Medical tests can be classified by their purposes, by method and by sample location.

(Monitoring electrocardiogram readings on a patient suffering chest pain to diagnose or determine any heart irregularities.)

(Some medical tests are used to monitor the progress of, or response to medical treatment.)

(Radiologic tests, in which, for example, x-rays are used to form an image of a body target. )

(In vitro diagnostics which test a sample of tissue or bodily fluids, such as:

·       Liquid biopsy

·       Microbiological culturing, which determines the presence or absence of microbe in a sample from the body, and usually targeted at detecting pathogenic bacteria.

·       Genetic testing

·       Blood Glucose testing

·       Liver function testing

·       Calcium testing

·       Testing for electrolytes in the blood, such as Sodium, Potassium, Creatinine, a Urea)

(The family history includes kidney problems)

Types of tests

By purpose

Medical tests can be classified by their purposes, the most common of which are diagnosis, screening and evaluation.

Diagnostic

Lung scintigraphy evaluating lung cancer

A diagnostic test is a procedure performed to confirm or determine the presence of disease in an individual suspected of having a disease, usually following the report of symptoms, or based on other medical test results. This includes posthumous diagnosis. Examples of such tests are:

·       Using nuclear medicine to examine a patient suspected of having a lymphoma.

·       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.

Screening

Screening refers to a medical test or series of tests used to detect or predict the presence of disease in at-risk individuals within a defined group such as a population, family, or workforce. 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 thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood of a newborn infant as part of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism, checking for lung cancer in non-smoking individuals who are exposed to second-hand smoke in an unregulated working environment, and Pap smear screening for prevention or early detection of cervical cancer.

Monitoring

Some medical tests are used to monitor the progress of, or response to medical treatment.

By method

Most test methods can be classified into one of the following broad groups:

-  Patient observations, which may be photographed or recorded

-  Questions asked when taking an individual's medical history

-  Tests performed in a physical examination

-  Radiologic tests, in which, for example, x-rays are used to form an image of a body target. These tests often involve administration of a contrast agent.

-  In vivo diagnostics which test in the body, such as:

·       Manometry

·       Administering a diagnostic agent and measuring the body's response, as i the gluten challenge test, contraction stress test, bronchial challenge test, oral foo challenge, or the ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) stimulation test.

In vitro diagnostics which test a sample of tissue or bodily fluids, such as:

·       Liquid biopsy

·       Microbiological culturing, which determines the presence or absence of microbe in a sample from the body, and usually targeted at detecting pathogenic bacteria.

·       Genetic testing

·       Blood Glucose testing

·       Liver function testing

·       Calcium testing

·       Testing for electrolytes in the blood, such as Sodium, Potassium, Creatinine, a Urea

By sample location

In vitro tests can be classified according to the location of the sample being teste including:

·       Blood tests

·       Urine tests, including naked eye exam of the urine

·       Stool tests, including naked eye exam of the feces

·       Sputum (phlegm), including naked eye exam of the sputum

(Adapted from Diagnosis and Risk Management in Primary Care (2011)

(A urinalysis reveals a high level of albumin present in his urine)

(A renal biopsy should be scheduled as soon as possible to determine the cause of the disease.)

(Mr. Reed likely has kidney disease that is progressing rapidly towards renal failure)

A renal biopsy should be scheduled as soon as possible to determine the cause of the disease.)