Diagnostic tests are a common part of medical care.
Diagnostic tests are a type of medical procedure that involve testing bodily substances or tissues. These tests are helpful to doctors and patients alike, and are often used in conjunction with a physical examination and assessment by a physician.
Types
Types of diagnostic tests include blood, sputum, urine and stool tests; radiology screenings; vision and hearing tests; and imaging tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Each test can provide a physician with different types of medical information about a patient.
Features
Diagnostic tests can help doctors rule out a condition that a patient does not have, identify a condition a patient does have or indicate a change in an ongoing condition.
Considerations
Patients might need multiple types of diagnostic tests to identify a medical condition. Tests also might need to be repeated over time to confirm results or monitor a condition.
Effects
Diagnostic tests can provide patients with the information they need to make lifestyle changes or take preventive measures to help protect against developing a serious medical condition.
Misconceptions
Some diagnostic tests show only whether a patient's result falls within normal ranges, although what is normal for one patient is not necessarily normal for another.
Benefits
In some cases diagnostic tests can identify a medical condition before any symptoms or serious complications develop, which may allow for earlier or more successful treatment.
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