i-Base

Glossary

Selected words and phrases

internal fetal labour monitoring – where an electrode is inserted through the vagina and placed on the baby’s scalp to record the baby’s heart rate during labour.

biopsy – taking a small sample of body tissue for examination and testing in the laboratory.

HCV – hepatitis C, a virus that causes liver disease.

Guide to HIV and hepatitis C coinfection.

Q12H (or q12H) – an abbreviated term for timing medication doses.

q8H means every 8 hours.This is not the same as three times a day (tid or TD).

q12H means every 12 hours. This is not the same as twice-daily (bid or BD).

q24H means every 24 hours. This is not the same as once-daily (qd or QD).

free radical – a chemical produced after a molecular reaction, often containing oxygen, that has one ‘free’ unpaired electron on its outer surface. This makes it able to react and damage other cells, and perhaps increase progression of cardiovascular disease, cancers and aging. See antioxidant.