BIS
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Bispectral index |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Government & Politics, Texting & Internet Slang, Organizations & Companies |
BIS has four meanings. The most common are Bispectral index (anesthesia) and Bureau of Industry and Security (US federal agency); it can also stand for Best in slot and Bank for International Settlements.
Meanings of BIS at a glance
| # | BIS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bispectral index | Medical › Anesthesia |
| 2 | Bureau of Industry and Security | Government & Politics › US Federal Agency |
| 3 | Best in slot | Texting & Internet Slang › Gaming Slang |
| 4 | Bank for International Settlements | Organizations & Companies › International Organization |
1. Bispectral index
Medical · Anesthesia Abbreviations
Processed electroencephalogram value from 0 to 100 displayed during anesthesia, where 100 is fully awake and about 40 to 60 is usually targeted during general anesthesia. It helps titrate anesthetic depth, particularly during total intravenous anesthesia.
Example: BIS 72 at skin incision; propofol infusion increased.
Developed by Aspect Medical Systems and cleared by the FDA in 1996. Trials have reached mixed conclusions about whether BIS prevents intraoperative awareness better than monitoring inhaled gas concentrations. Ketamine and nitrous oxide can make BIS values misleadingly high.
2. Bureau of Industry and Security
Government & Politics · US Federal Agency Abbreviations
Commerce Department bureau that administers US export controls on dual-use goods and technology, including advanced semiconductors, and maintains the Entity List of foreign companies subject to licensing restrictions. It is headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security.
Example: The company was added to the BIS Entity List, cutting off its access to US chips.
Known as the Bureau of Export Administration until 2002, it enforces the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), while weapons exports fall under the State Department's ITAR. It also conducts Section 232 investigations into whether imports threaten national security. In international finance, BIS means the Bank for International Settlements in Basel.
3. Best in slot
Texting & Internet Slang · Gaming Slang Abbreviations
The best possible item for a particular equipment slot for a given class, role or build, as in "BIS trinket." Players chase BIS gear to maximize performance.
Example: Finally got my BIS helmet after twelve runs of that dungeon.
Common in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV and Destiny. BIS lists are published by theorycrafters and change with every patch. Obsessing over BIS can make casual players feel pressured.
4. Bank for International Settlements
Organizations & Companies · International Organization Abbreviations
International financial institution owned by central banks, often called the "bank for central banks", which provides banking services to central banks and hosts committees that set global banking standards.
Example: The BIS annual report warned about rising risks in private credit markets.
Founded in Basel in 1930 to handle German reparations after World War I, it is the oldest international financial institution. It hosts the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which wrote the Basel III capital rules. In the US, BIS also means the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.
Related abbreviations
More anesthesia abbreviations
- ASA – American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification
- CICO – Can't intubate, can't oxygenate
- CSE – Combined spinal-epidural
- DL – Direct laryngoscopy
- eFONA – Emergency front-of-neck access
- ESP – Erector spinae plane (block)
- EtCO2 – End-tidal carbon dioxide
- ETT – Endotracheal tube
See all 34 anesthesia abbreviations →
More US federal agency abbreviations
- BARDA – Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
- BEA – Bureau of Economic Analysis
- BEP – Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- BIA – Bureau of Indian Affairs
- BJS – Bureau of Justice Statistics
- BLM – Bureau of Land Management
- BLS – Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BOP – Federal Bureau of Prisons
See all 152 US federal agency abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.