COMMONLY-USED ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
AABB American Association of Blood Banks
AADA Abbreviated Antibiotic Drug Application (used mostly for generics)
AAPS American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
Ab Antibody
ABEP Auditory Brainstem-Evoked Potential
ABPI Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries
AC Before Meals
ACE Adverse Clinical Event
ACIL American Council of Independent Laboratories
ACP Associates of Clinical Pharmacology
ACRA Associate Commissioner of Regulatory Affairs (FDA)
ACRP Association of Clinical Research Professionals
ACRPI Association for Clinical Research in the Pharmaceutical Industry (United
Kingdom)
ACT Applied Clinical Trials (industry journal)
AD Alzheimer's Disease
AD Antidepressant
ADAMHA Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration
ADAS Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale
ADE Adverse Drug Event
ADME Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion
ADR Adverse Drug Reaction
AE Adverse Event
AED Antiepileptic Drugs
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 1 of 18
AHCPR Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AKA Above-the-Knee Amputation
ALT Alanine Aminotransferase (formerly SGOT)
AMA American Medical Association or American Management Association
AmFAR American Foundation for AIDS Research
AMG West Germany Drug Law (Germany's equivalent to Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act)
AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction
ANDA Abbreviated New Drug Application (used for generics)
AOAC Association of Official Analytical Chemists
APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA)
ARC AIDS Related Complex
ARDS Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ASCPT American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
AST Aspartate Aminotransferase (also known as SGOT)
ATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (Treasury Department)
AZT Zidovudine (HIV treatment)
BAER Brainstem Auditory-Evoked Potential
BB Bureau of Biologics (FDA division for treatments made from living organisms,
changed to CBER)
BCE Beneficial Clinical Event
BEUC European Bureau of Consumer Unions
BGA Bundesgesundheitsamt (Germany's equivalent to FDA)
BID Twice a Day
BIND Biological IND
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 2 of 18
BIOLOGIC Blood Products, Vaccines and Cellular Therapy Products
BKA Below-the-Knee Amputation
BMB Bioresearch Monitoring Branch (FDA's CDRH)
BMI Body Mass Index
BMR Basil metabolic rate
BP Blood Pressure
BPAD Bipolar Affective Disorder
BPM Beats per Minute
BRB Biomedical Research Branch (FDA's CDRH)
BSA Body Surface Area
BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen
C&S Culture and Sensitivity
Ca Calcium
CA Carcinoma
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
CANDA Computer Assisted New Drug Application
CAPLA Computer Assisted Product License Application
CAPRA Canadian Association of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs
CBC Complete Blood Count
CBCTN Community Based Clinical Trials Network
CBER Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (FDA)
CBF Cerebral Blood Flow
CC Chief Complaint
CCD Canadian Drugs Directorate
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 3 of 18
CCRA Certified Clinical Research Associate
CCRC Certified Clinical Research Coordinator
CDC Center for Disease Control
CDER Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (FDA)
CDRH Center for Devices and Radiological Health (FDA)
CEN Committee for European Normalization
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (FDA)
CFSAN Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA)
CHD Coronary Heart Disease
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
CHI Closed Head Injury
CIOMS Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (post approval
international ADR
CIR Cosmetic Ingredient Review (FDA)
CK or CPK Serum Creatine Kinase or Creatine Phosphokinase
Cl Serum or Plasma Chloride
CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
CMC Chemistry and Manufacturing Controls (FDA)
CMDRH Center for Medical Devices and Radiological Health (FDA)
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMG Cystometrogram
CNS Central Nervous System
COSTART Coding Symbols for Thesaurus of Adverse Reaction Terms (FDA)
CP Compliance Program (FDA)
CPMP Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 4 of 18
CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission
CRA Clinical Research Associate
CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (between government
agencies and industry)
CRC Clinical Research Coordinator
CRF Case Report Form
CRO Clinical Research Organization
CSDD Center for the Study of Drug Development
CSF Cerebral Spinal Fluid
CSM Committee on Safety of Medicines (United Kingdom)
CT Clinical Trial
CT Computed Tomography
CTC Clinical Trial Certificate (United Kingdom's equivalent to the IND)
CTN Clinical Trail Material
CTX Clinical Trial Exemption Certificate (type of United Kingdom IND)
CV Curriculum Vitae
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident
CVM Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA)
CXR Chest X-Ray
DAWN Drug Abuse Warning Network
DB Double Blind
DCF Data Correction Form/Data Clarification Form
DD Department of Drugs (Sweden's equivalent to the FDA)
DEA Drug Enforcement Administration (law enforcement division of FDA)
DEN Drug Experience Network
DESI Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (to evaluate drugs in use prior to 1962)
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 5 of 18
DGD Division of Generic Drugs (FDA division changed to OGC)
DHEW Department of Health Education and Welfare
DHHS # Department of Health & Human Services identification # (aka, assurance #)
DIA Drug Information Association
DJD Degenerative Joint Disease
dl. Deciliter
DNR Do Not Resusitate
DOD Department of Defense
DOT Department of Transportation
DPC-PTR Act Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984
DRG Diagnosis Related Groups
DSI Division of Scientific Investigations (FDA)
DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
DUR Drug Use Review
Dx. Diagnosis
EAB Ethical Advisory Board (similar to IRB, used by other nations)
ECG Electrocardiogram
ECU European Currency Unit
ED Erectile Dysfunction
EEC European Economic Community
EEG Electroencephalogram
EFPIA European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Associations
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EIR Establishment Inspection Report (provides a detailed account of the FDA
inspection)
EKG Electrocardiogram
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 6 of 18
ELA Establishment License Application
EMG Electromyogram
EMS Electronic Mail Service
ENDA Electronic NDA
ENT Ear, Nose, and Throat
EO Executive Order
EORTC European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
EOS End of Study
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPI Expanded Programme in Immunization (WHO program)
EPL Effective Patent Life
ESS Executive Secretary and Staff (FDA)
ETT Exercise Tolerance Test
EUP Experimental Use Permit (for animal research, obtained from EPA)
EURODIAB European Concerted Action on the Epidemiology of Diabetes
FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act 1972
FAX Facsimile
FBS Fasting Blood Sugar
FCC Federal Communications Commission
FCCSET Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
FDA Food and Drug Administration
FDA-482 Notice of Inspection
FDA-483 Notice of Adverse Findings in an Inspection
FDA-1572 FDA Form for Statement of Investigator
FDA-SRS Spontaneous Reporting System of the FDA
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 7 of 18
FDCA Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
FDLI Food and Drug Law Institute
FMD Field Management Directives (FDA)
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FP Family Practice
FR Federal Register
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA)
FTC Federal Trade Commission (has primary responsibility for non-prescription
advertising while the FDA has responsibility for prescription drug advertising)
FUO Fever of unknown origin
Fx. Fracture
g. Gram
GAO General Accounting Office
GATT General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade
GCP Good Clinical Practices
GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate
GI Gastrointestinal
GIB Gastrointestinal Bleed
GLP Good Laboratory Practice
GMP Good Manufacturing Practice
GP General Practice Physician
GRAS Generally Recognized as Safe (salt, hydrogen peroxide, etc.)
GRE Generally Recognized as Effective
GTN Nitroglycerin
GU Genitourinary
HAI Health Action International
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 8 of 18
HAZCOM Hazardous Communication (EPA)
HAZMAT Hazardous Materials (EPA)
Hb Hemoglobin
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration
HCO3 Serum or Plasma Bicarbonate
Hct Hematocrit
HEW Health, Education and Welfare (Department of )
HF (A-Z) Routing code for mail delivered to HHS and FDA
Hg Mercury
Hgb Hemoglobin
HHS Health and Human Services (Department of )
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HPB Health Protection Branch (Canada's equivalent to the FDA)
HRG Health Research Group
HRRC Human Research Review Committee
HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration
HS At Hour of Sleep
HTN Hypertension
Hx. History
IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IRB for animal use)
IB Investigator's Brochure
ICD9 International Classification of Disease Codes, 9th Revision
ICD-9-CM International Classification of Disease Codes, 9th Revision-Clinical
Modification
ICH International Conference on Harmonisation
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 9 of 18
ICTH International Committee on Thrombosis and Haemostases
ID Identification or Intradermal
IDB Investigational Drug Brochure
IDE Investigational Device Exemption
IDR Idiosyncratic Drug Reaction
IM Internal Medicine or Intramuscular
INAD Investigational New Animal Drug (FDA)
IND Investigational New Drug (Application)
INDC Investigational New Drug Committee (proposed type or division of an IRB)
IPCS International Program for Chemical Safety
IPEMC International Commission for Protection Against Mutagens and Carcinogens
IPRA International Product Registration Application
IPRD International Product Registration Document
IPRO Independent Pharmaceutical Research Organization (same as CRO)
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRG Initial Review Groups
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ISPE International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology
IT Information Technology
IV Intravenous
IVD In Vitro Diagnostic (test that works on a body fluid sample)
IVDA Intra-Venous Drug Abuse
IVF In Vitro Fertilization
IVF/ET In Vitro Fertilization/Embryo Transfer
IVP Intravenous Pyelography
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 10 of 18
JCAH Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals
JCAHO Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
JCPT Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (industry journal)
JCRDD Journal of Clinical Research and Drug Development (industry journal)
JCRP Journal of Clinical Research and Pharmacoepidemiology (industry journal)
JPMA Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
K Serum or Plasma Potassium
kg. Kilogram
Kilo Kilogram
KS Kaposi's sarcoma
LASER Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
lb. Pound
LD Linked Databases
LDH Lactate Dehydrogenase
LEAA Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
LOA Letter of Agreement
LOC Level of Concern
LRC Lipid Research Clinic
LTF Liver Function Tests
MCA Medicines Control Agency (a division of United Kingdom's equivalent to the
FDA)
MCV Mean Corpuscular Volume
MD Medicines Division (United Kingdom's equivalent to the FDA)
MDD Manic Depressive Disorder
MDI Metered Dose Inhaler
MDR Medical Device Reporting
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 11 of 18
MEDLARS Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System
MHW Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan's equivalent to the FDA)
ml. Milliliter
mm. Millimeter
MMSE Mini-Mental State Examination
MOU Memoranda of Understanding
MRA Medical Research Associate
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MS Multiple Sclorosis
MTD Maximum Tolerated Dose
MVP Mitral Valve Prolapse
Na Serum or Plasma Sodium
NA Not Available
NACH National Advisory Health Council
NAF Notice of Adverse Findings (post-FDA audit letter)
NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement
NAI No Action Indication (most favorable post-FDA inspection classification)
NAS-NRC National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council
NCE New Chemical Entity
NCHS National Center for Health Statistics (part of CDC)
NCI National Cancer Institute
NCS Not Clinically Significant
NCTR National Center for Toxicological Research (FDA)
NCV Nerve Conduction Velocities
NCVIA National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (1986)
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 12 of 18
ND Not Done
NDA New Drug Application
NDS New Drug Study (Canada's equivalent of NDA)
NHLBI National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
NHW National Health and Welfare Department (Canada's equivalent of DHHS)
NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease
NIDA National Institute of Drug Abuse
NIH National Institutes of Health
NKA No Known Allergies
NLEA Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (1990)
NME New Molecular Entity
NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
NPI Neuropsychiatric Inventory
NPO Nothing By Os (Mouth)
NRB Noninstitutional Review Board
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NS Not Clinically Significant
NSAID Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
NSR Normal Sinus Rhythm
NTP National Toxicology Program
OAI Official Action Indicated (serious post-FDA inspection classification)
OB-GYN Obstetrics-Gynecology
OBRR Office of Biologics Research and Review (FDA)
º
C Temperature in Centigrade
OD Right Eye
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 13 of 18
ODB Observational Database
ODE Office of Drug Evaluation (in FDA's CDER)
OE Office of Enforcement (FDA)
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (international)
º
F Temperature in Fahrenheit
OGD Office of Generic Drugs (in FDA's CER, formerly DGB)
OGE Office of Government Ethics (formerly part of Office of Personnel
Management, separate executive branch in 1889.
OHA Office of Health Affairs (in FDA's CDRG)
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OPD/SC Office of Professional Development and Staff College (FDA Training Program)
OPRH Office of Protection for Research in Humans
ORA Office of Regulatory Affairs (FDA)
ORO Office of Regional Operations (FDA)
OS Left Eye
Os Opening
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OTA Office of Technology Assessment (part of Patents and Trademarks)
OTC Over-the-Counter (nonprescription drugs)
OU Both Eyes
Oz. Ounce
PA Posterior-Anterior
Paco2 Arterial CO2
Pao2 Arterial O2
PAR Post-Approval Research (significant for approval of AIDS drugs)
PCC Poison Control Center
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 14 of 18
PCP Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia
PD Parkinson’s Disease
PD Pharmacodynamics
PDQ Physician's Data Query (NCI sponsored cancer trail registry)
PDR Physician's Desk Reference
PE Physical Examination or Pulmonary Embolus
PET Positron Emission Topography
PFT Pulmonary Function Tests
PHS Public Health Service
PI Package Insert
PI Principal Investigator
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PK Pharmacokinetics
PLA Product License Application (when seeking commercialization of a biologic)
PMA Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
PMA Pre-Market Approval (when seeking commercialization of a device)
PMI Point of Maximum Impulse
PMS Premenstrual Syndrome
PMS Post-Marketing Surveillance
PO By Mouth
PPE Personal Protective Equipment (EPA)
PPI Patient Package Inserts
PPO Policy and Procedure Order
PPO Preferred Provider Organization
PR Pulse Rate
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 15 of 18
PR interval An ECG interval
PRIM & R Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (private agency)
PRN As Needed
PT Prothrombin Time
PTT Partial Thromboplastin Time
PUD Peptic Ulcer Disease
PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease
QA Quality Assurance
QAU Quality Assurance Unit
QC Quality Control
QD Every Day
QID Four Times a Day
QNS Quantity Not Sufficient
QOD Every Other Day
QOL Quality of Life
R&D Research and Development
RADAR Risk Assessment of Drugs - Analysis and Response
RAPS Regulatory Affairs Professional Society
RBC Red Blood Count
RCT Randomized Clinical Trial
RDE Remote Data Entry
RDRC Radioactive Drug Research Committee
RIND Reversible Inschemic Neurological Deficit
RL Regulatory Letter (post-FDA audit letter)
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 16 of 18
RUG Resource Utilization Group
Rx. Prescription
SAE Serious Adverse Event
SAH Subarchnoid Hemorrhage
SC or SQ Subcutaneous
SC Study Coordinator
SD Source Document
SD Standard Deviation
SDAT Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type
SE Standard Error
SEA Single European Act of 1987
SEER Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (Registry of NCI)
SMDA Safe Medical Devices Act (1990)
SME Significant Medical Event
SMO Site Management Organization
SNDA Supplemental NDA
SOB Shortness of Breath
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SSM Skin Surface Microscopy
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
STT Short Term Tests
SUD Sudden Unexpected Death
Sx. Symptom
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack
TID Three Times a Day
Research Coordinator Orientation, University of Pittsburgh, 2002 Page 17 of 18
TIND Treatment IND
TK Toxicokinetics
TMO Trial Management Organization
TNG Nitroglycerin
TQM Total Quality Management
UA Urinalysis
UKCCR United Kingdom Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research
UNESCO United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organization
UNK Unknown
URI Upper Respiratory Infection
USC United States Department of Agriculture
USP U.S. Pharmacopeia
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
VA United States Department of Veterans Affairs
VAI Voluntary Action Indicated (post-FDA audit inspection classification)
VER Visual Evoked Response
VS Vital Signs
WBC White Blood Count
WHO World Health Organization
WL Warning Letter (most serious of post-FDA audit letter, demands immediate
action within 15 days)
WNL Within Normal Limits
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