North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

What is the correct abbreviation for "subcutaneous"?

1. sq. or SQ

2. gm

3. mg

4. po

The correct answer is: sq. or SQ

The appropriate abbreviation for "subcutaneous" is indeed represented by "sq." or "SQ." This abbreviation is widely accepted in medical terminology to indicate that a medication or treatment is to be administered into the subcutaneous layer of the skin, which lies just beneath the dermis. This route is often utilized for injections, such as insulin, allowing for slower absorption into the bloodstream compared to intravenous administration. The other options relate to different terms: "gm" stands for grams, a unit of mass; "mg" denotes milligrams, a smaller unit of mass; and "po" is shorthand for "per os," which indicates that a medication is to be taken orally. None of these alternatives pertain to the subcutaneous route, making "sq." or "SQ" the only accurate abbreviation for this specific method of administration.