minimum dose

dose (dōs) the quantity to be administered at one time, as a specified amount of medication or a given quantity of radiation.

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absorbed dose  that amount of energy from ionizing radiations absorbed per unit mass of matter, expressed in rads.

air dose  see under exposure.

booster dose  a dose of an active immunizing agent, usually smaller than the initial dose, given to maintain immunity.

divided dose  fractionated d.

effective dose  (ED) that quantity of a drug that will produce the effects for which it is given.

erythema dose  the amount of radiation which, when applied to the skin, causes temporary reddening.

fatal dose  lethal d.

fractionated dose  a fraction of the total quantity of a prescribed drug or radiation to be given at intervals.

infective dose  that amount of pathogenic organisms that will cause infection in susceptible subjects.

infinitesimal dose  see under principle.

lethal dose  that quantity of an agent that will or may be sufficient to cause death.

maximum dose  the largest dose consistent with safety.

maximum permissible dose  (MPD) the largest amount of ionizing radiation that one may safely receive in a specified period according to recommended limits in radiation protection guides.

median curative dose  (CD50) a dose that abolishes symptoms in 50 per cent of test subjects.

median effective dose  (ED50) a dose that produces the desired effect in 50 per cent of a population.

median immunizing dose  the dose of vaccine or antigen sufficient to provide immunity in 50 per cent of test subjects.

median infective dose  (ID50) the amount of pathogenic microorganisms that will cause infection in 50 per cent of the test subjects.

median lethal dose  (LD50) the quantity of an agent that will kill 50 per cent of the test subjects; in radiology, the amount of radiation that will kill, within a specified period, 50 per cent of individuals in a large group or population.

median toxic dose  (TD50) the dose that produces a toxic effect in 50 per cent of the population.

minimum dose  the smallest dose that will produce an appreciable effect.

minimum lethal dose  (MLD)

1. the smallest amount of toxin that will kill an experimental animal.

2. the smallest quantity of diphtheria toxin that will kill a guinea pig of 250 g weight in 4 to 5 days when injected subcutaneously.

skin dose  (SD)

1. the air dose of radiation at the skin surface, comprising primary radiation plus backscatter.

2. the absorbed dose in the skin.

threshold dose  the minimum dose of ionizing radiation, a chemical, or a drug that will produce a detectable degree of any given effect.

threshold erythema dose  the single skin dose that will produce in 80 per cent of those tested a faint but definite erythema within 30 days, and in the other 20 per cent, no visible reaction. Abbreviated T.E.D.

tolerance dose  the largest quantity of an agent that may be administered without harm.

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minimum dose

Etymology: L, minimum, smallest; Gk, dosis, giving

the smallest amount of a drug or other substance needed to produce a desired or specified effect. Because of individual variations in drug response, the minimal dose for one person may be either excessive or insufficient for another patient. Also called minimal dose.