| +ve | positive |
| −ve | negative |
| ↑ | increase |
| ↓ | decrease |
| ♀ | female |
| ♂ | male |
| → | leading to/resulting in |
| ± | with or without |
| AAA | aortic abdominal aneurysm |
| ac | before meals |
| ACE | angiotensin-converting enzyme |
| ACR | albumin creatinine ratio |
| ACS | acute coronary syndrome |
| ACTH | andrenocorticotropic hormone |
| ADT | adult diphtheria and tetanus vaccine |
| AF | atrial fibrillation |
| afb | acid fast bacilli |
| aka | also known as |
| ALL | acute lymphocytic leukaemia |
| ALT | alanine aminotransferase |
| ALTE | apparent life-threatening episode |
| AMI | acute myocardial infarction |
| AML | acute myeloid leukaemia |
| ANA | anti-nuclear antibodies |
| ANCA | anti-neutrophil cyctoplasmic antibody |
| anv | anorexia, nausea, vomiting |
| AOM | acute otitis media |
| APF | Australian pharmacy formulary |
| APTT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| ARB | angiotensin 11 reuptake blocker |
| ARC | AIDS-related complex |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| ATSIP | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
| AV | atrioventricular |
| BMD | bone mass density |
| BOO | bladder outlet obstruction |
| BMI | body mass index |
| CABG | coronary artery bypass grafting |
| CBT | cognitive behaviour therapy |
| CCB | calcium channel blocker |
| CDT | combined diphtheria/tetanus vaccine |
| CHC | combined hormone contraception |
| CHD | coronary heart disease |
| CJD | Creutzfeldt Jakob disease |
| CK | creatinine kinase |
| CLL | chronic lymphocytic leukaemia |
| CMC | carpometacarpal |
| CMV | cytomegalovirus |
| co | compound |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| COC/COCP | combined oral contraceptive pill |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| COX | cyclooxygenase |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPK | creatine phosphokinase |
| CR | controlled release |
| CRFM | chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria |
| CSFM | chloroquine-sensitive falciparum malaria |
| CT | computerised tomography |
| CTD | connective tissue disorder |
| CXR | chest X-ray |
| DABC | defibrillation, airway, breathing, circulation |
| DDH | developmental dysplasia of hip |
| DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DIDA | duodenal iminodiacetic acid |
| DIP | distal interphalangeal |
| drug dosage | bd—twice daily; tid, tds—three times daily; qid, qds—four times daily |
| DRE | digital rectal examination |
| DS | double strength |
| dsDNA | double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DST | daylight savings time |
| DTP | diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis |
| DUB | dysfunctional uterine bleeding |
| DVT | deep venous thrombosis |
| EAR | expired air resuscitation |
| EBM | Epstein–Barr mononucleosis glandular fever |
| EBV | Epstein–Barr virus |
| ECT | electroconvulsive therapy |
| eGFR | e glomerular filtration rate |
| ELISA | enzyme linked immunosorbent assay |
| esp. | especially |
| ESR | erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| FBE | full blood count |
| FEV1 | forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
| fl | femto-litre (10−15) |
| FOBT | faecal occult blood test |
| fna | fine needle aspiration |
| FSH | follicle stimulating hormone |
| FTT | failure to thrive |
| FUO | fever of undetermined origin |
| FVC | forced vital capacity |
| GABHS | group A betahaemolytic Streptococcus |
| GGT | gamma glutamyl transferase |
| GIT | gastrointestinal tract |
| GORD | gastro-oesophageal reflux disease |
| G6-PD | glucose–6–phosphate dehydrogenase |
| HAV | hepatitis A virus |
| HBsAg | hepatitis B surface antigen |
| HBV | hepatitis B virus |
| HCG | human chorionic gonadotrophin |
| HCV | hepatitis C virus |
| HDL | high density lipoprotein |
| HDLC | high density lipoprotein cholesterol |
| HIDA | hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid |
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
| HLA-B27 | human leucocyte antigen |
| HMG | hydroxymethyl-glutaryl |
| HRT | hormone replacement therapy |
| HSV | herpes simplex virus |
| IA | intra-articular |
| ICT | immuno chromatographic test |
| IGRA | interferon gamma release assay |
| IHD | ischaemic heart disease |
| IM/IMI | intramuscular/intramuscular injection |
| INR | international normalised ratio |
| IOFB | intraocular foreign body |
| IR | internal rotation |
| ITP | idiopathic thrombocytic purpura |
| IUCD | intrauterine contraceptive device |
| IUD | intrauterine device |
| IV | intravenous |
| IVF | in vitro fertilisation |
| LA | local anaesthetic |
| LAct | long-acting |
| LABA | long-acting beta antagonist |
| LAD | left anterior descending artery |
| LDLC | low density lipoprotein cholesterol |
| LFTs | liver function tests |
| LH | luteinising hormone |
| LHRH | luteinising hormone releasing hormone |
| LIF | left iliac fossa |
| LMW | low molecular weight |
| LRTI | lower respiratory tract infection |
| LUT | lower urinary tract |
| MAOI | monamine oxidase inhibitor |
| mcg | microgram (also µg) |
| MCU | microscopy and culture of urine |
| MCV | mean corpuscular volume |
| MI | myocardial infarction |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
| MSST | maternal serum screening test |
| MSU | mid-stream urine |
| MTP | metatarsophalangeal |
| NAAT | nucleic acid amplification technology |
| NOACs | new oral anticoagulants |
| NR | normal range |
| NSAIDs | non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
| NSTEACS | non-ST elevated acute coronary syndrome |
| NSU | non-specific urethritis |
| (o) | taken orally |
| OA | osteoarthritis |
| OGTT | oral glucose tolerance test |
| OP | outpatient |
| OTC | over-the-counter |
| PA | posterior anterior |
| Pap | Papanicolaou |
| PCOS | polycystic ovary syndrome |
| PCR | polymerase chain reaction |
| PE | pulmonary embolism |
| PET | peak expiratory flow |
| PFT | pulmonary function test |
| PID | pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PPI | proton-pump inhibitor |
| PR | per rectum |
| PRh | polymyalgia rheumatica |
| PSA | prostate specific antigen |
| PSVT | paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia |
| RAP | recurrent abdominal pain |
| RCA | right coronary artery |
| RIB | rest in bed |
| RICE | rest, ice, compression, elevation |
| RIF | right iliac fossa |
| RSI | repetition strain injury |
| RSV | respiratory syncytial virus |
| SABA | short-acting beta antagonist |
| SAH | subarachnoid haemorrhage |
| SARS | sudden acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| SC/SCI | subcutaneous/subcutaneous injection |
| SCFE | slipped capital femoral epiphysis |
| SCG | sodium cromoglycate |
| SD | standard deviation/standard drink |
| SL | sublingual |
| SLE | systemic lupus erythematosus |
| SOCRATES | site, onset, character, radiation, alleviating factors, severity (for pain) |
| SSRI | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors |
| STEMI | ST elevated myocardial infarction |
| STI | sexually transmitted infection |
| syn | synonymous |
| TA | temporal arteritis |
| TC | total cholesterol |
| TENS | transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation |
| TFT | thyroid function test |
| TG | triglyceride |
| TIA | transient ischaemic attack |
| time | s—second; min—minute; h—hour; d—day; wk—week; mth—month; y—year |
| TM | tympanic membrane |
| TMJ | temporomandibular joint |
| TOF | tracheo-oesophageal fistula |
| TORCH | toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus |
| TSH | thyroid-stimulating hormone |
| T3 | tri-iodothyronine |
| T4 | free thyroxine |
| UC | ulcerative colitis |
| URTI | upper respiratory tract infection |
| US | ultrasound |
| UT/UTI | urinary tract/urinary tract infection |
| VBI | vertobrobasilar insufficiency |
| VF | ventricular fibrillation |
| vWD | von Willibrand disease |
| WCC | white cell count |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WPW | Wolff-Parkinson White |