Medical Abbreviations: Lab/Diagnostic

Question 1

BE

Answer 1

barium enema (X-ray of the large intestine)

Question 2

BG

Answer 2

blood glucose

Question 3

BS

Answer 3

blood sugar (bowl sound or breath sound)

Question 4

BUN

Answer 4

blood urea nitrogen (test that measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the waste product urea to see how well the kidneys are working)

Question 5

Ca++

Answer 5

calcium

Question 6

Cl

Answer 6

chloride

Question 7

C&S, C/S

Answer 7

culture and sensitivity (culture it and then sensitivity test)

Question 8

CBC

Answer 8

complete blood count

Question 9

CXR

Answer 9

chest X-ray

Question 10

EEG

Answer 10

electroencephalogram (test of brain activity)

Question 11

EKG, ECG

Answer 11

electrocardiogram (test that shows heart’s electrical activity)

Question 12

FBS

Answer 12

fasting blood sugar

Question 13

GB series

Answer 13

gallbladder X-rays, gallbladder series

Question 14

GI series

Answer 14

gastrointestinal X-rays, gastrointestinal series

Question 15

HCO3

Answer 15

bicarbonate

Question 16

H&H, hgb & hct

Answer 16

hemoglobin (protein in RBC) and hematocrit (volume % of RBC)

Question 17

IVP

Answer 17

intravenous pyelogram (X-rays of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra tract) [don’t confuse with intravenous push]

Question 18

K+

Answer 18

potassium

Question 19

Na+

Answer 19

sodium

Question 20

PLT

Answer 20

platelet(s)

Question 21

PT

Answer 21

prothrombin time (blood test to measure how long it takes blood to clot)

Question 22

PTT

Answer 22

partial thromboplastin time (another blood clot test- measure other clotting factors)

Question 23

sed. rate

Answer 23

sedimentation rate (blood test that reveal inflammatory activity in the body)

Question 24

S.G., sp. gr.

Answer 24

specific gravity (lab test that measures the concentration of all chemcial particles in the urine)

Question 25

U/A

Answer 25

urinalysis (analysis of urine- physically, chemically, and microscopically)

Question 26

WBC diff

Answer 26

white blood cell differential (measures the percentage of each type of WBC in the blood)

Question 27

ABG

Answer 27

arterial blood gas (blood test that is performed using blood from an artery)