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Health topic
Understand common medical tests and investigations — why they are done, how to prepare, and what the results can mean.
62 articles · Open in the article library · All topics
Health Tests
Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is guided into the heart and its surrounding blood vessels, used both to gather detailed diagnostic information and to perform ce...
3 min read
Health Tests
A karyotype test is a laboratory test that examines a person's chromosomes, the structures within cells that carry genetic material, to check their number and overall structure.
3 min read
Health Tests
A urodynamic study is a group of tests used to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are storing and releasing urine.
3 min read
Health Tests
Allergy skin and patch testing are methods used to identify specific substances that trigger an allergic reaction in a particular person.
3 min read
Health Tests
The Mantoux test is a skin test used to check whether a person's immune system has previously been exposed to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.
2 min read
Health Tests
A gastric emptying study is a nuclear medicine test that measures how quickly food moves out of the stomach and into the small intestine.
3 min read
Health Tests
24-hour pH monitoring is a test that measures the level of acid in the esophagus over an extended period, helping assess how often and how severely stomach acid is refluxing upward into the esophagus.
3 min read
Health Tests
Esophageal manometry is a test that measures the pressure and pattern of muscle contractions within the esophagus as it moves food and liquid toward the stomach.
2 min read
Health Tests
Capsule endoscopy is a procedure that uses a tiny, swallowable capsule containing a camera to capture images of the digestive tract, particularly areas of the small intestine that are difficult to reach with standard ...
2 min read
Health Tests
A VQ scan, short for ventilation-perfusion scan, is a nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates both airflow and blood flow within the lungs.
2 min read
Health Tests
A renal scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test used to evaluate the function of the kidneys, showing how well each kidney is filtering blood and draining urine.
2 min read
Health Tests
A HIDA scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test used to examine the function of the gallbladder and bile ducts, evaluating how well bile is flowing from the liver into the small intestine.
2 min read
Health Tests
A thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that shows how the thyroid gland is functioning, using a small amount of radioactive material that the thyroid naturally absorbs.
3 min read
Health Tests
Electroretinography is a test that measures the electrical activity of the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye, in response to light stimulation.
3 min read
Health Tests
A slit lamp examination is a detailed eye examination that uses a specialized microscope combined with a bright, adjustable light source to closely examine the structures at the front of the eye, and, with certain add...
3 min read
Health Tests
Tonometry is a test that measures the pressure inside the eye, known as intraocular pressure, an important measurement in assessing eye health.
3 min read
Health Tests
A non-stress test, commonly abbreviated as NST, is a simple, non-invasive test performed during pregnancy to monitor a developing baby's heart rate and its response to movement.
3 min read
Health Tests
Non-invasive prenatal testing, commonly abbreviated as NIPT, is a screening test performed during pregnancy that analyzes small fragments of the developing baby's genetic material found circulating in the mother's blood.
3 min read
Health Tests
Chorionic villus sampling, commonly abbreviated as CVS, is a procedure performed during pregnancy that involves collecting a small sample of placental tissue for genetic and chromosomal testing.
3 min read
Health Tests
Amniocentesis is a procedure performed during pregnancy that involves collecting a small sample of amniotic fluid, the fluid surrounding a developing baby in the uterus, for further testing.
3 min read
Health Tests
Hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows direct visual examination of the inside of the uterus, using a thin, flexible or rigid tube fitted with a camera, inserted through the cervix.
3 min read
Health Tests
Colposcopy is a procedure that allows a magnified, detailed visual examination of the cervix, typically performed following an abnormal Pap smear result to look more closely at the area in question.
3 min read
Health Tests
A Pap smear, also known as a Pap test, is a screening test that examines cells collected from the cervix, helping detect abnormal cell changes at an early stage.
2 min read
Health Tests
A renal biopsy, also known as a kidney biopsy, is a procedure in which a small sample of kidney tissue is removed for closer examination, helping assess the specific cause of kidney-related problems.
3 min read
Health Tests
A liver biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of liver tissue is removed for closer examination, helping assess the health and condition of the liver in detail.
3 min read
Health Tests
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are procedures used to obtain a sample of bone marrow, the soft tissue inside certain bones responsible for producing blood cells, for closer examination.
3 min read
Health Tests
A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the body for closer examination, typically under a microscope, to help diagnose a suspected condition.
2 min read
Health Tests
PCR, short for polymerase chain reaction, is a laboratory technique used to detect the genetic material of a specific organism, such as a virus or bacteria, even when only a very small amount is present in a sample.
2 min read
Health Tests
HIV and STD screening tests are a group of laboratory tests used to detect infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact, including HIV along with various bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections grouped...
3 min read
Health Tests
A stool occult blood test checks for the presence of blood in the stool that isn't visible to the naked eye, which can be an early sign of a problem somewhere along the digestive tract.
2 min read
Health Tests
Semen analysis is a laboratory test that examines a semen sample to assess several factors related to male fertility.
2 min read
Health Tests
An arterial blood gas test, commonly abbreviated as ABG, measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, along with the blood's acid-base balance, using a sample drawn directly from an artery rather tha...
3 min read
Health Tests
Tumor markers are blood tests that measure substances, often proteins, that can be produced by cancer cells or by the body in response to cancer, or in some cases produced at elevated levels for other, non-cancer-rela...
2 min read
Health Tests
Troponin is a blood test that measures the level of specific proteins released into the bloodstream when heart muscle tissue is damaged.
2 min read
Health Tests
Activated partial thromboplastin time, commonly abbreviated as aPTT, is a blood test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot, similar in general purpose to PT/INR but assessing a different part of the body's...
3 min read
Health Tests
Blood grouping is a test that determines a person's blood type, while cross-matching is a related test used to check the compatibility between a specific unit of donor blood and a specific recipient before a blood tra...
2 min read
Health Tests
A serum electrolytes panel is a blood test that measures the levels of several key minerals, called electrolytes, circulating in the blood, which play essential roles in many bodily functions.
3 min read
Health Tests
Dengue and malaria antigen tests are blood tests used to detect specific proteins, called antigens, produced by the dengue virus or the malaria parasite, helping identify a current infection with either of these mosqu...
3 min read
Health Tests
The Widal test is a blood test used to help detect typhoid fever, a bacterial infection caused by a specific type of Salmonella bacteria.
3 min read
Health Tests
A urine culture is a laboratory test used to detect and identify bacteria present in the urine, helping confirm and characterize a urinary tract infection.
2 min read
Health Tests
A blood culture is a laboratory test used to detect the presence of bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream, a condition that doesn't normally contain these organisms in a healthy person.
2 min read
Health Tests
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, commonly abbreviated as ESR, is a blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a vertical tube over a set period of time.
2 min read
Health Tests
A bone density test, most commonly performed using a technique called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA, measures the density of minerals, primarily calcium, within bone tissue.
3 min read
Health Tests
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound-based imaging test focused specifically on the heart, producing real-time moving images of the heart as it beats.
2 min read
Health Tests
A computed tomography scan, commonly known as a CT scan, is an imaging test that uses X-rays taken from multiple angles to create detailed cross-sectional images of the inside of the body.
2 min read
Health Tests
An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves, rather than radiation, to create real-time images of structures inside the body.
3 min read
Health Tests
C-reactive protein, commonly abbreviated as CRP, is a blood test that measures a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation somewhere in the body.
2 min read
Health Tests
Prothrombin time, commonly abbreviated as PT and often reported alongside a standardized value called the INR, is a blood test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot.
2 min read
Health Tests
A vitamin B12 test is a blood test that measures the level of vitamin B12 circulating in the bloodstream, a nutrient that plays an important role in nerve function and the production of red blood cells.
2 min read
Health Tests
A vitamin D test is a blood test that measures the level of vitamin D circulating in the bloodstream, reflecting the body's overall vitamin D status.
2 min read
Health Tests
A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose, or sugar, present in the blood at the time the sample is taken.
2 min read
Health Tests
A urinalysis is a test that examines a urine sample, looking at its physical, chemical, and microscopic properties to gather information about overall health, particularly related to the kidneys and urinary tract.
2 min read
Health Tests
Magnetic resonance imaging, commonly abbreviated as MRI, is an imaging test that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves, rather than radiation, to produce detailed images of structures inside the body.
2 min read
Health Tests
A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to produce a picture of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and surrounding bones.
2 min read
Health Tests
An electrocardiogram, commonly abbreviated as ECG or EKG, is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart as it beats.
3 min read
Health Tests
HbA1c, also known as glycated hemoglobin, is a blood test that reflects average blood sugar levels over a period of time, rather than the blood sugar level at a single moment.
2 min read
Health Tests
A thyroid function test, sometimes called a thyroid panel, is a group of blood tests that assess how the thyroid gland, located in the neck, is functioning.
2 min read
Health Tests
A kidney function test, sometimes called a renal function panel, is a group of blood tests used to assess how effectively the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
2 min read
Health Tests
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows direct visual examination of the inside of the large intestine, or colon, using a long, flexible tube fitted with a camera.
2 min read
Health Tests
A lipid profile, sometimes called a lipid panel, is a blood test that measures the different types of fats, or lipids, circulating in the bloodstream.
2 min read
Health Tests
A liver function test, commonly abbreviated as LFT, is actually a panel of several individual blood tests, grouped together because they each provide information related to how the liver is working.
2 min read
Health Tests
A complete blood count, commonly abbreviated as CBC, is one of the most frequently ordered blood tests, giving an overview of the different types of cells that make up blood.
2 min read