biotech: ISMP error-prone abbreviations

uuuguggghhh

ʒ (Dram)

mistaken as 3 / metric system

AD

mistaken as OD or right eye / right ear

AS

mistaken as OS or left eye / left ear

AU

mistaken as OU or each eye / each ear

cc

mistaken as units / mL

hs

mistaken as half-strength / bedtime

OD

mistaken as AD or right ear / right eye

OS

mistaken as AS or left ear / left eye

OU

mistaken as AU or each ear / each eye

qhs

mistaken as qhr or every hour / nightly

SC

mistaken as SL or sublingual / subcut or subcutaneous

SQ

mistaken as 5 every / subcut or subcutaneous

sub q

q mistaken as every / subcut or subcutaneous

ss

mistaken as 55 / sliding scale, one-half, or 1/2

UD

mistaken as unit dose / as directed

U (unit)

mistaken for zero, number 4, or cc / write “unit”

IU (international unit)

mistaken for IV or number ten / write “international unit”

QD (daily)

mistaken for QID / write “daily'“

QOD (every other day)

mistaken for QID or QD / write “every other day”

trailing zero (X.0 mg)

decimal point is missed / write X mg; do not include a zero after the decimal point

lack of leading zero (.X mg)

decimal point is missed / write 0.X mg

MS

can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate / write out “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”

MSO4 and MgSO4

can be confused for one another / write out “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”