Deck 6 – Abbreviations & Glossary Essentials
Quick-reference abbreviations and glossary essentials that appear throughout NHA CPT exams.
NHA CPT EXAM
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Aseptic Technique
Methods to reduce microorganisms and prevent infection, such as hand hygiene and proper skin cleaning.
Basal State
The patient’s resting, fasting condition (usually after 8–12 hours without food).
Hemoconcentration
Increase in concentration of blood components due to fluid loss or prolonged tourniquet time.
Hematoma
A swelling or bruise caused by blood leaking into tissue around the puncture site.
Pediatric Patient
A child or adolescent patient who often needs adapted communication, positioning, and device selection.
Urine Clean-Catch (Midstream)
A urine collection method where the genital area is cleaned and only the middle portion of the stream is collected in a sterile container.
Universal precautions
Older term similar to standard precautions; assumes all blood and certain body fluids are potentially infectious.
Anemia
A condition with too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin, often causing weakness and fatigue.
Basophil
A type of white blood cell involved in allergic reactions and inflammation.
Bloodborne pathogens
Microorganisms in blood that can cause disease, such as HIV or hepatitis B.
Cold agglutinins
Antibodies that cause red cells to clump at low temperatures; samples must be kept warm.
Comatose patient
A patient who is unconscious and cannot respond or give verbal consent.
Contact precautions
Infection control measures for germs spread by direct/indirect contact; usually require gown and gloves.
Delta check
Comparison of a current result to previous results from the same patient to detect possible error or big change.
Disinfectant
Chemical used on surfaces/equipment to kill or greatly reduce microorganisms.
Edema
Visible swelling caused by fluid in the tissues.
Edematous
Describes tissue that is swollen with fluid.
Erythrocyte
The medical term for a red blood cell (RBC).
Exposure incident
A specific contact with blood or potentially infectious material (e.g., needlestick or splash).
Fomite
An object or surface that can carry infectious organisms, like bed rails or doorknobs.
Gauge (needle)
The size of a needle’s opening; a higher number means a smaller diameter.
Gown
Protective clothing worn to prevent contamination of clothes and skin under certain precautions.
Hazardous waste
Waste that can pose a risk to health or the environment, such as contaminated sharps or certain chemicals.
Hemoglobin
The oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells.
Hematocrit
The percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells.
Hemostasis
The body’s process of stopping bleeding through vessel constriction and clot formation.
Inpatient
A patient who has been admitted to the hospital and stays at least one night.
Ketones
Substances produced when the body breaks down fat; measured in urine or blood.
Leukocyte
The medical term for a white blood cell (WBC).
Luer adapter
Connector that allows the needle and collection device to attach securely.
Luer-lock
A screw-type connection that prevents the needle or device from easily coming off.
Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell involved in immune responses and antibody production.
Microorganism
A microscopic living organism such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
Nosocomial infection
An infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility.
Occupational exposure
Contact with blood or potentially infectious material that happens while doing job duties.
Peak level
The highest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream, measured at a specific time after dosing.
Petechiae
Small red or purple spots on the skin caused by minor bleeding under the surface.
Platelet
A small blood cell fragment that helps form clots to stop bleeding.
Polycythemia
A condition in which the body has too many red blood cells.
Polyuria
Excessive urine output over a given period of time.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
Clothing and equipment (gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection) used to protect workers from exposure.
Proteinuria
The presence of abnormal amounts of protein in the urine.
Resident flora
Microorganisms that normally live on the skin or in the body without causing disease.
Sanitization
The process of cleaning equipment or surfaces to reduce the number of microorganisms.
Sepsis
A severe, body-wide response to infection that can be life-threatening.
Sharps container
A rigid, puncture-resistant container used for disposing of needles and other sharps.
Sodium hypochlorite
A chemical compound used in diluted form (bleach solution) to disinfect surfaces and clean blood spills.
Standard precautions
Infection control practices used with all patients, assuming all blood and certain body fluids are potentially infectious.
Sterile field
An area that has been prepared to be free of all microorganisms for a procedure.
Supine position
Body position where the patient lies flat on their back.
Syncope
Temporary loss of consciousness or fainting, often from decreased blood flow to the brain.
Trough level
The lowest concentration of a drug in the bloodstream, usually measured just before the next dose.
Vasovagal reaction
A reflex that can cause sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to dizziness or fainting.
WBC
Stands for “White Blood Cell count.”
RBC
Stands for “Red Blood Cell count.”
Hgb or Hb
Abbreviation for “Hemoglobin.”
Hct
Abbreviation for “Hematocrit.”
INR
Stands for “International Normalized Ratio,” standardized value based on PT.
Na+
Abbreviation for sodium, a major electrolyte in the blood.
K+
Abbreviation for potassium, an important electrolyte for heart and muscle function.
Creat
Abbreviation for “Creatinine,” a waste product measured to evaluate kidney function.
Ca2+
Abbreviation for calcium, an electrolyte important for bones, nerves, and clotting.
Mg2+
Abbreviation for magnesium, an electrolyte involved in muscle, nerve, and heart function.
TSH
Stands for “Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone.”
T3
Abbreviation for “Triiodothyronine,” a thyroid hormone.
T4
Abbreviation for “Thyroxine,” a major thyroid hormone.
SpO2
Abbreviation for peripheral oxygen saturation, usually measured by pulse oximeter.
LDL
Stands for “Low-Density Lipoprotein,” often called “bad” cholesterol.
HDL
Stands for “High-Density Lipoprotein,” often called “good” cholesterol.
TG
Abbreviation for “Triglycerides,” a type of fat measured in blood.
HIPAA
Stands for “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,” U.S. law that protects patient privacy.
ICU
Stands for “Intensive Care Unit.”
ER
Stands for “Emergency Room” (or Emergency Department, ED).
OR
Stands for “Operating Room.”
NPO
Abbreviation for Latin “nil per os,” meaning “nothing by mouth.”
BID
From Latin “bis in die,” meaning “twice a day.”
TID
From Latin “ter in die,” meaning “three times a day.”
QID
From Latin “quater in die,” meaning “four times a day.”
PRN
From Latin “pro re nata,” meaning “as needed.”
ID
Stands for “intradermal,” an injection given just under the top layer of skin.
IM
Stands for “intramuscular,” an injection into the muscle.
SQ or SC
Stands for “subcutaneous,” an injection into the fatty tissue under the skin.
FBS
Stands for “Fasting Blood Sugar.”
CXR
Stands for “Chest X-ray.”
UTI
Stands for “Urinary Tract Infection.”
URI
Stands for “Upper Respiratory Infection.”
CHF
Stands for “Congestive Heart Failure.”
Capillary blood
Blood obtained from small vessels in the skin (finger or heel), a mix of arterial, venous, and tissue fluid.
Iatrogenic anemia
Anemia caused by too much blood being drawn from a patient over time.
Basal metabolic state
A metabolic resting state after overnight fasting and limited activity.
First morning urine
The first urine voided after waking up, often concentrated.
Therapeutic phlebotomy
Removal of a prescribed amount of blood as a treatment (for example, for polycythemia).
Biohazard symbol
The universal symbol indicating biological materials that may pose a risk of infection.
SDS (Safety Data Sheet)
A document that describes hazards, handling, and first-aid measures for chemicals.
Engineering controls
Devices or equipment designed to isolate or remove hazards, such as safety needles and sharps containers.
Work practice controls
Safe procedures and techniques that reduce exposure risk, such as not recapping needles and using hand hygiene.
Chain of infection
The model that describes how an infection spreads: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
Reservoir
The place where a microorganism normally lives and multiplies (for example, people, animals, water, equipment).
Portal of entry
The path by which a microorganism enters a new host (for example, broken skin, mucous membranes).
Airborne precautions
Extra infection control measures for germs that travel long distances in the air (for example, TB, measles).
Needlestick injury
A puncture wound caused by a used needle or other sharp device.
Exposure control plan
A written plan that describes how a facility protects workers from bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Sharps injury log
A confidential record of needlestick and sharps injuries kept by the facility.
Isolation sign
A posted notice on a patient’s door that indicates required precautions (contact, droplet, airborne).
ID band (wristband)
A bracelet worn by inpatients that lists key identifiers such as name and date of birth.
Verbal identifiers
Information the patient states (such as full name and date of birth) used to confirm identity.
Assault (legal)
Threatening to touch or harm someone without consent, causing fear of harm.
Battery (legal)
Actually touching or performing a procedure on someone without consent.
Negligence
Failure to use reasonable care, resulting in harm or risk of harm to a patient.
Malpractice
Professional negligence by a licensed healthcare worker that leads to patient harm.
Standard of care
The level of care and skill that a reasonable phlebotomist would provide in a similar situation.
Informed consent
Consent given after the patient receives and understands basic information about the procedure.
Protected Health Information (PHI)
Any patient information that can identify the person and relates to health or payment (for example, name plus diagnosis).
Minimum necessary rule
The HIPAA requirement to use or share only the least amount of PHI needed to do the job.
Neonate
A newborn infant, usually up to 28 days old.
Adolescent
A patient in the teenage years transitioning toward adult size but still needing sensitive communication.
Immunocompromised patient
A patient whose immune system is weakened (for example, chemotherapy, HIV, transplant).
Needle phobia
An intense fear of needles or blood draws that can cause anxiety, sweating, or fainting.
Language barrier
A situation where the patient does not speak or understand the healthcare worker’s language.
Hearing impairment
Partial or complete difficulty hearing spoken communication.
Visual impairment
Reduced or absent vision that can affect a patient’s ability to move safely and follow instructions.
Combative patient
A patient who may hit, kick, or resist due to confusion, intoxication, or behavior issues.
Cognitively impaired patient
A patient with confusion, dementia, or other conditions that affect understanding and memory.
Arteriospasm
Sudden constriction of an artery, which can occur during arterial puncture and reduce blood flow.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
The clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, collected by lumbar puncture.
Synovial fluid
Fluid found in joints such as the knee, collected to evaluate joint disorders or infection.
Pleural fluid
Fluid taken from the space around the lungs to check for infection, cancer, or other disease.
Peritoneal (ascitic) fluid
Fluid taken from the abdominal cavity to evaluate causes of ascites (for example, liver disease, infection).
Pericardial fluid
Fluid collected from the sac around the heart to investigate infection or inflammation.
Bone marrow aspirate
A sample of bone marrow taken from inside a bone to evaluate blood cell production disorders.
Peripheral blood smear
A thin film of blood spread on a glass slide for microscopic examination.
Feathered edge
The thinnest area at the end of a blood smear where individual cells are best seen under a microscope.
Number of attempts per phlebotomist
The typical limit is two unsuccessful attempts per phlebotomist before seeking help, according to many facility policies.
Maximum finger puncture depth
The depth for adult fingersticks is typically limited to about 3.0 mm.
Discarding the first drop
In capillary collection, the first drop of blood is often wiped away before collecting the sample.
Site warming before puncture
Warming the heel or finger with a warm compress increases blood flow and makes capillary collection easier.
Blood alcohol collection
A blood draw ordered to measure blood alcohol concentration, often for legal or forensic reasons.
Forensic blood draw
A blood collection that will be used as legal evidence, requiring strict chain-of-custody procedures.
Draw order priority
The general priority sequence: STAT → Timed → ASAP → Routine.
Incident report
A formal report completed when an error, near-miss, or adverse event occurs.
Corrective action
A step taken to fix an identified problem and prevent it from happening again.
cardiomegaly
Word built from cardi/o (heart) + -megaly (enlargement), meaning “enlarged heart.”
Reverse isolation
Precautions used to protect highly vulnerable patients from being infected by others (for example, neutropenic patients).
Neutropenic precautions
Extra precautions for patients with very low neutrophil counts to reduce infection risk.
Hand sanitizer use
Alcohol-based gel used when hands are not visibly soiled to reduce microorganisms.
Donning PPE
The order of putting on PPE, typically: gown → mask/respirator → goggles/face shield → gloves.
Doffing PPE
The order of removing PPE to avoid self-contamination, often: gloves → goggles/face shield → gown → mask.
Patient education
Explaining procedures and answering basic questions in a way the patient can understand.
Pain scale
A tool patients use to rate pain intensity, often from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain).
Positioning to prevent syncope
Placing the patient lying down or with legs elevated if they feel faint.
Joint Commission (TJC)
An organization that accredits hospitals and healthcare organizations, focusing on safety and quality.
Temperature log
A record that documents refrigerator, freezer, or incubator temperatures at set intervals.
Competency assessment
A formal review of an employee’s skills and knowledge to ensure they can perform tasks correctly.