Error prone Abbs

AD

Intended: right ear

Misinterpretation: mistaken for right eye

Best practice: use right ear

AS

Intended: left ear

Misinterpretation: mistaken for left eye

Best practice: use left ear

AU

Intended: each ear

Misinterpretation: mistaken for each eye

Best practice: use each ear

Cc

Intended: cubic centimeter

Misinterpretation: mistaken as u (units)

Best practice: use mL

ug

Intended: microgram

Misinterpretation: mistaken as mg

Best practice: use mcg

IN

Intended: intranasal

Misinterpretation: mistaken as IM or IV

Best practice: use intranasal

IT

Intended: intrathecal

Misinterpretation: mistaken as intratracheal or inhalation therapy

Best practice: use intrathecal

IJ

Intended: injection

Misinterpretation: mistaken as IV or intrajugular

Best practice: use injection

IU

Intended: international unit(s)

Misinterpretation: mistaken as 10 causing incorrect dosing

Best practice: use international unit

OD or od

Intended: once daily

Misinterpretation: mistaken as qid

Best practice: use daily

OD

Intended: right eye

Misinterpretation: mistaken for right ear

Best practice: use right eye

OS

Intended: left eye

Misinterpretation: mistaken for left ear

Best practice: use left eye

OU

Intended: each eye

Misinterpretation: mistaken for each ear

Best practice: use each eye

QD or qd

Intended: every day

Misinterpretation: mistaken for QID

Best practice: use daily

Qhs

Intended: nightly or bedtime

Misinterpretation: mistaken as qhr (every hour)

Best practice: Use QHS or bedtime

QOD or qod

Intended: every other day

Misinterpretation: mistaken for qd or qid

Best practice: use every other day

q1d

Intended: daily

Misinterpretation: mistaken as qid (4 times daily)

Best practice: use daily

q6pm

Intended: every evening at 6pm

Misinterpretation: mistaken as every 6 hours

Best practice: use daily at 6pm

BIW or biw

Intended: 2 times a week

Misinterpretation: mistaken as 2 times a day

Best practice: use 2 times a week

SC, SQ, sc, sq, subq

Intended: subcutaneous

Misinterpretation: SC or sc mistaken as SL or sl, SQ mistaken as 5 every, the “q” has been mistaken for every

Best practice: use SUBQ or subcutaneous

TIW or tiw

Intended: 3 times a week

Misinterpretation: mistaken as unit dose for a bolus dose

Best practice: use as directed

UD

Intended: as directed (ut dictum)

Misinterpretation: mistaken as unit dose for a bolus dose

Best practice: use 3 times weekly

U or u

Intended: unit(s)

Misinterpretation: mistaken as zero causing a 10-fold overdose

Best practice: use units