes	Laboratory Endocrinology
C. diff	Clostridioides difficile	Bacterium causing severe diarrhoea, often after antibiotics	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
C. diff toxin	Clostridioides difficile toxin assay	Stool test for C. difficile infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
C3	complement 3	Immune system protein measured in blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C3	complement C3	Immune protein consumed in many kidney and autoimmune diseases	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C4	complement 4	Immune system protein measured in blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C4	complement C4	Immune protein low in classic pathway activation	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C4d	C4d staining (rejection marker)	Complement footprint stain in graft biopsies	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Ca	calcium	Mineral measured in blood, important for bones and nerves	Laboratory Endocrinology
CA 125	cancer antigen 125	Tumour marker associated with ovarian conditions	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
CA 15-3	cancer antigen 15-3	Tumor marker used in breast cancer monitoring	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CA 19-9	cancer antigen 19-9	Tumour marker associated with pancreatic and bile conditions	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CA 27.29	cancer antigen 27.29	Breast cancer monitoring tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CA 72-4	cancer antigen 72-4	Tumor marker sometimes used in stomach cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CAG repeat	CAG repeat (genetic)	Huntington gene expansion length	Neurology Laboratory
Calprotectin	faecal calprotectin	Stool test marker of gut inflammation	Gastroenterology Laboratory
CASPR2	CASPR2 antibody (encephalitis)	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody target	Neurology Laboratory
CBC	complete blood count	Blood test counting red cells, white cells and platelets	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CBZ level	carbamazepine level (monitoring)	Blood level check for carbamazepine	Neurology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CCHF	Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever	Tick-borne hemorrhagic fever virus	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CCI	corrected count increment	Measure of platelet transfusion response	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
CD34	CD34 (stem cell marker)	Surface marker counting stem cells for transplant	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CD4	CD4 T cell	Immune cell counted in HIV care	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CDC crossmatch	complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch	Classic donor compatibility test	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
CEA	carcinoembryonic antigen	Tumour marker measured in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
cfDNA	cell-free DNA	DNA fragments in blood used in prenatal and cancer testing	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology
CFTR	CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis)	Salt channel gene of cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
CFTR	cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator	Gene and channel affected in cystic fibrosis	Laboratory Respiratory Pediatrics
CFU	colony-forming unit	Count of viable bacteria or fungi in a sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
cg score	transplant glomerulopathy (cg lesion)	Chronic antibody injury pattern in grafts	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
CgA	chromogranin A	Marker released by neuroendocrine tumors	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Endocrinology
CH50	total hemolytic complement	Overall complement pathway activity test	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CHEK2	checkpoint kinase 2	Inherited cancer risk gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CHIKV	chikungunya virus	Mosquito-borne virus causing fever and joint pain	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Chol	cholesterol	Fatty substance measured in blood	Laboratory Cardiology
CIN grades	cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grades)	Precancer grades of the cervix	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
CK	creatine kinase	Enzyme released from damaged muscle	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase MB fraction	Heart-related fraction of a muscle enzyme	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase-MB	Blood enzyme marker of heart muscle injury	Cardiology Laboratory
CKD-EPI	Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation	Standard kidney function estimation equation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Cl	chloride	Electrolyte measured with other blood salts	Laboratory
CLIA	chemiluminescent immunoassay	Light-based automated antibody test method	Laboratory General Medical
clue cells	clue cells (microscopy)	Cells coated with bacteria in BV — microscopy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
CMA	chromosomal microarray	Genetic test detecting small chromosome gains and losses	Laboratory Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
CMP	comprehensive metabolic panel	Broader blood panel including liver tests	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Gastroenterology
CMV transplant	CMV (transplant monitoring)	Cytomegalovirus watching after transplant	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Laboratory
CNV	copy number variant	Gain or loss of a DNA segment	Laboratory General Medical
co-testing	co-testing (Pap plus HPV)	Combined cervical screening strategy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
Cocci Ab	Coccidioides antibody	Test for valley fever	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
COHb	carboxyhemoglobin (level)	Carbon-monoxide-bound hemoglobin — level	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
CoNS	coagulase-negative staphylococci	Skin staph species that often contaminate cultures but can infect devices	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Coombs	Coombs test	Test detecting antibodies against red blood cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
copeptin	copeptin (vasopressin marker)	Stable marker used when assessing water balance disorders	Laboratory Endocrinology
cord blood	cord blood (sampling)	Blood from the cord at birth — sampling	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
cord gas	cord blood gas (delivery)	Cord vessel acid-base at birth	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
corrected calcium	corrected calcium (albumin-adjusted)	Calcium value adjusted for albumin level	Laboratory Endocrinology
corrected sodium	corrected sodium (glucose-adjusted)	Sodium value adjusted for high blood sugar	Laboratory Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
CPE	carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales	Bacteria making enzymes that destroy carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
cPRA	calculated panel reactive antibody (allocation)	Sensitivity percentage for allocation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
CPT def	carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency	Fat transport metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
Cr	creatinine	Waste product in blood reflecting kidney function	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CRAB	carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii	Bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CrAg	cryptococcal antigen	Rapid test for cryptococcal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
CRE	carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales	Gut bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Creat	creatinine	Waste product in blood reflecting kidney function	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CRH	corticotropin-releasing hormone	Brain hormone that triggers the stress hormone pathway	Laboratory Endocrinology
CRP	C-reactive protein	Blood protein that rises with inflammation	Laboratory General Medical
CSA level	cyclosporine level (monitoring)	Anti-rejection drug level check	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CSF	cerebrospinal fluid	Clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord	Neurology Laboratory
CSF analysis	CSF analysis (profile)	Spinal fluid test panel — profile	Neurology Laboratory
CSF VDRL	CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Spinal fluid syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
CSU	catheter specimen of urine	Urine sample taken from a catheter	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Nursing
Ct value	cycle threshold value	PCR cycles needed for detection, reflecting viral amount	Laboratory Infectious Disease
ctDNA	circulating tumor DNA	Tumor DNA fragments measured in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
cTn	cardiac troponin	Blood protein released when heart muscle is injured	Cardiology Laboratory
cTnI	cardiac troponin I	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
cTnT	cardiac troponin T	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CTX	C-terminal telopeptide	Bone breakdown marker	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
CV2	CV2/CRMP5 antibody (paraneoplastic)	Paraneoplastic antibody target	Neurology Laboratory
CVS	chorionic villus sampling	Placental tissue sampling test in pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
CYFRA 21-1	cytokeratin 19 fragment	Lung cancer tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Respiratory
CYP	cytochrome P450	Liver enzyme family breaking down many medicines	Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
D-xylose	D-xylose absorption test	Absorption test for intestinal malabsorption	Laboratory Gastroenterology
DAS28	Disease Activity Score 28	Rheumatoid arthritis activity score	Musculoskeletal Laboratory
DAT	direct antiglobulin test	Test for antibodies attached to red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
DAT neonate	direct antiglobulin test (newborn)	Coombs test on baby blood — newborn	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
dd-cfDNA	donor-derived cell-free DNA (monitoring)	Blood marker of graft injury	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
DDAVP challenge	desmopressin challenge (DI typing)	Test dose distinguishing DI types	Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
ddPCR	droplet digital PCR	Highly sensitive DNA counting technique	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
de novo	de novo disease (graft)	New disease arising in a transplant	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
delta gap	delta gap (acid-base)	Comparing gap change with bicarbonate change	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
delta ratio	delta ratio (acid-base)	Ratio refining mixed acid-base diagnosis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
DENV	dengue virus	Mosquito-borne virus causing dengue fever	Infectious Disease Laboratory
DFA	direct fluorescent antibody	Rapid antigen test using fluorescent labeled antibodies	Laboratory Infectious Disease
DGP	deamidated gliadin peptide	Celiac disease antibody target	Laboratory Gastroenterology
DHEA	dehydroepiandrosterone	Adrenal hormone precursor measured in blood	Endocrinology Laboratory
DHEA-S	dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate	Adrenal androgen measured in hormone workups	Laboratory Endocrinology
DHEAS	dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate	Sulfated adrenal hormone measured in blood	Endocrinology Laboratory
DIC score	ISTH DIC score	Scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation	Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
Diff	differential count	Breakdown of white blood cell types in a sample	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
dMMR	deficient mismatch repair	Loss of DNA repair proteins in a tumor	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid	Molecule carrying genetic instructions	Laboratory General Medical
DQ2	HLA-DQ2	Gene marker carried by most people with coeliac disease	Gastroenterology Laboratory
draw and hold	draw and hold (labs)	Collecting blood now for possible later testing	Nursing Laboratory
DSA	donor-specific antibody	Antibody in a recipient directed at the donor	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
dsDNA	double-stranded DNA antibody	Antibody strongly linked to lupus	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Musculoskeletal
E2	estradiol	Main oestrogen hormone	Endocrinology Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
eAG	estimated average glucose	Glucose average estimated from A1C	Laboratory Endocrinology
EBNA	Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen	Antibody appearing later after mono infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
EBOV	Ebola virus	Filovirus causing hemorrhagic fever outbreaks	Infectious Disease Laboratory
EBV VCA	Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen	Antibody target in mono testing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
ECC	endocervical curettage	Scraping of tissue from the cervical canal for testing	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
EGFR	epidermal growth factor receptor	Protein targeted by some cancer medicines	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
eGFR	estimated glomerular filtration rate	Estimate of how well the kidneys filter blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
EIA	enzyme immunoassay	Common antibody/antigen lab method	Laboratory General Medical
eKt/V	equilibrated Kt/V (measure)	Rebound-adjusted dialysis dose	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay	Lab test using antibodies to detect substances	Laboratory Infectious Disease
EMA	endomysial antibody	Blood antibody test for coeliac disease	Gastroenterology Laboratory
EMA ab	endomysial antibody (celiac)	Confirmatory celiac blood test	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Laboratory
EMB	endometrial biopsy	Sampling of the lining of the uterus for testing	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
ENA	extractable nuclear antigen	Panel of antibodies in autoimmune disease	Laboratory
EOG	electrooculogram	Electrical test of retinal pigment function	General Medical Laboratory
Eos	eosinophils	White cells linked to allergy and parasites	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
EPCAM	epithelial cell adhesion molecule	Gene linked to Lynch syndrome when deleted	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
EPO	erythropoietin	Hormone stimulating red blood cell production	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology
ER	estrogen receptor	Hormone receptor tested in breast cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ERG	electroretinogram	Electrical test of retinal function	General Medical Laboratory Neurology
ESBL	extended-spectrum beta-lactamase	Enzyme making bacteria resistant to many antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
ESR	erythrocyte sedimentation rate	Test showing how fast red cells settle, a sign of inflammation	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ETA	endotracheal aspirate	Airway secretion sample from a breathing tube	Laboratory Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
ETOH	ethanol	Alcohol, recorded in relation to drinking or blood level	General Medical Laboratory
EV	enterovirus	Gut virus group including hand-foot-and-mouth disease	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
EXM	electronic crossmatch	Computer-based donor unit selection without wet crossmatch	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
F508del	F508del (commonest CF variant)	Most frequent cystic fibrosis gene change	Pediatrics Laboratory
Fabry	Fabry disease (lysosomal)	Pain and organ storage disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Neurology
fasting labs	fasting labs (order)	Blood tests after no food for a set period	Nursing Laboratory
FBS	fetal blood sampling	Test of a baby's blood during labour or pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
FDP	fibrin degradation products	Breakdown fragments of blood clots measured in clotting problems	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Fe	iron	Mineral measured in blood, needed to make red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
fecal calprotectin	fecal calprotectin (inflammation marker)	Stool marker distinguishing IBD from IBS	Laboratory Gastroenterology
fecal elastase	fecal pancreatic elastase	stool test for pancreatic insufficiency	Laboratory Gastroenterology
fecal fat	fecal fat (qualitative/quantitative)	Stool test for fat malabsorption	Laboratory Gastroenterology
FENa	fractional excretion of sodium	Urine calculation helping assess kidney injury	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
FeNO	fractional exhaled nitric oxide (inflammation)	Breath inflammation marker	Pediatrics Respiratory Laboratory
fern test	fern test (fluid test)	Crystallization test for amniotic fluid	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
FEUrea	fractional excretion of urea	Urine calculation helping assess kidney injury	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
fFN	fetal fibronectin (test)	Protein test predicting preterm labor — test	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
FGF23	fibroblast growth factor 23	Phosphate-regulating hormone measured in bone disorders	Laboratory Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
Fib	fibrinogen	Blood protein essential for clot formation	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
FIB-4	Fibrosis-4 index	Blood-based score estimating liver scarring	Gastroenterology Laboratory
FISH	fluorescence in situ hybridization	Lab test detecting gene changes in cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
FIT	faecal immunochemical test	Stool test detecting hidden blood	Gastroenterology Laboratory
FIX	factor IX	Clotting factor missing in haemophilia B	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
FLC	free light chains	Small antibody parts measured in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Flow	flow cytometry	Lab method counting and sorting cells by markers	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
flow crossmatch	flow cytometric crossmatch (test)	Sensitive donor-recipient compatibility test	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
FMH	fetomaternal hemorrhage	Baby blood leaking into the mother's circulation	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
FNA	fine needle aspiration	Sampling cells through a thin needle	Laboratory Surgery
FNB	fine needle biopsy (core-type)	Needle obtaining tissue architecture, not just cells	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging Laboratory
FOBT	faecal occult blood test	Stool test detecting hidden blood	Gastroenterology Laboratory
FPG	fasting plasma glucose	Blood sugar measured after not eating	Endocrinology Laboratory
free T3	free triiodothyronine	Unbound active thyroid hormone	Laboratory Endocrinology
free T4	free thyroxine	Unbound thyroid hormone measured in thyroid testing	Laboratory Endocrinology
frozen section	frozen section (intraoperative)	Rapid pathology examination during surgery	Surgery Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
fructosamine	fructosamine (short-term glucose marker)	Marker reflecting glucose over the prior few weeks	Laboratory Endocrinology
FSH	follicle-stimulating hormone	Hormone controlling egg and sperm production	Laboratory Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology
FT3	free triiodothyronine	Unbound active thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
FT4	free thyroxine	Unbound thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
FTA	fluorescent treponemal antibody	Confirmatory syphilis test family	Laboratory Infectious Disease
FTA-ABS	fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption	Confirmatory syphilis blood test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
funisitis	funisitis (cord inflammation)	Inflammation of the umbilical cord	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
FVIII	factor VIII	Clotting factor missing in haemophilia A	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
FVL	factor V Leiden	Inherited gene change raising clot risk	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
FXIII	factor XIII	Clotting factor stabilising formed clots	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
g	gram	Unit of weight in the metric system	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
G&S	group and save	Blood group testing with sample storage, UK-style term	Laboratory Surgery
G6PD	glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase	Enzyme whose deficiency can cause red cell breakdown	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
G6PD	glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency	Inherited enzyme deficiency affecting red blood cells	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
GABA-B	GABA-B receptor antibody	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody	Neurology Laboratory
GAD antibodies	glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies	Autoimmune diabetes antibody panel component	Laboratory Endocrinology
GAD65	glutamic acid decarboxylase 65	Pancreatic enzyme targeted by antibodies in type 1 diabetes	Laboratory Endocrinology
galactosemia	galactosemia (diagnosis)	Milk sugar metabolic disorder — diagnosis	Pediatrics Laboratory
gap closed	anion gap closure (DKA endpoint)	Resolution marker ending the insulin drip	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Laboratory
Gaucher	Gaucher disease (lysosomal)	Commonest lysosomal storage disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
GCS	group C Streptococcus	Strep group causing throat and soft tissue infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
gene expression graft	gene expression profiling (graft monitoring)	Blood test of graft immune activity	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
GFAP	glial fibrillary acidic protein	Brain injury and Alzheimer blood marker	Neurology Laboratory
gFOBT	guaiac fecal occult blood test	Chemical stool blood test	Laboratory Gastroenterology
GFR	glomerular filtration rate	Measure of how well the kidneys filter blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
GGS	group G Streptococcus	Strep group causing skin and bloodstream infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
GGT	gamma-glutamyl transferase	Liver enzyme often raised with bile duct problems	Laboratory Gastroenterology
GH	growth hormone	Hormone promoting growth and metabolism	Laboratory Endocrinology Pediatrics
Glu	glucose	Sugar measured in the blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
glucola	glucola (glucose drink shorthand)	Sweet drink used in diabetes screening	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
GM	galactomannan	Aspergillus marker in blood or lung fluid	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
GMS	Gomori methenamine silver stain	Silver stain highlighting fungi in tissue	Laboratory Infectious Disease
GOLDMARK	GOLDMARK (anion gap causes)	Updated causes mnemonic for a high gap	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
GSD	glycogen storage diseases (group)	Sugar-storage disorder family	Pediatrics Laboratory Endocrinology
H. pylori Ag	Helicobacter pylori stool antigen	Stool test for stomach H. pylori infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
HAGMA	high anion gap metabolic acidosis	Acid build-up acidosis type	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
Ham test	acid hemolysis test (historical PNH test)	Older test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HAV	hepatitis A virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type A	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
Hb	hemoglobin	Protein in red cells that carries oxygen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HbA1c	glycated hemoglobin	Blood test showing average sugar over about three months	Laboratory Endocrinology
HBeAg	hepatitis B e antigen	Marker of high hepatitis B infectivity	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBoV	human bocavirus	Respiratory virus found in children	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HBsAg	hepatitis B surface antigen	Marker found in blood during hepatitis B infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HBV	hepatitis B virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type B	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBV DNA	hepatitis B virus DNA	Viral level guiding hepatitis B treatment	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
hCG	human chorionic gonadotropin	Pregnancy hormone measured in blood or urine	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
HCO3	bicarbonate	Main base in blood, part of acid-base balance	Laboratory Respiratory
HCoV	human coronavirus	Coronavirus family infecting humans	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Hct	hematocrit	Percentage of blood made up of red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HCV	hepatitis C virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HCV RNA	hepatitis C virus RNA	Viral level confirming active hepatitis C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HDL	high-density lipoprotein	The 'good' cholesterol that carries cholesterol away	Cardiology Laboratory
HDN	hemolytic disease of the newborn (diagnosis)	Blood-group attack on baby cells — diagnosis	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HE4	human epididymis protein 4	Ovarian cancer tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
HELLP	HELLP syndrome (diagnosis)	Severe preeclampsia complication — diagnosis	Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HER2	human epidermal growth factor receptor 2	Protein guiding targeted cancer treatment choices	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
heterophile Ab	heterophile antibody	Antibody detected by the monospot test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HFE	hemochromatosis gene	Gene linked to iron overload when faulty	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
Hgb	hemoglobin	Protein in red cells that carries oxygen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HHV-6	human herpesvirus 6 (roseola)	Roseola virus	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
Histo Ag	Histoplasma antigen	Urine or blood test for histoplasmosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
HIV	human immunodeficiency virus	Virus that attacks the immune system	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HIV VL	HIV viral load	Amount of HIV RNA guiding treatment response	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HLA	human leukocyte antigen	Tissue markers matched for transplantation	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
hMPV	human metapneumovirus	Respiratory virus similar to RSV	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
holoTC	holotranscobalamin	Active vitamin B12 fraction	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
homocystinuria	homocystinuria (metabolic)	Connective and clotting metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
hour-specific	hour-specific bilirubin nomogram	Age-in-hours bilirubin risk chart	Pediatrics Laboratory
HPA	human platelet antigen	Platelet typing system used in platelet refractoriness and NAIT	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Pediatrics
HPeV	human parechovirus	Virus causing sepsis-like illness in young infants	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HPV HR	high-risk human papillomavirus	Cancer-associated HPV types in screening	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology
hs-CRP	high-sensitivity C-reactive protein	Very sensitive inflammation test used for heart risk	Laboratory Cardiology
HScore	HScore (HLH probability)	HLH likelihood score	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HSIL	high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion	More advanced precancerous cell changes, often on cervical screening	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
HSV PCR	herpes simplex virus PCR	Swab or fluid test for herpes infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
Hu ab	anti-Hu antibody (paraneoplastic)	Paraneoplastic neurological antibody	Neurology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Hunter	Hunter syndrome (MPS II)	X-linked storage disease of boys	Pediatrics Laboratory
Hurler	Hurler syndrome (MPS I)	Severe mucopolysaccharide storage disease	Pediatrics Laboratory
hVISA	heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph population partly resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
hyperammonemia	hyperammonemia (emergency)	High ammonia poisoning the brain — emergency	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
HyperCa	hypercalcemia	High calcium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Endocrinology
hypercalcemia crisis	hypercalcemic crisis (emergency)	Dangerously high calcium emergency	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HyperK	hyperkalemia	High potassium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
HypoCa	hypocalcemia	Low calcium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Endocrinology
HypoK	hypokalemia	Low potassium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
HypoNa	hyponatremia	Low sodium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
hyponatremia correction	hyponatremia correction rate (safety)	Safe speed limit for raising low sodium	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology Laboratory
IA-2	islet antigen-2	Pancreatic islet target of antibodies in type 1 diabetes	Laboratory Endocrinology
IAA	insulin autoantibody	Antibody against insulin seen in early type 1 diabetes	Laboratory Endocrinology
IAT	indirect antiglobulin test	Test detecting red cell antibodies in plasma	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
ICA	islet cell antibody	Pancreatic islet antibody in autoimmune diabetes	Laboratory Endocrinology
iCa CRRT	ionized calcium (citrate monitoring)	Calcium checks guiding citrate therapy	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
ICT	immunochromatographic test	Rapid strip test using colored particles	Laboratory General Medical
IDA child	iron deficiency anemia (childhood)	Low iron anemia of childhood	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IFA	indirect fluorescent antibody	Microscopy antibody test method	Laboratory General Medical
IFE	immunofixation electrophoresis	Lab test identifying abnormal antibody proteins	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IFG	impaired fasting glucose	Fasting blood sugar higher than normal but not diabetes	Endocrinology Laboratory
IFTA	interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (graft)	Scarring pattern in transplant biopsies	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
IgA	immunoglobulin A	Antibody protecting mucosal surfaces like the gut	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
IgE	immunoglobulin E	Antibody involved in allergy	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
IGF-1	insulin-like growth factor 1	Hormone reflecting growth hormone activity	Laboratory Endocrinology
IGFBP-1 test	insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 test	Ruptured membrane test protein	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
IGFBP-3	insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3	Carrier protein used in growth assessment	Laboratory Endocrinology Pediatrics
IgG	immunoglobulin G	Most common antibody type in blood	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgG index	immunoglobulin G index (CSF)	Ratio supporting MS diagnosis	Neurology Laboratory
IgM	immunoglobulin M	First antibody type made in a new infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgM anti-HAV	IgM hepatitis A antibody	Marker of acute hepatitis A	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IgM anti-HBc	IgM hepatitis B core antibody	Marker of recent hepatitis B infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease
IGRA	interferon-gamma release assay	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
IGRA child	interferon-gamma release assay (childhood)	TB blood test — childhood	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
IGT	impaired glucose tolerance	Blood sugar higher than normal but not diabetes	Endocrinology Laboratory
IHC	immunohistochemistry	Lab staining using antibodies on tissue samples	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
immunoadsorption	immunoadsorption (antibody column)	Column removing antibodies from blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
inhibin B	inhibin B (ovarian hormone)	Hormone used in fertility and ovarian assessment	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology
INR	international normalized ratio	Standardised measure of blood clotting tendency	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IPF	immature platelet fraction	Young platelet percentage showing platelet production	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IRBC	irradiated red blood cells	Red cells treated to prevent graft-versus-host disease	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
iron def child	iron deficiency (childhood)	Commonest childhood nutritional deficiency	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IRT	immunoreactive trypsinogen (CF screen)	Newborn CF screening marker	Pediatrics Laboratory
IS XM	immediate spin crossmatch	Quick crossmatch for patients without antibodies	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
IU ⚠ Error-prone	international unit	Standard measure of substance activity, error-prone in writing	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
JCV	JC virus (antibody/PML)	Virus linked to PML brain infection	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
JCV index	JC virus antibody index	PML risk measure on natalizumab	Neurology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
K	potassium	Electrolyte important for heart and muscle function	Laboratory
KB test	Kleihauer-Betke test (fetal blood)	Test measuring fetal blood in the mother	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
Ki-67	Ki-67 proliferation index	Marker of how fast tumor cells are dividing	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
KOH	potassium hydroxide preparation	Microscopy prep dissolving tissue to reveal fungi	Laboratory Infectious Disease
KOH prep	potassium hydroxide preparation (vaginal)	Slide test for yeast — vaginal	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
KPC	Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase	Resistance enzyme in some gut bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
KRAS	KRAS (oncogene)	Gene mutation tested in colon and lung cancers	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
Kt/V	Kt/V (adequacy)	Dialysis dose measure — adequacy	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
L	liter	Unit of volume equal to one thousand millilitres	General Medical Laboratory
LA	lupus anticoagulant	Antibody that prolongs clotting tests but raises clot risk	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
lactic	lactic acidosis (type)	Lactate-driven acidosis — type	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
LAMP	loop-mediated isothermal amplification	Rapid DNA amplification used in point-of-care tests	Laboratory Infectious Disease
LASV	Lassa virus	Rodent-borne hemorrhagic fever virus	Infectious Disease Laboratory
LBC	liquid-based cytology	Pap test method using a fluid vial	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
LDH	lactate dehydrogenase	Enzyme found in many tissues, rises with cell damage	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
LDH tumor	lactate dehydrogenase (burden)	Cell turnover marker — burden	Pediatrics Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
LDL	low-density lipoprotein	The 'bad' cholesterol that builds up in artery walls	Cardiology Laboratory
lead level	blood lead level	Test for lead exposure, especially in children	Laboratory Pediatrics
lead screening	lead screening (childhood program)	Blood lead testing in young children	Pediatrics Laboratory
LFA	lateral flow assay	Strip test format, as in rapid antigen tests	Laboratory General Medical
LFTs	liver function tests	Group of blood tests assessing the liver	Laboratory Gastroenterology
LGI1	LGI1 antibody (encephalitis)	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody target	Neurology Laboratory
LH	luteinizing hormone	Hormone controlling ovulation and sex hormone production	Laboratory Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology
Li level	lithium level (monitoring)	Blood level check for lithium safety	Psychiatry Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
LIA	line immunoassay	Strip-based antibody confirmation test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
line draw	line draw (blood from catheter)	Blood sampled through an existing catheter	Nursing Laboratory
Lipids	lipid panel	Group of blood fat measurements	Laboratory Cardiology
LKM	anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody	Antibody in a type of autoimmune hepatitis	Laboratory Gastroenterology
LP	liquid plasma	Plasma stored liquid, used in massive transfusion	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
LP	lumbar puncture	Needle sampling of spinal fluid from the lower back	Neurology Laboratory
Lp(a)	lipoprotein(a)	Inherited cholesterol particle measured in blood	Laboratory Cardiology
LRBC	leukoreduced red blood cells	Red cells filtered to remove white cells	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
LRINEC	Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis	Score supporting diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infection	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Laboratory
LRP4	LRP4 antibody (myasthenia)	Third myasthenia antibody type	Neurology Laboratory
LSIL	low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion	Mild precancerous cell changes, often on cervical screening	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
LTOWB	low-titer group O whole blood	Universal-type whole blood for emergency transfusion	Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
Lymph	lymphocytes	White cells central to immune defence	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
M protein	M protein (streptococcal surface protein)	Strep surface protein determining type and virulence	Infectious Disease Laboratory
M-protein	monoclonal protein	Abnormal antibody protein produced by a single clone of plasma cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
M-spike	monoclonal spike	Peak on protein electrophoresis showing an abnormal antibody protein	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Ma2	anti-Ma2 antibody (paraneoplastic)	Brainstem paraneoplastic antibody	Neurology Laboratory
MALDI-TOF	matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight	Mass spectrometry method rapidly identifying microbes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Marsh	Marsh classification (celiac biopsy)	Bowel damage grading in celiac disease	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Laboratory
MARV	Marburg virus	Filovirus related to Ebola	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MBC	minimum bactericidal concentration	Lowest antibiotic level that kills a bacterium	Laboratory Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
MCAD	medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency	Fat-burning metabolic disorder causing low sugar crashes	Pediatrics Laboratory Endocrinology
mcg	microgram	Unit of weight, one millionth of a gram	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
MCH	mean corpuscular hemoglobin	Average hemoglobin amount in one red cell	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
MCHC	mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration	Average hemoglobin concentration in red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
mcr-1	mobilized colistin resistance 1	Plasmid gene conferring colistin resistance	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MCV	mean corpuscular volume	Average size of a red blood cell	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
MDRD	Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation	Older kidney function estimation equation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
mecA	mecA gene	Gene conferring methicillin resistance in staph	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MELD	Model for End-Stage Liver Disease	Liver severity score used in transplant allocation	Gastroenterology Laboratory
MELD-Na	Model for End-Stage Liver Disease with sodium	Liver severity score including sodium	Gastroenterology Laboratory
MERS-CoV	Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus	Coronavirus causing severe respiratory illness	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
methemoglobin	methemoglobinemia (toxicology)	Oxidized blood unable to carry oxygen — toxicology	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
MFI	mean fluorescence intensity (antibody strength)	Antibody amount measure in bead testing	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Mg	magnesium	Mineral electrolyte measured in blood	Laboratory
mg	milligram	Unit of weight, one thousandth of a gram	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
MgSO4 ⚠ Error-prone	magnesium sulfate	Magnesium salt used in several clinical settings, easily confused	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
MIC	minimum inhibitory concentration	Lowest drug concentration that stops a germ growing in the lab	Infectious Disease Laboratory
microvascular inflammation	microvascular inflammation (graft finding)	Small vessel graft inflammation of antibody rejection	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
mL	milliliter	Unit of volume, one thousandth of a liter	Prescription & Medication Orders Laboratory
MLH1	MutL homolog 1	Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
MLST	multilocus sequence typing	Gene-based bacterial strain typing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MLT	medical laboratory technician	Laboratory professional performing tests	Laboratory
MMA	methylmalonic acid	Test confirming vitamin B12 deficiency	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Neurology
mmHg	millimeters of mercury	Unit used to measure blood pressure	Vitals & Assessment Laboratory
MMR	mismatch repair	DNA repair system tested in some cancers	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
mNGS	metagenomic next-generation sequencing	Unbiased sequencing identifying pathogens from a sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MOG	myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody	Antibody of MOG-associated disease	Neurology Laboratory
MoM	multiples of the median	Screening result expressed relative to the typical value	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mono	monocytes	White cells that clear debris and germs	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
MPO	myeloperoxidase antibody	Antibody marker in small-vessel vasculitis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
MPS	mucopolysaccharidoses (group)	Sugar-chain storage disorder family	Pediatrics Laboratory
MPV	mean platelet volume	Average size of platelets in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
mRNA	messenger ribonucleic acid	RNA copy carrying instructions to make a protein	Laboratory General Medical
MRSA	methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria resistant to common antibiotics	Laboratory Infectious Disease
MRSE	methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis	Resistant skin staph infecting lines and devices	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MS/MS	tandem mass spectrometry	Lab technique used in newborn screening	Laboratory Pediatrics
MSAFP	maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein	Blood test in pregnancy measuring a protein made by the baby	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
MSBOS	maximum surgical blood order schedule	Guide to how much blood to order for each operation	Surgery Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
MSH2	MutS homolog 2	Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
MSH6	MutS homolog 6	Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
MSI	microsatellite instability	DNA repair fault found in some cancers	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
MSSA	methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria treatable with standard antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
MSU	midstream urine	Urine sample collected mid-flow for testing	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
MSU	monosodium urate	Crystal type that deposits in joints in gout	Musculoskeletal Laboratory
MSUD	maple syrup urine disease	Inherited disorder of amino acid breakdown	Pediatrics Laboratory
MT	medical technologist	Laboratory professional performing tests	Laboratory
MTHFR	methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase	Enzyme and gene involved in folate processing	Laboratory
MUDPILES	MUDPILES (anion gap causes)	Classic causes mnemonic for a high gap	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
MuSK	muscle-specific kinase antibody	Second myasthenia antibody type	Neurology Laboratory
MWT	maintenance of wakefulness test	Test of ability to stay awake	Neurology Laboratory
Na	sodium	Main salt electrolyte measured in blood	Laboratory
NAAT	nucleic acid amplification test	Lab test detecting genetic material of germs	Laboratory Infectious Disease
NAGMA	non-anion gap metabolic acidosis	Chloride-driven acidosis type	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
NAT	nucleic acid testing	DNA/RNA detection used in blood donor screening	Laboratory Infectious Disease Hematology & Oncology
NBS	newborn screen	Heel-stick screening panel for inherited disorders	Laboratory Pediatrics
NBS	newborn screening (abbreviation)	Heel-prick test program abbreviation	Pediatrics Laboratory
NDM	New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase	Resistance enzyme in some bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Neut	neutrophils	Most common white cells, first responders to infection	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
newborn screen	newborn screening (program)	Heel-prick screening program — program	Pediatrics Laboratory
NfL	neurofilament light chain	Nerve injury marker in blood and CSF	Neurology Laboratory
NGS	next-generation sequencing	Fast large-scale reading of DNA	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Niemann-Pick	Niemann-Pick disease (lysosomal)	Storage disorder with liver and lung disease	Pediatrics Laboratory
NIPT	noninvasive prenatal testing	Blood test in pregnancy screening for certain chromosome conditions	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
nitrazine	nitrazine test (fluid pH)	Paper test suggesting waters have broken	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
NMDAR ab	anti-NMDA receptor antibody	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody	Neurology Laboratory Psychiatry
NoV	norovirus	Leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Laboratory
NRBC	nucleated red blood cell	Immature red cell with a nucleus, abnormal in adult blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
NSE	neuron-specific enolase	Tumor marker used in small cell lung and neuroendocrine cancers	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
NT-proBNP	N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide	Blood marker used to help assess heart failure	Cardiology Laboratory
NTx	N-terminal telopeptide	Bone resorption marker measured in urine or blood	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
OCB	oligoclonal bands	Antibody bands in spinal fluid suggesting immune activity	Neurology Laboratory
OGTT	oral glucose tolerance test	Sugar drink test for diabetes	Endocrinology Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
opening pressure	opening pressure (LP measurement)	Spinal fluid pressure at tap — measurement	Neurology Laboratory
OR	odds ratio	Measure comparing odds between two groups	General Medical Laboratory
Osm	osmolality	Concentration of dissolved particles in blood or urine	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
osm gap	osmolal gap	Difference between measured and calculated osmolality	Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology
osteocalcin	osteocalcin (bone formation marker)	Protein reflecting bone formation	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
OTC def	ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency	Commonest urea cycle disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
OTCD	ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency	Inherited disorder of ammonia removal	Pediatrics Laboratory
OXA-48	OXA-48 carbapenemase	Carbapenem-destroying enzyme type	Infectious Disease Laboratory
p-tau	phosphorylated tau (blood/CSF)	Alzheimer marker protein	Neurology Laboratory
P1NP	procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide	Bone formation marker	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
PaCO2	partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood	Measure of carbon dioxide dissolved in artery blood	Respiratory Laboratory
PALB2	partner and localizer of BRCA2	Inherited breast cancer risk gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PaO2	partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood	Measure of oxygen dissolved in artery blood	Respiratory Laboratory
Pap	Papanicolaou test (screening)	Cervical screening smear — screening	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
parvo B19	parvovirus B19 (infection)	Fifth disease virus — infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
PAS	periodic acid-Schiff stain	Stain highlighting fungi and basement membranes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
PCA	parietal cell antibody	Antibody linked to pernicious anemia	Laboratory Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
PCR	polymerase chain reaction	Lab method copying DNA to detect germs or genes	Laboratory Infectious Disease
PCR	protein-to-creatinine ratio	Urine test estimating total protein loss	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
PCV	packed cell volume	Percentage of blood made up of red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PD-L1	programmed death-ligand 1	Protein helping decide immunotherapy use	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
PDR	pan-drug-resistant	Organism resistant to all tested antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
PDW	platelet distribution width	Variation in platelet size	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
peripheral draw	peripheral blood draw	Blood taken from a vein rather than a line	Nursing Laboratory
PET test PD	peritoneal equilibration test	Membrane transport test in PD	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
PF4	platelet factor 4	Platelet protein tested in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PFGE	pulsed-field gel electrophoresis	Older DNA fingerprinting method for outbreak tracing	Laboratory Infectious Disease
pH	potential of hydrogen	Measure of acidity or alkalinity	Laboratory General Medical
Phleb	phlebotomist	Professional who draws blood samples	Laboratory Nursing
Phos	phosphate	Mineral measured in blood, linked to bone health	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
pIGFBP-1	phosphorylated IGFBP-1 (cervical test)	Cervical protein test for preterm labor	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
PIV	parainfluenza virus	Croup-causing respiratory virus group	Infectious Disease Respiratory Pediatrics Laboratory
PKU	phenylketonuria	Inherited condition affecting phenylalanine breakdown	Laboratory Pediatrics Endocrinology
PLA2R	phospholipase A2 receptor antibody	Antibody marker in membranous kidney disease	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
plasmapheresis	plasmapheresis (antibody removal)	Antibody filtering — transplant	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
PLEX	plasma exchange (neuro)	Blood filtering for neuroimmune attacks — neuro	Neurology Laboratory
Plt	platelet	Small blood fragment that helps clotting	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
pMMR	proficient mismatch repair	Intact DNA mismatch repair in a tumor	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PMS2	postmeiotic segregation increased 2	Lynch syndrome DNA repair gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
POCT	point-of-care testing	Testing done at the bedside rather than a central lab	Laboratory Nursing General Medical
Pompe	Pompe disease (glycogen storage II)	Muscle and heart glycogen disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Cardiology
PR	progesterone receptor (tumor marker)	Hormone receptor tested in breast cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PR3	proteinase 3 antibody	Antibody marker in granulomatosis with polyangiitis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
PRA	panel reactive antibody	Measure of immune sensitisation before transplant	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
PRL	prolactin	Hormone that promotes milk production	Laboratory Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology
Prog	progesterone	Hormone preparing the uterus for pregnancy	Endocrinology Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
ProGRP	pro-gastrin-releasing peptide	Small cell lung cancer marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Respiratory
proinsulin	proinsulin (insulin precursor)	Insulin precursor sometimes measured in hypoglycemia workups	Laboratory Endocrinology
PSA	prostate-specific antigen	Prostate protein tested in blood	Laboratory Surgery
PSMA	prostate-specific membrane antigen	Target on prostate cancer cells for imaging and therapy	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Laboratory
PT	prothrombin time	Blood test of how long blood takes to clot	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PT/INR	prothrombin time / international normalized ratio	Combined clotting test result used to monitor blood thinning	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PTA2	pure tone audiometry	Standard hearing test by tones	General Medical Laboratory
PTH	parathyroid hormone	Hormone controlling blood calcium levels	Laboratory Endocrinology
PTHrP	parathyroid hormone-related protein	Protein that raises calcium in some cancers	Laboratory Endocrinology Hematology & Oncology
PTT	partial thromboplastin time	Blood test of clotting through one pathway	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
PVL	Panton-Valentine leukocidin	Toxin made by some staph bacteria	Infectious Disease Laboratory
pyruvate kinase	pyruvate kinase (red cell enzyme)	Enzyme deficiency causing chronic hemolysis	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
QFT	QuantiFERON-TB Gold	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
Qmax	maximum urinary flow rate	Fastest urine flow measured during voiding	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
RADT	rapid antigen detection test	Quick swab test, as for strep throat	Laboratory Infectious Disease Pediatrics
rainbow draw	rainbow draw (extra tubes)	Extra assorted blood tubes drawn at once	Nursing Laboratory
RBC	red blood cell	Cell that carries oxygen in the blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
RBC	red blood count	Number of red cells in a blood sample	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
RBC folate	red blood cell folate	Longer-term measure of folate stores	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
RBG	random blood glucose	Blood sugar measured at any time	Endocrinology Laboratory
RDP	random donor platelets	Platelets pooled from several donors	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
RDW	red cell distribution width	Measure of variation in red cell size	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
recurrence graft	recurrent disease (graft)	Original disease returning in the transplant	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
refeeding	refeeding syndrome (eating)	Dangerous shifts restarting nutrition — eating-disorder	Psychiatry Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
Renal Bx	renal biopsy	Sampling kidney tissue with a needle for examination	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Retic	reticulocyte count	Count of young red blood cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
retic index	reticulocyte index	Corrected reticulocyte count for anemia assessment	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
retic neonate	reticulocyte count (hemolysis)	Young red cell count in jaundice workup	Pediatrics Laboratory
RF	rheumatoid factor	Antibody often found in rheumatoid arthritis	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
RFTs	renal function tests	Group of blood tests assessing the kidneys	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
Rh	Rhesus factor	Blood group feature, positive or negative	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rh(D) immune	Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM)	Anti-D injection preventing sensitization	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
RhD	Rh D antigen	Main Rh blood group antigen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
RNA	ribonucleic acid	Molecule helping carry out genetic instructions	Laboratory General Medical
ROMA	risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm	Score combining markers to assess an ovarian mass	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
rosette test	rosette test (fetal blood screen)	Screen for a large fetomaternal bleed	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
ROTEM	rotational thromboelastometry	Whole-blood test of clot formation and strength	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
RoV	rotavirus	Diarrhea virus of infancy, vaccine preventable	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology Pediatrics Laboratory
RPR	rapid plasma reagin	Blood screening test for syphilis	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RPR titer	rapid plasma reagin titer	Syphilis activity level followed during treatment	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RT-PCR	reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction	RNA virus test, used for influenza and COVID-19	Laboratory Infectious Disease
RT-QuIC	real-time quaking-induced conversion	Highly specific prion disease test	Neurology Laboratory Infectious Disease
rT3	reverse T3	Inactive thyroid hormone sometimes measured in illness	Laboratory Endocrinology
RV	rhinovirus	Main cause of the common cold	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
S/CO	signal-to-cutoff ratio	Immunoassay result scale for hepatitis and HIV screening	Laboratory Infectious Disease
S100	S100 protein	Marker used in melanoma monitoring	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SAB	single antigen bead (antibody test)	Detailed antibody identification test	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Sanfilippo	Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III)	Brain-predominant storage disease	Pediatrics Laboratory Neurology
SaO2	arterial oxygen saturation	Percentage of arterial hemoglobin carrying oxygen	Respiratory Laboratory
SCC Ag	squamous cell carcinoma antigen	Tumor marker for squamous cell cancers	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SCCmec	staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec	Resistance gene cassette defining MRSA types	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Schilling test	Schilling test (historical B12 absorption)	Older test for B12 absorption, now rarely used	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SD-FFP	solvent detergent-treated plasma	Pooled plasma treated to inactivate viruses	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
SDP	single donor platelets	Platelets collected from one donor	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
secretin test	secretin stimulation test	Pancreatic function test	Laboratory Gastroenterology
Sed rate	sedimentation rate	How fast red cells settle, a sign of inflammation	Laboratory
serum osmolality	serum osmolality (measured)	Direct measure of blood concentration	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
serum tox	serum toxicology (panel)	Blood drug level panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
sFLC	serum free light chains	Blood measurement of antibody light chain fragments	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SG	specific gravity	Measure of urine concentration compared with water	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
SHBG	sex hormone-binding globulin	Blood protein carrying sex hormones	Endocrinology Laboratory
skin punch	skin punch biopsy (neuropathy)	Skin sample counting tiny nerve fibers	Neurology Laboratory
SNP	single nucleotide polymorphism	Single-letter variation in DNA	Laboratory
spa typing	staphylococcal protein A typing	MRSA strain typing method	Laboratory Infectious Disease
SPE	streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin	Strep toxin in scarlet fever and toxic shock	Infectious Disease Laboratory
specimen label	specimen labeling (process)	Correct identification of surgical specimens	Nursing Surgery Laboratory
SPEP	serum protein electrophoresis	Test separating blood proteins into bands	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
spKt/V	single-pool Kt/V (measure)	Standard dialysis dose calculation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
SSA	Sjogren syndrome-related antigen A	Autoimmune target tested in Sjogren syndrome and lupus	Laboratory
SSB	Sjogren syndrome-related antigen B (La)	Autoimmune target tested alongside SSA in Sjogren syndrome	Laboratory
stdKt/V	standard Kt/V (weekly measure)	Weekly dose measure for frequent dialysis	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
sTfR	soluble transferrin receptor	Marker helping distinguish iron deficiency anemia	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
stool lactoferrin	fecal lactoferrin	Marker of intestinal inflammation in stool	Laboratory Gastroenterology
STR	serologic transfusion reaction	New antibody found after transfusion without hemolysis	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
sugar water test	sucrose hemolysis test (historical)	Older screening test for PNH	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
sweat test	sweat chloride test (CF)	Salt measurement confirming cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
T&C	type and crossmatch	Blood test matching donor blood for a patient	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Surgery
T&S	type and screen	Blood test checking group and unexpected antibodies	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Surgery
T3	triiodothyronine	Active thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
T4	thyroxine	Main thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
tac level	tacrolimus level (monitoring)	Anti-rejection drug level — monitoring	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
Tay-Sachs	Tay-Sachs disease (lysosomal)	Infantile nerve storage disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Neurology
TBG	thyroxine-binding globulin	Protein that carries thyroid hormone in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
TBili	total bilirubin	Total yellow pigment level in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
TcB	transcutaneous bilirubin (measurement)	Skin bilirubin estimate in newborns	Pediatrics Laboratory Nursing
TCMR	T cell-mediated rejection (type)	Cellular rejection of a transplant	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
TEG	thromboelastography	Whole-blood test of clot formation and strength	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care
Testo	testosterone	Main male sex hormone	Endocrinology Laboratory
Tg	thyroglobulin	Thyroid protein used as a marker after thyroid cancer	Endocrinology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TG	triglycerides	A type of fat measured in the blood	Cardiology Laboratory
TgAb	thyroglobulin antibody	Antibody against a thyroid protein	Endocrinology Laboratory
thrombotic micro tx	thrombotic microangiopathy (graft)	Small vessel clotting injury in grafts	Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
TIBC	total iron-binding capacity	Blood test of how much iron the blood can carry	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TLS	tumor lysis syndrome (emergency)	Cancer breakdown emergency	Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
TMB	tumor mutational burden	Number of mutations in a tumor sample	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
tox screen	toxicology screen (panel)	Drug test panel — panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
TP	total protein	Total amount of protein in a blood sample	Laboratory
TP53	tumor protein p53	Major tumor suppressor gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TPO	thrombopoietin	Hormone stimulating platelet production	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TPOAb	thyroid peroxidase antibody	Antibody marker of Hashimoto thyroiditis	Laboratory Endocrinology
TPPA	Treponema pallidum particle agglutination	Confirmatory syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
TRAb	thyrotropin receptor antibody	Antibody stimulating the thyroid in Graves' disease	Endocrinology Laboratory
TRAP	tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase	Enzyme linked to bone breakdown cells	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
traumatic tap	traumatic tap (bloody LP)	Blood from the needle path in a spinal tap	Neurology Laboratory
Trop	troponin	Heart muscle protein tested when heart attack is suspected	Laboratory Cardiology
TSAT	transferrin saturation	Percentage showing iron availability	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TSB	total serum bilirubin (newborn)	Blood bilirubin — newborn	Pediatrics Laboratory
TSH	thyroid-stimulating hormone	Pituitary hormone controlling the thyroid gland	Laboratory Endocrinology
TSI	thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin	Antibody stimulating the thyroid in Graves' disease	Endocrinology Laboratory
TSST-1	toxic shock syndrome toxin 1	Staph toxin causing toxic shock syndrome	Infectious Disease Laboratory
TST	tuberculin skin test	Skin test for tuberculosis infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
TT	thrombin time	Test of the final step of blood clotting	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
tTG	tissue transglutaminase	Enzyme targeted by antibodies in celiac disease	Laboratory Gastroenterology
TTKG	transtubular potassium gradient	Urine calculation for potassium handling disorders	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
tumor lysis child	tumor lysis syndrome (childhood)	Cancer breakdown emergency — childhood	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
type A lactic	type A lactic acidosis (perfusion)	Lactate from poor tissue perfusion	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
type B lactic	type B lactic acidosis (non-perfusion)	Lactate from drugs or metabolism without shock	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
tyrosinemia	tyrosinemia type 1 (metabolic)	Liver and kidney metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
U&E	urea and electrolytes	Blood panel of kidney and salt levels	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
UA	urinalysis	Laboratory examination of a urine sample	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
UBT	urea breath test	Breath test for H. pylori infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
UCx	urine culture	Test growing germs from a urine sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease Renal & Nephrology
UDS	urine drug screen (panel)	Urine drug panel — panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Psychiatry
UIBC	unsaturated iron-binding capacity	Unused iron-carrying capacity of blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
UPCR	urine protein-to-creatinine ratio	Urine test estimating protein loss from kidneys	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
UPEP	urine protein electrophoresis	Test separating urine proteins into bands	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology
urea cycle	urea cycle disorders (group)	Ammonia-clearing pathway diseases	Pediatrics Laboratory
urine ACR	urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio	Urine test quantifying kidney protein leakage	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
urine osm	urine osmolality	Concentration of urine used in water balance assessment	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
URR	urea reduction ratio	Percentage fall in urea across a dialysis session	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
vanA	vanA gene	Gene conferring high-level vancomycin resistance in enterococci	Laboratory Infectious Disease
vault smear	vault smear (post-hysterectomy)	Screening smear of the vaginal vault	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
VBG	venous blood gas	Blood test from a vein measuring gases and acidity	Respiratory Laboratory
VDRL	Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Blood screening test for syphilis	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VGKC	voltage-gated potassium channel antibody (complex)	Older umbrella term for LGI1/CASPR2 antibodies	Neurology Laboratory
VGS	viridans group streptococci	Mouth strep species linked to endocarditis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Cardiology
VIP	vasoactive intestinal peptide	Hormone measured in certain pancreatic tumors	Laboratory Endocrinology Gastroenterology
virtual crossmatch	virtual crossmatch (compatibility prediction)	Computer-predicted donor compatibility	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
VISA	vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria with reduced vancomycin sensitivity	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Vit D	vitamin D	Vitamin measured in blood, important for bones	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
vitamin D child	vitamin D deficiency (rickets)	Soft bone deficiency of childhood	Pediatrics Endocrinology Musculoskeletal Laboratory
VL	viral load	Amount of virus measured in blood	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VLCAD	very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency	Fat-burning disorder affecting heart and muscle	Pediatrics Laboratory
VMA	vanillylmandelic acid	Urine metabolite of adrenaline hormones	Laboratory Endocrinology
VPA level	valproate level (monitoring)	Blood level check for valproic acid	Psychiatry Laboratory Neurology Prescription & Medication Orders
VRE	vancomycin-resistant enterococci	Gut bacteria resistant to vancomycin	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VRSA	vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Staph strain resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
VUS	variant of uncertain significance	Genetic result whose meaning is not yet known	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
vWF	von Willebrand factor	Blood protein helping platelets stick and carry factor VIII	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
VZV IgG	varicella-zoster IgG	Immunity marker for chickenpox	Laboratory Infectious Disease
waste	waste (discard volume)	Blood discarded before a line sample to avoid dilution	Nursing Laboratory
water deprivation	water deprivation test (DI)	Supervised thirst test for DI	Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
WB	whole blood (transfusion)	Unseparated donor blood used increasingly in trauma	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
WBC	white blood cell	Blood cell that fights infection	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
WBC	white blood count	Number of white cells in a blood sample	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
WES	whole exome sequencing	Reading all protein-coding parts of DNA	Laboratory
Western blot	immunoblot (Western blot)	Protein antibody confirmation technique	Laboratory General Medical
wet mount	wet mount (microscopy)	Saline slide examination — microscopy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
WGS	whole genome sequencing	Reading a person's complete DNA	Laboratory
WGS typing	whole genome sequencing typing	Sequencing used to trace outbreak strains	Laboratory Infectious Disease
whiff test	whiff test (amine test)	Odor test supporting BV diagnosis	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
winter	Winter formula (compensation)	Expected breathing compensation in acidosis — formula	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Respiratory
WNV	West Nile virus	Mosquito-borne virus tested in donors and encephalitis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Neurology
WRBC	washed red blood cells	Red cells washed to remove plasma proteins	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
xanthochromia	xanthochromia (CSF finding)	Yellow spinal fluid after bleeding — finding	Neurology Laboratory
XDR	extensively drug-resistant	Organism resistant to nearly all standard antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
XM	crossmatch	Matching test between donor blood and recipient	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
YFV	yellow fever virus	Mosquito-borne virus prevented by vaccine	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Yo ab	anti-Yo antibody (paraneoplastic)	Cerebellar paraneoplastic antibody	Neurology Laboratory
Z-score growth	Z-score (growth)	Standard deviation measure of growth position	Pediatrics Laboratory
ZIKV	Zika virus	Mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
zinc def child	zinc deficiency (childhood)	Growth and skin effects of low zinc	Pediatrics Laboratory
ZnT8	zinc transporter 8	Pancreatic protein targeted by antibodies in type 1 diabetes	Laboratory Endocrinology
ZPP	zinc protoporphyrin	Marker raised in lead exposure and iron deficiency	Laboratory Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Laboratory Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D — 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

14-3-3 — 14-3-3 protein (CSF)

17-OHP — 17-hydroxyprogesterone

1h GTT — one-hour glucose challenge test

21-hydroxylase — 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH)

25-OH vitamin D — 25-hydroxyvitamin D

3h GTT — three-hour glucose tolerance test

4Ts — 4Ts score

5'-NT — 5-prime nucleotidase

5-HIAA — 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

A1C — hemoglobin A1C

AAT — alpha-1 antitrypsin

Abeta42 — amyloid beta 42 (CSF/blood)

ABG — arterial blood gas

ABMR — antibody-mediated rejection (activity)

ABO — ABO blood group system

ACA — anticentromere antibody

AChR ab — acetylcholine receptor antibody

aCL — anticardiolipin antibody

ACR — albumin-to-creatinine ratio

ACT — activated clotting time

ACTH — adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD biomarkers — Alzheimer biomarkers (ATN)

ADAMTS13 — ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13)

ADH — antidiuretic hormone

AdV — adenovirus

AdV-F — enteric adenovirus

AFB — acid-fast bacilli

AFP — alpha-fetoprotein

AFP tumor — alpha-fetoprotein (tumor)

AG — anion gap

AGC — atypical glandular cells (Pap result)

AHG — anti-human globulin

Alb — albumin

ALBI — albumin-bilirubin grade

ALC — absolute lymphocyte count

ALK — anaplastic lymphoma kinase

alloimmunization — red cell alloimmunization (pregnancy)

ALP — alkaline phosphatase

ALT — alanine aminotransferase

AM labs — morning labs (batch)

AMA — antimitochondrial antibody

AMH — anti-Mullerian hormone

AMH — anti-Müllerian hormone

AMH fertility — anti-Müllerian hormone (fertility)

amnio — amniocentesis (genetic testing use)

ANA — antinuclear antibody

ANC — absolute neutrophil count

ANC clozapine — absolute neutrophil count (clozapine monitoring)

ANCA — antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

anion gap — anion gap (acid-base calculation)

ANNA — antineuronal nuclear antibody

anti-AChR — anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody

anti-C — anti-C antibody

Anti-CCP — anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide

anti-D — anti-D antibody

anti-DNase B — anti-deoxyribonuclease B

anti-dsDNA — anti-double-stranded DNA antibody

anti-E — anti-E antibody

anti-Fya — anti-Duffy a antibody

anti-Fyb — anti-Duffy b antibody

Anti-GAD — glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody

Anti-GBM — anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody

anti-GQ1b — anti-GQ1b antibody (Miller Fisher)

anti-HAV — hepatitis A antibody

anti-HBc — hepatitis B core antibody

anti-HBe — hepatitis B e antibody

anti-HBs — hepatitis B surface antibody

anti-HCV — hepatitis C antibody

anti-Hu — anti-Hu antibody

anti-IF — anti-intrinsic factor antibody

anti-Jka — anti-Kidd a antibody

anti-Jkb — anti-Kidd b antibody

Anti-Jo-1 — anti-Jo-1 antibody

anti-K — anti-Kell antibody

Anti-La — anti-La/SSB antibody

anti-Lea — anti-Lewis a antibody

anti-Leb — anti-Lewis b antibody

anti-M — anti-M antibody

anti-MOG — anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody

anti-MuSK — muscle-specific kinase antibody

anti-N — anti-N antibody

anti-NMDA — anti-NMDA receptor antibody

anti-P1 — anti-P1 antibody

anti-PLA2R — anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody

Anti-RNP — anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody

Anti-Ro — anti-Ro/SSA antibody

anti-S — anti-S antibody

Anti-Scl-70 — anti-topoisomerase I antibody

anti-Sm — anti-Smith antibody

anti-SMA — anti-smooth muscle antibody

Anti-Smith — anti-Smith antibody

anti-Tg — anti-thyroglobulin antibody

Anti-TPO — thyroid peroxidase antibody

Anti-tTG — tissue transglutaminase antibody

anti-Vel — anti-Vel antibody

Anti-Xa — anti-factor Xa level

APC — adenomatous polyposis coli gene

APCR — activated protein C resistance

ApoA1 — apolipoprotein A1

ApoB — apolipoprotein B

APOE — apolipoprotein E

APRI — AST to platelet ratio index

aPTT — activated partial thromboplastin time

AQP4 — AQP4 antibody (neuromyelitis)

AQP4 — aquaporin-4 antibody

AQP4-IgG — aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G

ARR — aldosterone-to-renin ratio

arteriolar hyalinosis — arteriolar hyalinosis (CNI lesion)

ASC-US — atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

ASMA — smooth muscle antibody

ASO — antistreptolysin O

ASO titer — antistreptolysin O titer

AST — aspartate aminotransferase

AstV — astrovirus

ATIII — antithrombin III

ATM — ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene

ATN — amyloid tau neurodegeneration (framework)

ATN transplant — acute tubular necrosis (graft)

AVP — arginine vasopressin

B12 — vitamin B12

BAC — blood alcohol concentration (measurement)

BAL — blood alcohol level (legal/clinical)

Bands — band cells

Banff — Banff classification (rejection grading)

Baso — basophils

BCID — blood culture identification panel

BCx — blood culture

BCYE — buffered charcoal yeast extract agar

BDG — beta-D-glucan

BE — base excess

beta-hCG — beta human chorionic gonadotropin

beta-hCG tumor — beta-hCG (tumor marker)

Bili — bilirubin

biopsy graft — graft biopsy (rejection check)

biotinidase — biotinidase deficiency (metabolic)

BJ protein — Bence Jones protein

BK — BK virus (transplant)

blaKPC — blaKPC gene

blaNDM — blaNDM gene

Blasto Ag — Blastomyces antigen

Blasts — blast cells

BLL — blood lead level (screening)

BMA — bone marrow aspiration (procedure)

BMB — bone marrow biopsy (procedure)

BMP — basic metabolic panel

BNP — B-type natriuretic peptide

BRAF — BRAF (oncogene)

BRCA1 — breast cancer gene 1

BRCA2 — breast cancer gene 2

BS — blood sugar

BUN — blood urea nitrogen

Bx — biopsy

C&S — culture and sensitivity

C-pep — C-peptide

C-peptide — connecting peptide

C. diff — Clostridioides difficile

C. diff toxin — Clostridioides difficile toxin assay

C3 — complement 3

C3 — complement C3

C4 — complement 4

C4 — complement C4

C4d — C4d staining (rejection marker)

Ca — calcium

CA 125 — cancer antigen 125

CA 15-3 — cancer antigen 15-3

CA 19-9 — cancer antigen 19-9

CA 27.29 — cancer antigen 27.29

CA 72-4 — cancer antigen 72-4

CAG repeat — CAG repeat (genetic)

Calprotectin — faecal calprotectin

CASPR2 — CASPR2 antibody (encephalitis)

CBC — complete blood count

CBZ level — carbamazepine level (monitoring)

CCHF — Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

CCI — corrected count increment

CD34 — CD34 (stem cell marker)

CD4 — CD4 T cell

CDC crossmatch — complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch

CEA — carcinoembryonic antigen

cfDNA — cell-free DNA

CFTR — CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis)

CFTR — cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

CFU — colony-forming unit

cg score — transplant glomerulopathy (cg lesion)

CgA — chromogranin A

CH50 — total hemolytic complement

CHEK2 — checkpoint kinase 2

CHIKV — chikungunya virus

Chol — cholesterol

CIN grades — cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grades)

CK — creatine kinase

CK-MB — creatine kinase MB fraction

CK-MB — creatine kinase-MB

CKD-EPI — Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation

Cl — chloride

CLIA — chemiluminescent immunoassay

clue cells — clue cells (microscopy)

CMA — chromosomal microarray

CMP — comprehensive metabolic panel

CMV transplant — CMV (transplant monitoring)

CNV — copy number variant

co-testing — co-testing (Pap plus HPV)

Cocci Ab — Coccidioides antibody

COHb — carboxyhemoglobin (level)

CoNS — coagulase-negative staphylococci

Coombs — Coombs test

copeptin — copeptin (vasopressin marker)

cord blood — cord blood (sampling)

cord gas — cord blood gas (delivery)

corrected calcium — corrected calcium (albumin-adjusted)

corrected sodium — corrected sodium (glucose-adjusted)

CPE — carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales

cPRA — calculated panel reactive antibody (allocation)

CPT def — carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency

Cr — creatinine

CRAB — carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

CrAg — cryptococcal antigen

CRE — carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

Creat — creatinine

CRH — corticotropin-releasing hormone

CRP — C-reactive protein

CSA level — cyclosporine level (monitoring)

CSF — cerebrospinal fluid

CSF analysis — CSF analysis (profile)

CSF VDRL — CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

CSU — catheter specimen of urine

Ct value — cycle threshold value

ctDNA — circulating tumor DNA

cTn — cardiac troponin

cTnI — cardiac troponin I

cTnT — cardiac troponin T

CTX — C-terminal telopeptide

CV2 — CV2/CRMP5 antibody (paraneoplastic)

CVS — chorionic villus sampling

CYFRA 21-1 — cytokeratin 19 fragment

CYP — cytochrome P450

D-xylose — D-xylose absorption test

DAS28 — Disease Activity Score 28

DAT — direct antiglobulin test

DAT neonate — direct antiglobulin test (newborn)

dd-cfDNA — donor-derived cell-free DNA (monitoring)

DDAVP challenge — desmopressin challenge (DI typing)

ddPCR — droplet digital PCR

de novo — de novo disease (graft)

delta gap — delta gap (acid-base)

delta ratio — delta ratio (acid-base)

DENV — dengue virus

DFA — direct fluorescent antibody

DGP — deamidated gliadin peptide

DHEA — dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA-S — dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

DHEAS — dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

DIC score — ISTH DIC score

Diff — differential count

dMMR — deficient mismatch repair

DNA — deoxyribonucleic acid

DQ2 — HLA-DQ2

draw and hold — draw and hold (labs)

DSA — donor-specific antibody

dsDNA — double-stranded DNA antibody

E2 — estradiol

eAG — estimated average glucose

EBNA — Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen

EBOV — Ebola virus

EBV VCA — Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen

ECC — endocervical curettage

EGFR — epidermal growth factor receptor

eGFR — estimated glomerular filtration rate

EIA — enzyme immunoassay

eKt/V — equilibrated Kt/V (measure)

ELISA — enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMA — endomysial antibody

EMA ab — endomysial antibody (celiac)

EMB — endometrial biopsy

ENA — extractable nuclear antigen

EOG — electrooculogram

Eos — eosinophils

EPCAM — epithelial cell adhesion molecule

EPO — erythropoietin

ER — estrogen receptor

ERG — electroretinogram

ESBL — extended-spectrum beta-lactamase

ESR — erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ETA — endotracheal aspirate

ETOH — ethanol

EV — enterovirus

EXM — electronic crossmatch

F508del — F508del (commonest CF variant)

Fabry — Fabry disease (lysosomal)

fasting labs — fasting labs (order)

FBS — fetal blood sampling

FDP — fibrin degradation products

Fe — iron

fecal calprotectin — fecal calprotectin (inflammation marker)

fecal elastase — fecal pancreatic elastase

fecal fat — fecal fat (qualitative/quantitative)

FENa — fractional excretion of sodium

FeNO — fractional exhaled nitric oxide (inflammation)

fern test — fern test (fluid test)

FEUrea — fractional excretion of urea

fFN — fetal fibronectin (test)

FGF23 — fibroblast growth factor 23

Fib — fibrinogen

FIB-4 — Fibrosis-4 index

FISH — fluorescence in situ hybridization

FIT — faecal immunochemical test

FIX — factor IX

FLC — free light chains

Flow — flow cytometry

flow crossmatch — flow cytometric crossmatch (test)

FMH — fetomaternal hemorrhage

FNA — fine needle aspiration

FNB — fine needle biopsy (core-type)

FOBT — faecal occult blood test

FPG — fasting plasma glucose

free T3 — free triiodothyronine

free T4 — free thyroxine

frozen section — frozen section (intraoperative)

fructosamine — fructosamine (short-term glucose marker)

FSH — follicle-stimulating hormone

FT3 — free triiodothyronine

FT4 — free thyroxine

FTA — fluorescent treponemal antibody

FTA-ABS — fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption

funisitis — funisitis (cord inflammation)

FVIII — factor VIII

FVL — factor V Leiden

FXIII — factor XIII

g — gram

G&S — group and save

G6PD — glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

G6PD — glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

GABA-B — GABA-B receptor antibody

GAD antibodies — glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies

GAD65 — glutamic acid decarboxylase 65

galactosemia — galactosemia (diagnosis)

gap closed — anion gap closure (DKA endpoint)

Gaucher — Gaucher disease (lysosomal)

GCS — group C Streptococcus

gene expression graft — gene expression profiling (graft monitoring)

GFAP — glial fibrillary acidic protein

gFOBT — guaiac fecal occult blood test

GFR — glomerular filtration rate

GGS — group G Streptococcus

GGT — gamma-glutamyl transferase

GH — growth hormone

Glu — glucose

glucola — glucola (glucose drink shorthand)

GM — galactomannan

GMS — Gomori methenamine silver stain

GOLDMARK — GOLDMARK (anion gap causes)

GSD — glycogen storage diseases (group)

H. pylori Ag — Helicobacter pylori stool antigen

HAGMA — high anion gap metabolic acidosis

Ham test — acid hemolysis test (historical PNH test)

HAV — hepatitis A virus

Hb — hemoglobin

HbA1c — glycated hemoglobin

HBeAg — hepatitis B e antigen

HBoV — human bocavirus

HBsAg — hepatitis B surface antigen

HBV — hepatitis B virus

HBV DNA — hepatitis B virus DNA

hCG — human chorionic gonadotropin

HCO3 — bicarbonate

HCoV — human coronavirus

Hct — hematocrit

HCV — hepatitis C virus

HCV RNA — hepatitis C virus RNA

HDL — high-density lipoprotein

HDN — hemolytic disease of the newborn (diagnosis)

HE4 — human epididymis protein 4

HELLP — HELLP syndrome (diagnosis)

HER2 — human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

heterophile Ab — heterophile antibody

HFE — hemochromatosis gene

Hgb — hemoglobin

HHV-6 — human herpesvirus 6 (roseola)

Histo Ag — Histoplasma antigen

HIV — human immunodeficiency virus

HIV VL — HIV viral load

HLA — human leukocyte antigen

hMPV — human metapneumovirus

holoTC — holotranscobalamin

homocystinuria — homocystinuria (metabolic)

hour-specific — hour-specific bilirubin nomogram

HPA — human platelet antigen

HPeV — human parechovirus

HPV HR — high-risk human papillomavirus

hs-CRP — high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

HScore — HScore (HLH probability)

HSIL — high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

HSV PCR — herpes simplex virus PCR

Hu ab — anti-Hu antibody (paraneoplastic)

Hunter — Hunter syndrome (MPS II)

Hurler — Hurler syndrome (MPS I)

hVISA — heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

hyperammonemia — hyperammonemia (emergency)

HyperCa — hypercalcemia

hypercalcemia crisis — hypercalcemic crisis (emergency)

HyperK — hyperkalemia

HypoCa — hypocalcemia

HypoK — hypokalemia

HypoNa — hyponatremia

hyponatremia correction — hyponatremia correction rate (safety)

IA-2 — islet antigen-2

IAA — insulin autoantibody

IAT — indirect antiglobulin test

ICA — islet cell antibody

iCa CRRT — ionized calcium (citrate monitoring)

ICT — immunochromatographic test

IDA child — iron deficiency anemia (childhood)

IFA — indirect fluorescent antibody

IFE — immunofixation electrophoresis

IFG — impaired fasting glucose

IFTA — interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (graft)

IgA — immunoglobulin A

IgE — immunoglobulin E

IGF-1 — insulin-like growth factor 1

IGFBP-1 test — insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 test

IGFBP-3 — insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3

IgG — immunoglobulin G

IgG index — immunoglobulin G index (CSF)

IgM — immunoglobulin M

IgM anti-HAV — IgM hepatitis A antibody

IgM anti-HBc — IgM hepatitis B core antibody

IGRA — interferon-gamma release assay

IGRA child — interferon-gamma release assay (childhood)

IGT — impaired glucose tolerance

IHC — immunohistochemistry

immunoadsorption — immunoadsorption (antibody column)

inhibin B — inhibin B (ovarian hormone)

INR — international normalized ratio

IPF — immature platelet fraction

IRBC — irradiated red blood cells

iron def child — iron deficiency (childhood)

IRT — immunoreactive trypsinogen (CF screen)

IS XM — immediate spin crossmatch

IU — international unit ⚠

JCV — JC virus (antibody/PML)

JCV index — JC virus antibody index

K — potassium

KB test — Kleihauer-Betke test (fetal blood)

Ki-67 — Ki-67 proliferation index

KOH — potassium hydroxide preparation

KOH prep — potassium hydroxide preparation (vaginal)

KPC — Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase

KRAS — KRAS (oncogene)

Kt/V — Kt/V (adequacy)

L — liter

LA — lupus anticoagulant

lactic — lactic acidosis (type)

LAMP — loop-mediated isothermal amplification

LASV — Lassa virus

LBC — liquid-based cytology

LDH — lactate dehydrogenase

LDH tumor — lactate dehydrogenase (burden)

LDL — low-density lipoprotein

lead level — blood lead level

lead screening — lead screening (childhood program)

LFA — lateral flow assay

LFTs — liver function tests

LGI1 — LGI1 antibody (encephalitis)

LH — luteinizing hormone

Li level — lithium level (monitoring)

LIA — line immunoassay

line draw — line draw (blood from catheter)

Lipids — lipid panel

LKM — anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody

LP — liquid plasma

LP — lumbar puncture

Lp(a) — lipoprotein(a)

LRBC — leukoreduced red blood cells

LRINEC — Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis

LRP4 — LRP4 antibody (myasthenia)

LSIL — low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

LTOWB — low-titer group O whole blood

Lymph — lymphocytes

M protein — M protein (streptococcal surface protein)

M-protein — monoclonal protein

M-spike — monoclonal spike

Ma2 — anti-Ma2 antibody (paraneoplastic)

MALDI-TOF — matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight

Marsh — Marsh classification (celiac biopsy)

MARV — Marburg virus

MBC — minimum bactericidal concentration

MCAD — medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

mcg — microgram

MCH — mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCHC — mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration

mcr-1 — mobilized colistin resistance 1

MCV — mean corpuscular volume

MDRD — Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation

mecA — mecA gene

MELD — Model for End-Stage Liver Disease

MELD-Na — Model for End-Stage Liver Disease with sodium

MERS-CoV — Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

methemoglobin — methemoglobinemia (toxicology)

MFI — mean fluorescence intensity (antibody strength)

Mg — magnesium

mg — milligram

MgSO4 — magnesium sulfate ⚠

MIC — minimum inhibitory concentration

microvascular inflammation — microvascular inflammation (graft finding)

mL — milliliter

MLH1 — MutL homolog 1

MLST — multilocus sequence typing

MLT — medical laboratory technician

MMA — methylmalonic acid

mmHg — millimeters of mercury

MMR — mismatch repair

mNGS — metagenomic next-generation sequencing

MOG — myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody

MoM — multiples of the median

Mono — monocytes

MPO — myeloperoxidase antibody

MPS — mucopolysaccharidoses (group)

MPV — mean platelet volume

mRNA — messenger ribonucleic acid

MRSA — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MRSE — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

MS/MS — tandem mass spectrometry

MSAFP — maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein

MSBOS — maximum surgical blood order schedule

MSH2 — MutS homolog 2

MSH6 — MutS homolog 6

MSI — microsatellite instability

MSSA — methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

MSU — midstream urine

MSU — monosodium urate

MSUD — maple syrup urine disease

MT — medical technologist

MTHFR — methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

MUDPILES — MUDPILES (anion gap causes)

MuSK — muscle-specific kinase antibody

MWT — maintenance of wakefulness test

Na — sodium

NAAT — nucleic acid amplification test

NAGMA — non-anion gap metabolic acidosis

NAT — nucleic acid testing

NBS — newborn screen

NBS — newborn screening (abbreviation)

NDM — New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase

Neut — neutrophils

newborn screen — newborn screening (program)

NfL — neurofilament light chain

NGS — next-generation sequencing

Niemann-Pick — Niemann-Pick disease (lysosomal)

NIPT — noninvasive prenatal testing

nitrazine — nitrazine test (fluid pH)

NMDAR ab — anti-NMDA receptor antibody

NoV — norovirus

NRBC — nucleated red blood cell

NSE — neuron-specific enolase

NT-proBNP — N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide

NTx — N-terminal telopeptide

OCB — oligoclonal bands

OGTT — oral glucose tolerance test

opening pressure — opening pressure (LP measurement)

OR — odds ratio

Osm — osmolality

osm gap — osmolal gap

osteocalcin — osteocalcin (bone formation marker)

OTC def — ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency

OTCD — ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency

OXA-48 — OXA-48 carbapenemase

p-tau — phosphorylated tau (blood/CSF)

P1NP — procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide

PaCO2 — partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

PALB2 — partner and localizer of BRCA2

PaO2 — partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood

Pap — Papanicolaou test (screening)

parvo B19 — parvovirus B19 (infection)

PAS — periodic acid-Schiff stain

PCA — parietal cell antibody

PCR — polymerase chain reaction

PCR — protein-to-creatinine ratio

PCV — packed cell volume

PD-L1 — programmed death-ligand 1

PDR — pan-drug-resistant

PDW — platelet distribution width

peripheral draw — peripheral blood draw

PET test PD — peritoneal equilibration test

PF4 — platelet factor 4

PFGE — pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

pH — potential of hydrogen

Phleb — phlebotomist

Phos — phosphate

pIGFBP-1 — phosphorylated IGFBP-1 (cervical test)

PIV — parainfluenza virus

PKU — phenylketonuria

PLA2R — phospholipase A2 receptor antibody

plasmapheresis — plasmapheresis (antibody removal)

PLEX — plasma exchange (neuro)

Plt — platelet

pMMR — proficient mismatch repair

PMS2 — postmeiotic segregation increased 2

POCT — point-of-care testing

Pompe — Pompe disease (glycogen storage II)

PR — progesterone receptor (tumor marker)

PR3 — proteinase 3 antibody

PRA — panel reactive antibody

PRL — prolactin

Prog — progesterone

ProGRP — pro-gastrin-releasing peptide

proinsulin — proinsulin (insulin precursor)

PSA — prostate-specific antigen

PSMA — prostate-specific membrane antigen

PT — prothrombin time

PT/INR — prothrombin time / international normalized ratio

PTA2 — pure tone audiometry

PTH — parathyroid hormone

PTHrP — parathyroid hormone-related protein

PTT — partial thromboplastin time

PVL — Panton-Valentine leukocidin

pyruvate kinase — pyruvate kinase (red cell enzyme)

QFT — QuantiFERON-TB Gold

Qmax — maximum urinary flow rate

RADT — rapid antigen detection test

rainbow draw — rainbow draw (extra tubes)

RBC — red blood cell

RBC — red blood count

RBC folate — red blood cell folate

RBG — random blood glucose

RDP — random donor platelets

RDW — red cell distribution width

recurrence graft — recurrent disease (graft)

refeeding — refeeding syndrome (eating)

Renal Bx — renal biopsy

Retic — reticulocyte count

retic index — reticulocyte index

retic neonate — reticulocyte count (hemolysis)

RF — rheumatoid factor

RFTs — renal function tests

Rh — Rhesus factor

Rh(D) immune — Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM)

RhD — Rh D antigen

RNA — ribonucleic acid

ROMA — risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm

rosette test — rosette test (fetal blood screen)

ROTEM — rotational thromboelastometry

RoV — rotavirus

RPR — rapid plasma reagin

RPR titer — rapid plasma reagin titer

RT-PCR — reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

RT-QuIC — real-time quaking-induced conversion

rT3 — reverse T3

RV — rhinovirus

S/CO — signal-to-cutoff ratio

S100 — S100 protein

SAB — single antigen bead (antibody test)

Sanfilippo — Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III)

SaO2 — arterial oxygen saturation

SCC Ag — squamous cell carcinoma antigen

SCCmec — staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec

Schilling test — Schilling test (historical B12 absorption)

SD-FFP — solvent detergent-treated plasma

SDP — single donor platelets

secretin test — secretin stimulation test

Sed rate — sedimentation rate

serum osmolality — serum osmolality (measured)

serum tox — serum toxicology (panel)

sFLC — serum free light chains

SG — specific gravity

SHBG — sex hormone-binding globulin

skin punch — skin punch biopsy (neuropathy)

SNP — single nucleotide polymorphism

spa typing — staphylococcal protein A typing

SPE — streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin

specimen label — specimen labeling (process)

SPEP — serum protein electrophoresis

spKt/V — single-pool Kt/V (measure)

SSA — Sjogren syndrome-related antigen A

SSB — Sjogren syndrome-related antigen B (La)

stdKt/V — standard Kt/V (weekly measure)

sTfR — soluble transferrin receptor

stool lactoferrin — fecal lactoferrin

STR — serologic transfusion reaction

sugar water test — sucrose hemolysis test (historical)

sweat test — sweat chloride test (CF)

T&C — type and crossmatch

T&S — type and screen

T3 — triiodothyronine

T4 — thyroxine

tac level — tacrolimus level (monitoring)

Tay-Sachs — Tay-Sachs disease (lysosomal)

TBG — thyroxine-binding globulin

TBili — total bilirubin

TcB — transcutaneous bilirubin (measurement)

TCMR — T cell-mediated rejection (type)

TEG — thromboelastography

Testo — testosterone

Tg — thyroglobulin

TG — triglycerides

TgAb — thyroglobulin antibody

thrombotic micro tx — thrombotic microangiopathy (graft)

TIBC — total iron-binding capacity

TLS — tumor lysis syndrome (emergency)

TMB — tumor mutational burden

tox screen — toxicology screen (panel)

TP — total protein

TP53 — tumor protein p53

TPO — thrombopoietin

TPOAb — thyroid peroxidase antibody

TPPA — Treponema pallidum particle agglutination

TRAb — thyrotropin receptor antibody

TRAP — tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase

traumatic tap — traumatic tap (bloody LP)

Trop — troponin

TSAT — transferrin saturation

TSB — total serum bilirubin (newborn)

TSH — thyroid-stimulating hormone

TSI — thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin

TSST-1 — toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

TST — tuberculin skin test

TT — thrombin time

tTG — tissue transglutaminase

TTKG — transtubular potassium gradient

tumor lysis child — tumor lysis syndrome (childhood)

type A lactic — type A lactic acidosis (perfusion)

type B lactic — type B lactic acidosis (non-perfusion)

tyrosinemia — tyrosinemia type 1 (metabolic)

U&E — urea and electrolytes

UA — urinalysis

UBT — urea breath test

UCx — urine culture

UDS — urine drug screen (panel)

UIBC — unsaturated iron-binding capacity

UPCR — urine protein-to-creatinine ratio

UPEP — urine protein electrophoresis

urea cycle — urea cycle disorders (group)

urine ACR — urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio

urine osm — urine osmolality

URR — urea reduction ratio

vanA — vanA gene

vault smear — vault smear (post-hysterectomy)

VBG — venous blood gas

VDRL — Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

VGKC — voltage-gated potassium channel antibody (complex)

VGS — viridans group streptococci

VIP — vasoactive intestinal peptide

virtual crossmatch — virtual crossmatch (compatibility prediction)

VISA — vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

Vit D — vitamin D

vitamin D child — vitamin D deficiency (rickets)

VL — viral load

VLCAD — very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

VMA — vanillylmandelic acid

VPA level — valproate level (monitoring)

VRE — vancomycin-resistant enterococci

VRSA — vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

VUS — variant of uncertain significance

vWF — von Willebrand factor

VZV IgG — varicella-zoster IgG

waste — waste (discard volume)

water deprivation — water deprivation test (DI)

WB — whole blood (transfusion)

WBC — white blood cell

WBC — white blood count

WES — whole exome sequencing

Western blot — immunoblot (Western blot)

wet mount — wet mount (microscopy)

WGS — whole genome sequencing

WGS typing — whole genome sequencing typing

whiff test — whiff test (amine test)

winter — Winter formula (compensation)

WNV — West Nile virus

WRBC — washed red blood cells

xanthochromia — xanthochromia (CSF finding)

XDR — extensively drug-resistant

XM — crossmatch

YFV — yellow fever virus

Yo ab — anti-Yo antibody (paraneoplastic)

Z-score growth — Z-score (growth)

ZIKV — Zika virus

zinc def child — zinc deficiency (childhood)

ZnT8 — zinc transporter 8

ZPP — zinc protoporphyrin

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Laboratory Abbreviations

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