Glossary
5-HT - Serotonin
AAT - Alpha-1-antitrypsin
Ab - Antibody
ACD - Acid citrate dextrose
ACE - Angiotensin converting enzyme
Acetylcholine receptor Ab - Acetylcholine receptor antibody
ACT - Activated clotting time
Adenovirus Ab - Adenovirus antibody
ADH - Antidiuretic hormone
ADP - Adenosine diphosphate
Adrenal Ab - Adrenal antibody
AFB - Acid fast bacilli
AFP - Alpha-fetoprotein
Ag - Antigen
AIDS - Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
ALA - Aminolaevulinate
ALL - Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
ALP - Alkaline phosphatase
ALT - Alanine aminotransferase
AML - Acute myeloid leukemia
AMP - Adenosine monophosphate
ANA - Antinuclear antibody
ANCA - Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
Anti Immunoglobin A Ab - Anti Immunoglobin A antibody
Anti phospholipase A2 receptor 1 Ab - Anti phospholipase A2 receptor 1 antibody
Anti-HBc - Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen
Anti-HBe - Antibody to hepatitis B e antigen
Anti-HBs - Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen
Anti-HCV - Antibody to hepatitis C virus
APC - APC resistance
APTT - Activated partial thromboplastin time
Arbovirus Ab - Arbovirus antibody
ASOT - Antistreptolysin O titre
AST - Aspartate aminotransferase
BCG - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin
B-HCG - Beta HCG, Beta HCG quantitation
BNP - B-type natriuretic peptide
Bordetella pertussis Ab - Bordetella pertussis antibody
Borrelia burgdorferi Ab - Borrelia burgdorferi antibody
Brucella Ab - Brucella antibody
Burkholderia pseudomallei Ab - Burkholderia pseudomallei antibody
C1 - First component of complement
C3 - Third component of complement
C4 - Fourth component of complement
Ca - Calcium
Carcinoembryonic Ag - Carcinoembryonic antigen
Cardiolipin Ab - Cardiolipin antibody
Cat scratch disease Ab - Cat scratch disease antibody
CBA - Collagen binding assay
CD - Cluster of differentiation
CDC - Centers for Disease Control Prevention
CEA - Carcinoembryonic antigen
Centromere Ab - Centromere antibody
CFT - Complement fixation test
CGD - Chronic granulomatous disease
CH50/CH100 - Total haemolytic complement activity
Chlamydia Ab - Chlamydia antibody
Chlamydia pneumoniae Ab - Chlamydia pneumoniae antibody
CIE - Counter immunoelectrophoresis
CJD - Creutzfeldt Jakob disease
CK - Creatine kinase
CKMB - Creatine kinase MB isoenzyme
CLL - Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
CML - Chronic myeloid leukaemia
CMML - Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia
CMV - Cytomegalovirus
CNS - Central nervous system
ConA - Concanavalin A
COPD - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CREST - Calcinosis, Reynaud's phenomenon, oseophageal hypomotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectases
CREST syndrome (limited scleroderma) - Calcinosis, Reynaud's phenomenon, oseophageal hypomotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectases syndrome (limited scleroderma)
CRP - C-Reactive protein
Cryptococcal Ag - Cryptococcal antigen
CSF - Cerebrospinal fluid
CVS - Chorionic villus sampling
Cytomegalovirus Ab - Cytomegalovirus antibody
DDAVP - Desmopressin acetate; 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin
Deaminated gliadin Ab - Deaminated gliadin antibody
DFA - Direct fluorescent antibody technique
DHEAS - DHEA sulphate
DIC - Disseminated intravascular coagulation
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid
Donath-Landsteiner Ab - Donath-Landsteiner antibody
EBNA - Epstein Barr nuclear antigen
EBV - Epstein Barr virus
ECP - Eosinophil cationic protein
EDTA - Ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid
eGFR - Estimated glomerular filtration rate
EIA - Enzyme immunoassay
EM - Electron microscopy
ENA - Extractable nuclear antigen antibody
Endomysial Ab - Endomysial antibody
Endomysial Ab IgA - Endomysial antibody IgA
Entamoeba Ab - Entamoeba antibody
Enterovirus Ab - Enterovirus antibody
EPG - Electrophoretogram (electrophoresis)
EPO - Erythropoietin
EPX - Eosinophil protein X
ESR - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Extractable nuclear antigen Ab - Extractable nuclear antigen antibody
FAB - French-American-British
Fasciola hepatica Ab - Fasciola hepatica antibody
FBC - Full blood count
FDP - Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products
Filaria Ab - Filaria antibody
FiO2 - Fractional concentration of inspired oxygen
FISH - Fluorescence in situ hybridisation
FITC - Fluorescein isothiocyanate
FNAB - Fine needle aspiration biopsy
FS - Frozen section
FSH - Follicle stimulating hormone
FT3 - Free T3
FT4 - Free T4
FTA-ABS - Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test
G-6-PD - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
G-6-PD deficiency - Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
GC - Gas chromatography
GCMS - Gas chromatography mass spectrometry
G-CSF - Granulocyte colony stimulating factor
GGT - Gamma glutamyltransferase
GLC - Gas liquid chromatography
Gliadin Ab - Gliadin antibody
GLL - Granular lymphocytic leukaemia
Glomerular basement membrane Ab - Glomerular basement membrane antibody
GM-CSF - Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor
GN - Glomerulonephritis
GST - Glutathione s-transferase
GTT - Glucose tolerance test
HAI - Haemagglutination inhibition
HAV - Hepatitis A virus
Hb - Haemoglobin
HbA2 - Haemoglobin A2
HBeAg - Hepatitis B e antigen
HbF - Haemoglobin F
HbH - Haemoglobin H
HbM - Haemoglobin M
HbS - Haemoglobin S
HBsAg - Hepatitis B surface antigen
HBV - Hepatitis B virus
HBV DNA-p - Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase
hCG - Human chorionic gonadotrophin
HCl - Hydrochloric acid
HCO3 - Bicarbonate
Hct - Haematocrit
HCV - Hepatitis C virus
HDL - High-density lipoprotein cholesterol
HDV - Hepatitis D virus
Heat shock protein 70 Ab - Heat shock protein 70 antibody
Helicobacter pylori Ab - Helicobacter pylori antibody
HEMPAS - Hereditary erythroblast multinuclearity with positive acidified serum test
Hendra virus Ab - Hendra virus antibody
Hepatitis A total Ab - Hepatitis A total antibody
Hepatitis D Ab - Hepatitis D antibody
Hepatitis E Ab - Hepatitis E antibody
HER-2 - Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
Herpes simplex Ab - Herpes simplex antibody
HEV - Hepatitis E virus
hGH - Human growth hormone
HGV - Hepatitis G virus
HIAA - 5HIAA urine
Histone Ab - Histone antibody
HIT - Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus
HIV Ab and Ag combination - HIV antibody and antigen combination
HLA - Human leucocyte antigen
HMGCoA - 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A
HMMA - 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelate
HOCM - Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
HPLC - High performance liquid chromatography
HPV - Human papillomavirus
HSV - Herpes simplex virus
HTLV - Human T cell lymphotropic virus
HTLV Ab - HTLV antibody
HVA - Homovanillic acid urine
Hydatid Ab - Hydatid antibody
HZV - Herpes zoster virus, Varicella zoster
ICCS - Intercellular cement substance
ID - Immunodiffusion
IDDM - Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IDL - Intermediate density lipoprotein
IEF - Isoelectric focussing
IEP - Immunoelectrophoresis
IF - Immunofluorescence
IFA - Indirect fluorescent antibody technique
IFA - Intrinsic factor Ab
IFE - Immunofixation electrophoresis
Ig - Immunoglobulin
IgE - Immunoglobulin E total
IGF - Insulin-like growth factor
IH - Immunohistology
IHA - Indirect haemagglutination
IM - Infectious mononucleosis
IMI - Intramuscular injection
Influenza Ab - Influenza antibody
Influenza Ag - Influenza antigen
INR - International normalised ratio
Intrinsic factor Ab - Intrinsic factor antibody
ISE - Ion selective electrode
ITP - Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
IV - Intravenous
Jo-1 Ab - Jo-1 antibody
K - Potassium
kg - Kilogram
kPa - Kilopascal
LA - Latex agglutination
LC-MS - Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
LC-MS/MS - Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
LD - Lactate dehydrogenase
LDH - Lactate dehydrogenase
LDL - Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Legionella Ab - Legionella antibody
Legionella Ag - Legionella antigen
Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 Ag - Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen
Leptospiral Ab - Leptospiral antibody
LFT - Liver function tests
LGV - Lymphogranuloma venereum
LH - Luteinising hormone
Liver/kidney microsome Ab - Liver/kidney microsome antibody
LKM - Liver/kidney microsome antibody
LM - Light microscopy
LMWH - Low molecular weight heparin
Lymphocytotoxic Ab - Lymphocytotoxic antibody
MAIPA - Monoclonal antibody immobilisation of platelet antigen
Malaria Ag - Malaria antigen
MBC - Minimum bactericidal concentration
MCF - Median corpuscular fragility
MCH - Mean cell haemoglobin
MCHC - Mean cell haemoglobin concentration
MCV - Mean cell volume
MDS - Myelodysplastic syndromes (classification)
Measles virus Ab - Measles virus antibody
MEN - Multiple endocrine neoplasia
MEN2 - Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
MGUS - Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance
MHMA - 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelate
MIC - MIC susceptibility
Mitochondrial Ab - Mitochondrial antibody
MOM - Multiples of median
MSA - Mammary specific antigen
Mumps Ab - Mumps antibody
Muscle specific receptor tyrosine kinase Ab - Muscle specific receptor tyrosine kinase antibody
Mycobacterium tuberculosis IGRA - Mycobacterium tuberculosis interferon-gamma release assays
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Ab - Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody
Myelin Ab - Myelin antibody
Myeloperoxidase Ab - Myeloperoxidase antibody
Myocardial Ab - Myocardial antibody
Na - Sodium
NADPH - Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NAP - Neutrophil alkaline phosphatase
Neuromyelitis optica Ab - Neuromyelitis optica antibody
Neuronal Ab - Neuronal antibody
Neutrophil Ab - Neutrophil antibody
NK - Natural killer cells
NMDA receptor Ab - NMDA receptor antibody
NSAID - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSE - Neuron-specific enolase
NT-BNP - N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide
Ovarian Ab - Ovarian antibody
p50 O2 - Partial pressure of O2 at which haemoglobin is 50% saturated
PAI - Plasminogen activator inhibitor
PAN - Polyarteritis nodosa
Parathyroid Ab - Parathyroid antibody
Parietal cell Ab - Parietal cell antibody
Parvovirus B19 Ab - Parvovirus B19 antibody
PBC - Primary biliary cirrhosis
PCI - Prothrombin consumption index
PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
PCV - Packed cell volume, Haematocrit
Pemphigus Ab - Pemphigus antibody
PF3 - Platelet factor 3
PHA - Phytohaemagglutinin
PID - Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIE - Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia
PKU - Phenylketonuria
Platelet Ab - Platelet antibody
PNH - Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
PPD - Purified protein derivative
PR - Prothrombin ratio
Proteinase3 Ab - Proteinase3 antibody
PRV - Polycythaemia rubra vera
PRV+MRD - Polycythaemia rubra vera + minimal residual disease
PSA - Prostate specific antigen
PT - Prothrombin time
PTH - Parathyroid hormone
PTHrP - Parathyroid hormone related protein
PUO - Pyrexia of unknown origin
Q Fever Ab - Q Fever antibody
Rabies virus Ab - Rabies virus antibody
RAST - Radioallergosorbent test
RCC - Red cell count
RCoF - Ristocetin cofactor
RDS - Respiratory distress syndrome
RDW - Red cell distribution width
REAL - Revised European-American lymphoma classification
Respiratory syncytial virus Ag - Respiratory syncytial virus antigen
RF - Rheumatoid factor
RFLP - Restriction fragment length polymorphism
Rh - Rhesus (blood group)
RIA - Radioimmunoassay
Rickettsial Ab - Rickettsial antibody
RNA - Ribonucleic acid
RPR - Rapid plasma reagin test
RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus Ag
Rubella Ab - Rubella antibody
SARS - Severe acute respiratory syndrome
SBE - Subacute bacterial endocarditis
SCA - Spino-cerebellar ataxias
Schistosomiasis Ab - Schistosomiasis antibody
SCID - Severe combined immunodeficiency
SDS - Sodium dodecyl sulphate
SHBG - Sex hormone binding globulin
SIADH - Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
SIDS - Sudden infant death syndrome
Skeletal muscle Ab - Skeletal muscle antibody
SLE - Systemic lupus erythematosus
Smooth muscle Ab - Smooth muscle antibody
sp - Species
Sperm Ab - Sperm antibody
SSPE - Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
STD - Sexually transmitted diseases
Streptococcus pneumoniae Ag - Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen
Strongyloides sp Ab - Strongyloides sp antibody
T3 - Triiodothyronine
T4 - Thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine)
Taenia solium Ab - Taenia solium antibody
TBG - Thyroxine binding globulin
Testicular Ab - Testicular antibody
TGFβ - Transforming growth factor beta
Thyroid Ab - Thyroid antibody
TIBC - Iron / Iron binding capacity
TLC - Thin layer chromatography
TNF - Tumour necrosis factor
TORCH - Toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex
Toxocara Ab - Toxocara antibody
Toxoplasma Ab - Toxoplasma antibody
TPHA - Treponema pallidum haemagglutination
TPI - Treponema pallidum immobilisation
Transglutaminase Ab - Transglutaminase antibody
TRH - Thyrotropin releasing hormone
Trypanosome Ab - Trypanosome antibody
TSH - Thyroid stimulating hormone
TSH receptor Ab - TSH receptor antibody
TTP - Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Typhoid Ab - Typhoid antibody
var - Variety
Varicella zoster Ab - Varicella zoster anitbody
VCA - Viral capsid antigen (EBV)
VDRL - Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test
VIP - Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
VLDL - Very low density lipoprotein
Voltage gated potassium channel Ab - Voltage gated potassium channel antibody
von Willebrand factor Ag - von Willebrand factor antigen
VWD - von Willebrand disease
vWf - von Willebrand factor
vWfAg - von Willebrand factor antigen
WAGR - Wilms tumour, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation
WCC - White cell count
XDP - Cross linked fibrin degradation products
Yersinia sp Ab - Yersinia sp antibody
MCS - Microscopy culture sensitivities
FBE - Full blood examination
FMH - feto-maternal haemorrhage