PBS
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Public Broadcasting Service |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Organizations & Companies, Government & Politics, Science & Engineering, Medical |
PBS has four meanings. The most common are Public Broadcasting Service (media and broadcasting) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (world government); it can also stand for Phosphate-buffered saline and Peripheral blood smear.
Meanings of PBS at a glance
| # | PBS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Broadcasting Service | Organizations & Companies › Media and Broadcasting |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme | Government & Politics › World Government |
| 3 | Phosphate-buffered saline | Science & Engineering › Biology |
| 4 | Peripheral blood smear | Medical › Laboratory Test |
1. Public Broadcasting Service
Organizations & Companies · Media and Broadcasting Abbreviations
American nonprofit public television network distributing programs to about 330 member stations, including Sesame Street, Nova, Frontline, PBS NewsHour and Masterpiece. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Example: The documentary premieres on PBS next week and streams on the PBS app.
Founded in 1969, replacing National Educational Television; stations are independently owned by universities, community groups and state agencies. Children's programs such as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood made it a fixture of American childhood. Congress rescinded federal funding for public broadcasting in 2025, affecting many member stations.
2. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Australian government program that subsidizes prescription medicines, so patients pay a capped co-payment for listed drugs, with lower charges for concession card holders and a safety net for heavy users.
Example: The new migraine drug was added to the PBS, cutting its cost to the patient dramatically.
The scheme dates to 1948. Medicines are listed on the recommendation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, which assesses clinical and cost-effectiveness. In the United States, PBS means the Public Broadcasting Service.
3. Phosphate-buffered saline
Science & Engineering · Biology Abbreviations
Water-based salt solution containing sodium chloride and phosphate buffer that matches the pH (about 7.4) and salt concentration of the human body. Biologists use PBS to rinse cells, dilute antibodies and samples, and keep tissues alive briefly without damaging them.
Example: Wash the cells twice with ice-cold PBS before adding the lysis buffer.
Formulations vary; Dulbecco's PBS (DPBS) is a common version, available with or without calcium and magnesium, which affect whether cells stay attached. PBS-T contains the detergent Tween 20 for washing blots and ELISA plates. On television listings PBS means the Public Broadcasting Service.
4. Peripheral blood smear
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
A drop of blood spread thinly on a glass slide, stained (commonly with Wright-Giemsa) and examined under the microscope by a technologist, hematologist or pathologist. It reveals cell shapes and inclusions that analyzers miss, including schistocytes, blasts, sickle cells, spherocytes, malaria parasites and platelet clumps.
Example: PBS reviewed: numerous schistocytes, concerning for TTP; hematology paged.
British usage prefers "blood film". Smear review is triggered by analyzer flags or clinical suspicion and is essential for diagnosing malaria (thick and thin films), thrombotic microangiopathies and acute leukemia. Results are descriptive rather than numeric, for example "2+ schistocytes, no blasts seen".
Related abbreviations
More media and broadcasting abbreviations
- NBC – National Broadcasting Company
- NHK – Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
- NPR – National Public Radio
- NYT – The New York Times
- PTI – Press Trust of India
- RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana
- RT – RT (formerly Russia Today)
- RTÉ – Raidió Teilifís Éireann
See all 53 media and broadcasting abbreviations →
More world government abbreviations
- NPC – National People's Congress
- OAS – Old Age Security
- PA – Palestinian Authority
- PAN – National Action Party
- PLO – Palestine Liberation Organization
- PRI – Institutional Revolutionary Party
- QMV – Qualified majority voting
- RAW – Research and Analysis Wing
See all 103 world government abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.