CK
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Creatine kinase |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Organizations & Companies, Geography & Places |
CK has three meanings. The most common are Creatine kinase (laboratory test) and Calvin Klein (company and brand); it can also stand for Cook Islands.
Meanings of CK at a glance
| # | CK stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creatine kinase | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | Calvin Klein | Organizations & Companies › Company and Brand |
| 3 | Cook Islands | Geography & Places › Country Code |
1. Creatine kinase
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Enzyme concentrated in skeletal muscle, heart muscle and brain that leaks into the blood when muscle is damaged. Typical values are roughly 30 to 200 U/L; very high levels after crush injury, prolonged immobilization, seizures, extreme exercise or drug toxicity indicate rhabdomyolysis, which can cause acute kidney injury.
Example: CK 38,000 after the patient was found down for 12 hours; aggressive IV fluids started.
Same enzyme as CPK, the older name. Three isoenzymes exist: CK-MM (skeletal muscle), CK-MB (heart) and CK-BB (brain). Baseline CK varies with muscle mass and ancestry, being higher in Black men, and intramuscular injections or a hard workout can raise it for days. Statin-associated muscle symptoms are checked with a CK, and a rise above ten times normal usually means stopping the statin.
2. Calvin Klein
Organizations & Companies · Company and Brand Abbreviations
American fashion brand known for underwear, jeans, minimalist clothing and fragrances, founded by designer Calvin Klein. The CK initials appear on many products, such as the CK One fragrance.
Example: He bought a three-pack of CK boxer briefs at the outlet.
Founded in New York in 1968 by Calvin Klein and Barry Schwartz. CK One (1994) was a pioneering unisex fragrance. The brand has been owned by PVH Corp., also the owner of Tommy Hilfiger, since 2003.
3. Cook Islands
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Code for the Cook Islands, a self-governing South Pacific nation in free association with New Zealand, with Avarua on Rarotonga as its capital. Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship.
Example: Snorkel tour bookings on Aitutaki list CK as the country.
The Cook Islands are known for offshore asset-protection trusts. The alpha-3 code is COK, and the New Zealand dollar circulates alongside local coins.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- CAP – College of American Pathologists
- CBC – Complete blood count
- CBC w/ diff – Complete blood count with differential
- Chem 7 – Seven-test chemistry panel
- CK-MB – Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme
- Cl – Chloride
- CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
- CMP – Comprehensive metabolic panel
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More company and brand abbreviations
- BYD – BYD Company (Build Your Dreams)
- C&A – Clemens and August
- CATL – Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
- CIBC – Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
- CMA CGM – Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement - Compagnie Générale Maritime
- CVS – Consumer Value Stores
- D&G – Dolce & Gabbana
- DAF – Van Doorne's Aanhangwagen Fabriek
See all 116 company and brand abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.