Abbreviations

16S rRNA = 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (bacterial identification)
AFB = Acid-fast bacilli
AFS = Acid-fast stain
Ag test = Antigen test
Auramine stain = Fluorochrome stain for AFB
BA = Blood agar
BAL = Bronchoalveolar lavage
BCG = Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine
BKV = BK-virus
BV = Bacterial vaginosis
CPE = Cytopathic effect
CMV = Cytomegalovirus
CNS = Central nervous system
CSF = Cerebrospinal Fluid
CXR = Chest-X-ray
DD = Differential diagnosis
DQ = Diff-Quik
Effusion = Pleural or other body cavity fluid
ELISA = Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
FESS = Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Fite = Fite-Faraco stain
FFPE = Formalin/formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue
FNA = Fine-needle aspiration
Fontana-Masson = Stain for melanin and some polysaccharides
Giemsa = Giemsa stain
GMS = Grocott methenamine silver
GRN = Gram-negative rods
HBoV = Human bocavirus
HSIL = High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
HMPV = Human metapneumovirus
HPIV 1–4 = Human parainfluenza virus types 1–4
HPV = Human papillomavirus
HPyV = Human polyomavirus
HRV = Human rhinovirus
HSV = Herpes simplex virus
ID = Identification
IFAT = Immunofluorescence antibody test
JCV = JC-virus
L-J = Löwenstein–Jensen-Medium
LBC = Liquid-Based Cytology
LSIL = Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
MALDI-TOF = Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry
MOTT = Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis
Mucicarmine = Mucicarmine stain for polysaccharide capsule
NAAT = Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
N:C ratio = Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
PAP/Pap = Papanicolaou stain
PAS = Periodic acid-Schiff
PCR = Polymerase chain reaction
PVN = Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy
RSV = Respiratory syncytial virus
s.l. = sensu lato
SARS-CoV-2 = Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
SCC = Squamous cell carcinoma
Sputum = Sputum
STI = Sexually Transmitted Infection
SV40 = Simian virus 40
TEM = Transmission electron microscopy
TMP-SMX = Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
UC = Ulcerative colitis
US = Ultrasound
ZN = Ziehl–Neelsen stain