Abbreviations and Glossary | New Zealand Blood Service
Transfusion medicine

Transfusion medicine handbook

The Transfusion Medicine Handbook is designed to assist hospital staff and other health professionals in modern Transfusion Medicine Practice.

Transfusion Medicine Handbook

Abbreviations and Glossary

 

ABG

Arterial blood gas

ACE

Angiotensin-converting enzyme

ACS

Acute coronary syndrome

ACT

Activated clotting time

ADAMTS-13

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate

Adverse event

Untoward occurrence associated with the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of blood components and fractionated products. Serious adverse events are those which may lead to death or to life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions for donors/patients, or which result in, or prolong, hospitalisation or morbidity.

Adverse reaction

Untoward response in a donor or patient associated with the collection or transfusion of blood components and fractionated products. Serious adverse reactions are those which may lead to death or to life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions or which result in, or prolong, hospitalisation or morbidity.

AHF

Antihaemophilic factor

AHTR

Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AIHA

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Albumex 4

Albumex 4 is a 4% w/v human albumin solution
Albumex® 4 is a registered trademark of CSL Limited

Albumex 20

Albumex 20 is a 20% w/v human albumin solution
Albumex® 20 is a registered trademark of CSL Limited

Alburex 5 NZ

Alburex 5 NZ is a 5% w/v human albumin solution
Alburex® 5 NZ is
a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

Alburex 20 NZ

Alburex 20 NZ is a 20% w/v human albumin solution
Alburex® 20 NZ
a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

ALI

Acute lung injury

Allogeneic blood

Collected from one individual and intended for use by another individual (as in allogeneic blood donation).

ANH

Acute normovolaemic haemodilution

Anti-HBs

Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Anti-HBs also develops in a person who has been successfully vaccinated against hepatitis B.

ANZSBT

Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion

APTT

Activated partial thromboplastin time

ARC Lifeblood

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

ARDS

Adult respiratory distress syndrome

ASH

American Society of Hematology

ASTH

Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

ATG

Anti-thymocyte globulin

Autologous blood

Collected from an individual and intended for their own use (as in autologous blood donation, which is generally not supported by NZBS).

ATIII

Antithrombin III

BCSH

The British Committee for Standards in Haematology

B19/HAV

Parvovirus B19 and Hepatitis A virus

Berinert

Berinert is a C1-esterase inhibitor concentrate
Berinert® is a registered trademark of CSL Behring GmbH

Berirab

Rabies Immunoglobulin
Berirab® P is a registered trademark of CSL Limited

Biostate

A high purity, sterile, freeze-dried powder containing purified human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and human von Willebrand factor (vWF) complex.
Biostate® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited.

BSH

British Society of Haematology

Blood component

A therapeutic constituent separated from human blood (red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and white cells).

Blood (fractionated) product

A therapeutic protein fraction prepared from large pools of human plasma under pharmaceutical conditions, e.g., coagulation factors, albumin, immunoglobulins.

BMI

Body mass index

BMS

Blood management system

BNP

B-type natriuretic peptide

BU

Bethesda unit

Ceprotin

Ceprotin is a sterile freeze-dried powder of purified human protein C.
CEPROTIN® are trademarks of Baxalta Incorporated.

CHAD

Cold haemagglutinin disease

CMO

Chief Medical Officer

CMV

Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpesvirus family, transmissible by transfusion, and which may cause disease in immunosuppressed patients.

CNS

Central nervous system

CoE

Council of Europe

CPAP

Continuous positive airways pressure

CPD / CPDA

Citrate phosphate dextrose and citrate phosphate dextrose adenine anticoagulant solutions used when collecting blood donations.

CSL

Compound sodium lactate

CSL Behring

A manufacturer of plasma therapies whose name derives from the merger of several parent companies      including CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories)             Limited and ZLB Behring.

CVP

Central venous pressure

DAT

Direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test

DDAVP

1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin (Desmopressin)

DHTR

Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction

DIC

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOAC

Direct Oral Anti-Coagulant

DSTR

Delayed serologic transfusion reaction

ECG

Electrocardiogram

ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

EDTA

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

eGFR

Estimated glomerular filtration rate

EPO

Erythropoietin

FBC

Full blood count

FEIBA

Factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity

FEIBA NF

FEIBA NF is a sterile freeze-dried powder of human plasma fraction with factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity.
FEIBA NF®, is a registered trademarks of Baxalta Incorporated.

FFP

Fresh frozen plasma

Fibrogammin

Fibrogammin  is a freeze-dried powder of purified human factor XIII
Fibrogammin® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies.

FIX

Factor IX

FMH

Fetomaternal haemorrhage

FNAIT

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia

FNHTR

Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction

Fractionated product

A therapeutic protein fraction prepared from large pools of  human plasma under pharmaceutical conditions, e.g., coagulation factors, albumin, immunoglobulins.

FVIII

Factor VIII

FXIII

Factor XIII

Gamunex 10%

10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Gamunex® 10% is a registered trademark of Grifols.

G-CSF

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

GP

Glycoprotein

GvHD

Graft-versus-host-disease

HAE

Hereditary angioedema

HBsAg

Hepatitis B surface antigen; a serologic marker on the surface of hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can be detected in high levels in serum during acute or chronic hepatitis. The presence of HBsAg indicates that a person is infectious.

HBV

Hepatitis B virus

HCT

Haematopoietic cell transplant

HCV

Hepatitis C virus

HDFN

Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn

HES

Hydroxyethyl starch

HFE

High Iron Fe gene; mutations of HFE are responsible for genetic haemachromatosis.

Hizentra

20% Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Hizentra® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

Hizentra NZ

20% Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Hizentra® NZ is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

HLA

Human leucocyte antigen

HPA

Human platelet antigen

HPC

Haematopoietic progenitor cell

HIT

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus

HSCT

Haematopoietic stem cell transplant

HTC

Hospital transfusion committee

HTLV

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus

HUS

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome

HyperHEP B

Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (Human).
HyperHEP B
® is a registered trademark of Grifols.

ICH

Intracranial haemorrhage

IgA

Immunoglobulin A

IgG

Immunoglobulin G

IgM

Immunoglobulin M

INR

International normalised ratio

ITP

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

IVIg

Intravenous immunoglobulin

IU

International units

IUT

Intrauterine transfusion

JVP

Jugular venous pressure

Kybernin P

Antithrombin III product.
Kybernin® P is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

LDH

Lactate dehydrogenase

MBOS

Maximum blood order schedule

MHP

Massive haemorrhage pathway

MTP

Massive transfusion protocol

MO

Medical Officer

NAIT

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia

NBA

Australian National Blood Authority

NHI

National Health Index

NHMRC

National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

NSAID

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

NZBS

New Zealand Blood Service

NZRC

New Zealand Resuscitation Council

PAS

Platelet additive solution; nutrient media used in place of plasma for platelet storage.

PBSC

Peripheral blood stem cell

PCC

Prothrombin complex concentrate

PCI

Percutaneous coronary intervention

PHARMAC

Pharmaceutical Management Agency of the New Zealand Government

PID

Primary immunodeficiency diseases

PLT

Single therapeutic dose of platelets

Privigen

10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Privigen® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

Privigen NZ

10% Human Normal Immunoglobulin
Privigen® NZ is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies

Prothombinex-VF

Prothrombinex-VF is a sterile freeze-dried powder containing purified human coagulation factors II, IX and X and low levels of factors V and VII.
Prothrombinex-VF® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited.

PT

Prothrombin time

PTP

Post-transfusion purpura

RAADP

Routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis

RANZCOG

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

RCNA

Royal College of Nursing of Australia

RCo

Ristocetin cofactor

Resuspended red cells

Red cells from which the majority of plasma has been removed and replaced with a nutrient or preservative solution, e.g., saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol (SAG-M)

RhD

Rhesus factor or RhD red cell antigen

RiaSTAP

RiaSTAP is a sterile freeze-dried fibrinogen (coagulation factor I) concentrate derived from human plasma.
RiaSTAP ® is a registered trademark of CSL Limited Group of Companies.

Rhophylac

Rhophylac is an Rh(D) Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human).
Rhophylac® is a registered trademark of CSL Behring AG

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

SCIg

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin

SED

Serum eye drops

SHOT

Serious Hazards of Transfusion; UK haemovigilance programme.

TACO

Transfusion-associated circulatory overload

TAD

Transfusion-associated dyspnoea

TA-GvHD

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host-disease

TMS

Transfusion Medicine Specialist

TNS

Transfusion Nurse Specialist

TPE

Therapeutic plasma exchange

TPO

Thrombopoietin

TPR

Temperature/Pulse/Respiratory rate

TRAE

Transfusion-related adverse event

TRALI

Transfusion-related acute lung injury

TRIM

Transfusion-related immunomodulation

TTI

Transfusion-transmitted infection

TTP

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

vCJD

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

vWF

von Willebrand factor

vWD

von Willebrand disease

VZV

Varicella zoster virus

Whole blood

Blood collected from a donor prior to separation into constituent red cells, platelets and plasma.

WBCT

Whole blood clotting time

WBIT

Wrong blood in tube

WHO

World Health Organization

 

_________________

 

Last updated: September 2025. Previously part of 111G122 – Transfusion Medicine Handbook 3rd Edition

NZBS Reference: 111G01503

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