Medical Assessment Abbreviations

Common medical assessment abbreviations separated into two categories: diagnostic testing and health assessment. ‘Diagnostic testing’ refers to various test types and molecular levels that can be requested to assess and diagnose patients. ‘Health assessment’ refers to the various physical conditions and their descriptions.

Diagnostic Testing
ac phos, ACP	acid phosphatase
AFP	alpha fetoprotein
A/G	albumin-globulun ratio
alk phos, ALP	alkaline phosphatase
ALT	alanine aminotransferase (SGPT)
ANA	antinuclear antibodies
APPT, aPPT	activated partial thromboplastine time
ASO, ASL-O	antistreptolysin-O
AST	aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT)
BT	bleeding time
BUN	blood urea nitrogen
Ca	calcium
CAT, CT	computed axial tomography
CBC	complete blood count
CEA	carcinoembryonic antigen
Chol	cholesterol
Cl	chloride
CPK	creatine phosphokinase
creat	creatinine
CRP	C-reactive protein
CXR	chest x-ray
DEXA	dual energy x-ray absorptiometry
diff	differential (blood count)
DR	diagnostic radiography
DSA	digital subtraction angiography
ECG, EKG	electrocardiogram
ECHO	echocardiography
EEG	electroencephalogram
ESR, sed rate	erythrocyte sedimentation rate
FBS	fasting blood sugar
GTT	glucose tolerance test
HCR, crit	hematocrit
HDI	high-definition imaging
HDL	high-density lipoprotein
Hgb	hemoglobin
K	potassium
LDH	lactate dehydrogenase
LDL	low-density lipoprotein
lytes	electrolytes
MCH	mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC	mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MCV	mean corpuscular volume
MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
MUGA	multiple-gated acquisition scanning
Na	sodium
PCV	packed-cell volume
PET	positron emission tomography
PFT	pulmonary function test
pH	hydrogen ion concentration
plats, PLT	platelets
PT, pro. Time	prothrombin time
PTT	partial thromboplastin time
RAIU, RIU	radioactive iodine uptake
RAST	radioallergosorbent test
RBC	red blood cell, red blood count
RDW	red (cell) distribution width
RIA	radioimmunoassay
RIFA	radioimmunofluorescence assay
SMA	sequential multiple analysis
SPECT	single-photon-emission computed tomography
sp gr, SG	specific gravity
T&C	type & crossmatch
TFT	thyroid function test
trig	triglycerides
TT	thrombin time
UA, U/A	urinalysis
U/S, US	ultrasound
VLDL	very-low-density lipoprotein
WBC	white blood cell, white blood count
XR	x-ray

Health Assessment
abn, abnorm	abnormal
amb	amulatory
A&O x 4	alert & oriented to person, place, time & date
A/O, A&O	alert and oriented
A&P	auscultation and palpation, auscultation and percussion
Asx, ASX	asymptomatic
aus, auscul	auscultation
A&W	alive and well
BP	blood pressure
CA	chronological age
C&A	conscious and alert
CC, c/o	chief complaint, complains of
DOB, D/B	date of birth
DU	diagnosis undetermined
Dx, diag	diagnosis
Ex, exam	examination
F	female
FH, FHx	family history
FOD	free of disease
F/U, FU	follow-up
FU	fever of unknown origin
h/o	history of
H&P	history and physical
Ht, h	height
Hx, H	history
IBW	ideal body weight
IPPA	inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
IQ	intelligence quotient
L&W	living and well
LWD	living with disease
M	male
MA	mental age
MHx, MH	medical history
NAD	no appreciable disease, no apparent distress/disease, nothing abnormal detected
NC, N/C	no complaints
ND	not diagnosed
NDF	no disease found
NED	no evidence of disease
NKDA	no known allergies
norm	normal
NVS	neurological vital signs
NYD	not yet diagnosed
P	pulse
P&A, P/A	percussion & auscultation
palp	palpation
PE, PEx, PX	physical examination
PH	poor health
PH, Px, PHx	past history
PI	present illness
PMH, PMHx	past medical history
PMI	past medical illness
PPHx	previous psychiatric history
prog, progn, Px	prognosis
Pt	patient
R	respiration
R.O, RO	rule out
ROS	review of systems
RVC	responds to verbal commands
SOAP	subjective, objective, assessment, plan (problem-oriented record)
SOI	severity of illness
SONP	soft organs not palpable
S/S	signs & symptoms
Sx	symptoms, signs
T	temperature
TPR	temperature, pulse & respiration
Tx, reat, tr	treatment
UCHD, UCD	usual childhood diseases
U/O, UO	under observation
VS, v/s	vital signs
WDWN	well-developed, well-nourished
WNL	within normal limits
wt	weight
X&D	examination & diagnosis
y, yr	year
y/o	years old
YOB	year of birth