Common Medical Tests PDF

Some Diagnostic Procedures Procedure Amniocentesis Body Area or Sample Tested Fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus Any artery in the Arteriography (angiography) body, commonly in the brain, heart, kidneys, aorta, or legs Description Analysis of fluid, removed by a needle inserted through the abd...

Some Diagnostic Procedures Procedure Amniocentesis Body Area or Sample Tested Fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus Any artery in the Arteriography (angiography) body, commonly in the brain, heart, kidneys, aorta, or legs Description Analysis of fluid, removed by a needle inserted through the abdominal wall, to detect an abnormality in the fetus X-ray study using radiopaque dye injected through a thin tube (catheter), which is threaded to the artery being studied, to detect and outline or highlight a blockage or defect in an artery Ears Assessment of the ability to hear and distinguish sounds at specific pitches and volumes using headphones Auscultation Heart Listening with a stethoscope for abnormal heart sounds Barium x-ray studies Esophagus, stomach, X-ray study to detect ulcers, tumors, or other Audiometry Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested intestine, or rectum Biopsy Blood pressure measurement Any tissue in the body Usually an arm Description abnormalities Removal and examination of a tissue sample under a microscope to check for cancer or another abnormality Test for high or low blood pressure, usually using an inflatable cuff wrapped around the arm Measurement of Blood tests Usually a blood sample from an substances in the blood to evaluate organ function arm and to help diagnose and monitor various disorders Removal of a bone marrow Bone marrow aspiration Hipbone or breastbone sample by a needle for examination under a microscope to check for abnormalities in blood cells Bronchoscopy Airways of the lungs Direct examination with a viewing tube to check for a tumor or other abnormality Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description Study of heart function and structure using a catheter Cardiac catheterization Heart inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart Chorionic villus sampling Placenta Removal of a sample for examination under a microscope to check for abnormalities in the fetus Examination under a Chromosomal analysis Colonoscopy Blood Large intestine microscope to detect a genetic disorder or to determine a fetus’s sex Direct examination with a viewing tube to check for a tumor or other abnormality Direct examination of the Colposcopy Cervix Computed tomography (CT) Any part of the body Cone biopsy Cervix cervix with a magnifying lens Computer-enhanced x-ray study to detect structural abnormalities Removal and examination of a cone-shaped piece of Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description tissue, usually using a heated wire loop or a laser Culture A sample from any area of the body (usually a Growth and examination of microorganisms from the sample to identify fluid such as blood or urine) infection with bacteria or fungi Examination of a sample Dilation and curettage (D and C) Cervix and uterus under a microscope to check for abnormalities in the uterine lining using a small, sharp instrument (curet). Skeleton, Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) Echocardiography Electrocardiography (ECG) focusing on specific regions, usually the hip, spine, and wrist Heart Heart Low-dose x-ray study to determine the thickness of bones Study of heart structure and function using sound waves Study of the heart’s electrical activity using electrodes attached to the arms, legs, and chest Procedure Electroencephalography (EEG) Body Area or Sample Tested Brain Description Study of the brain’s electrical function using electrodes attached to the scalp Recording of a muscle’s Electromyography Electrophysiologic testing Muscles Heart electrical activity using small needles inserted into the muscle Test to evaluate rhythm or electrical conduction abnormalities using a catheter inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart X-ray study of the biliary Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Biliary tract tract done after injection of a radiopaque dye and using a flexible viewing tube Endoscopy Digestive tract Direct examination of internal structures using a flexible viewing tube Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Usually blood Test that involves mixing the sample of blood with substances that can trigger allergies (allergens) or with Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description microorganisms to test for the presence of specific antibodies Fluoroscopy Digestive tract, A continuous x-ray study that enables a doctor to heart, or lungs see the inside of an organ as it functions Direct examination of the Hysteroscopy Uterus inside of the uterus with a flexible viewing tube X-ray study of the kidneys Intravenous urography Joint aspiration Kidneys and and urinary tract after a urinary tract radiopaque dye is injected into a vein (intravenously) Joints, especially Removal and examination those of the shoulders, of fluid from the space within joints to check for elbows, fingers, blood cells, crystals formed hips, knees, ankles, and toes from minerals, and microorganisms Direct examination using a Laparoscopy Abdomen viewing tube inserted through an incision in the abdomen to diagnose and treat abnormalities in the abdomen Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description Imaging test using a strong Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Any part of the body magnetic field and radio waves to check for structural abnormalities Mammography Breasts X-ray study to check for breast cancer Direct examination of the Mediastinoscopy Chest area of the chest between the lungs using a viewing tube inserted through a small incision just above the breastbone Simple or computer- Myelography Spinal column enhanced x-ray study of the spinal column after injection of a radiopaque dye Test to determine how fast a nerve impulse travels Nerve conduction study Nerves using electrodes or needles inserted along the path of the nerve Occult blood test Large intestine Test to detect blood in stool Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description Direct examination using a handheld device that Ophthalmoscopy Eyes shines light into the eye to detect abnormalities inside the eye Examination of cells Papanicolaou (Pap) test Cervix scraped from the cervix under a microscope to detect cancer Paracentesis Abdomen Insertion of a needle into the abdominal cavity to remove fluid for examination X-ray study of the liver and Percutaneous transhepatic Liver and biliary biliary tract after a cholangiography tract radiopaque dye is injected into the liver Imaging test using particles Positron emission tomography (PET) Brain and heart that release radiation (positrons) to detect abnormalities in function Pulmonary function tests Lungs Tests to measure the lungs’ capacity to hold air, to move air in and out of the body, and to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description as people blow into a measuring device Imaging test using particles that release radiation Radionuclide imaging Many organs (radionuclides) to detect abnormalities in blood flow, structure, or function Tests using a physical Reflex tests Tendons stimulus (such as a light tap) to detect abnormalities in nerve function X-ray study of the bladder Retrograde urography Bladder and and ureters after a ureters radiopaque dye is inserted into the ureter Rectum and last Sigmoidoscopy portion of the large intestine Direct examination using a viewing tube to detect tumors or other abnormalities Tests for allergies done by placing a solution Skin allergy tests Usually an arm or the back containing a possible allergen on the skin, then pricking the skin with a needle Procedure Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Body Area or Sample Tested Description Removal of spinal fluid, using a needle inserted Spinal canal into the hipbone, to check for abnormalities in spinal fluid Test of lung function that Spirometry Lungs involves blowing into a measuring device Test of heart function during exertion using a treadmill or other exercise Stress testing Heart machine and electrocardiography (if people cannot exercise, a drug is used to simulate exercise’s effects) The space between the pleura, a twoThoracentesis layered Removal of fluid from this membrane that covers the lungs space with a needle to detect abnormalities and lines the chest wall (pleural space) Procedure Body Area or Sample Tested Description Examination of the lung Thoracoscopy Lungs surfaces, pleura, and pleural space through a viewing tube Measurement of the Tympanometry Ears resistance to pressure (impedance) in the middle ear using a device inserted in the ear and sound waves to help determine the cause of hearing loss Ultrasonography Any part of the (ultrasound scanning) body Urinalysis Kidneys and urinary tract Imaging using sound waves to detect structural or functional abnormalities Chemical analysis of a urine sample to detect protein, sugar, ketones, and blood cells Venography Veins X-ray study using a radiopaque dye (similar to arteriography) to detect blockage 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