Medical test

A medical testany kinddiagnostic procedure performedhealth reasons. For example:

• diagnose diseases
• measureprogress or recovery from disease
• confirm thatpersonfree from disease

Some medical testsparts ofsimple physical examination which require only simple tools inhands ofskilled practitioner,can be performedan office environment. Some other tests require elaborate equipment oruse ofsterile operating theatre environment.

Some tests require samplestissue or body fluidsbe sent off topathology labfurther analysis. Some simple chemical tests, such as urine pH, can be measured directly indoctor's office.

Most medical testsconducted onliving; however, somethese tests can also be carried out ondead person as partan autopsy.

Typesmedical tests include:

Consulting room tests:

• auscultation, including listening withstethoscope
• weighing,measuring heightgirth
• measuring blood pressure
• takingpatient's pulse
• breath tests
• reflex tests
• sight test
  • fundus inspection
• hearing test
• digital rectal examination
• vaginal examination

More invasive examinations requiring sterile procedures:

• biopsies
• lumbar puncture

Requiring laboratory analysis:

• blood tests
  • ESR
  • CBC (complete blood count)
• urine tests
• DNA tests
• stool samples
• blood gas monitor

Requiring microscopy

• Pap tests

Requiring elaborate medical equipment:

• X-rayss
  • barium enema
  • intravenous pyelogram (IVP test)
• ultrasound scans
• electrocardiogram (EKG)
• electroencephalogram (EEG)
• computer aided tomography scans
  • positron emission tomography
  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • functional MRI
• endoscopy
  • colonoscopy
  • cystoscopy
  • sigmoidoscopy
  • colposcopy