Common Medical Abbreviations

Overview

Medical abbreviations save time but can be confusing or misleading if used without context. Many letters on a report mean something specific, and understanding them can make a result much easier to interpret.

Key points

Common examples include Hb for haemoglobin, Hct for haematocrit, TSH for thyroid-stimulating hormone, and eGFR for estimated glomerular filtration rate. Some abbreviations are used differently in different specialties, so it is worth checking the exact lab context.

Practical guidance

When reviewing a report, ask what each abbreviation means and whether the value is low, high, or unchanged. A short glossary of a few common terms can save a lot of worry.

Common misconceptions

Abbreviations can look technical and therefore sound more serious than they are. Often they are simply a shorthand for a common measurement or marker, not a diagnosis by themselves.

Related tools

The blood test library and the test checker are useful for looking up specific markers in plain language.

Further reading

It is helpful to keep a small list of the most common abbreviations relevant to your own health, especially if you review reports repeatedly.

Sources