Medical test

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A medical test is a kind of medical procedure performed to diagnose, detect, or evaluate disease and disease processes. A determined course of treatment may follow, based in part on information the tests have provided.

Types of tests

Diagnostic

A diagnostic test is a procedure performed to confirm, or determine the presence of disease in an individual suspected of having the disease, usually following the report of symptoms, or based on the results of other medical tests.http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/
Guide to Diagnostic Tests from Harvard Health Such tests include:

Measuring the blood sugar in a person suspected of having diabetes mellitus, after periods of increased urination.

Taking a complete blood count of an individual experiencing a high fever, to check for a bacterial infection.

Monitoring electrocardiogram readings on a patient suffering chest pain, to diagnose or determine any heart irregularities.[http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/electrocardiogram.htm]

Screening

A screening is a medical test or series used to detect or predict the presence of disease in individuals at risk for disease within a defined group, such as a population, family, or workforce. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/medicalsurveillance/screening.html
US Dept. of Labor - Occupational Safety and Health Admin. Screenings may be performed to monitor disease prevalence, manage epidemiology, aid in prevention, or strictly for statistical purposes.Examples of screenings include measuring the level of TSH in the blood of a newborn infant as part of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism, or checking for Lung cancer in non-smoking individuals who are exposed to second-hand smoke in an unregulated working environment.

Evaluation

Some medical tests are used to evaluate the progress of, or response to medical treatment. They are also used to monitor the course (prognosis) of a disease. Examples of this may include analyzing the arterial blood gasses of an individual, after chest x-rays confirm the presence of a pneumothorax; or, performing a biopsy of a removed tumor to determine the degree of malignancy.

Risks

Some medical testing procedures have health risks, and even require general anesthesia, such as the mediastinoscopy.[http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/mediastinoscopy.htm] Other tests, such as the blood test or pap smear have little to no risks.[http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/pap-smear.htm] But the benefits of most every medical test usually always outweigh the risks. Consult the physician prescribing any test for further information.