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- Services and providers for Laboratory Tests in the U.S.
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Laboratory Tests
If you've ever had to give a tube of blood or a little cup of urine in your doctor's office, you've had a laboratory test. Laboratory tests check a sample of your blood, urine or body tissues. A technician or your doctor analyzes the test samples to see if your results fall within the normal range. The tests use a range because what is normal differs from person to person. Many factors affect test results. These include
- Your sex, age and race
- What you eat and drink
- Medicines you take
- How well you followed pre-test instructions
Your doctor may also compare your results to results from previous tests. Laboratory tests are often part of a routine checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions, plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor diseases.
Start Here
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Interpreting Laboratory Test Results
(National Cancer Institute)
- Lab Tests(Center for Devices and Radiological Health)
- Understanding Your Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Overviews
- Asking Questions about Medical Tests(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- Common Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Directory of Medical Tests(Nemours Foundation)
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Latest News
- Online-Mediated Syphilis Testing Shows Promise(09/16/2008, Reuters Health)
- Some Allergy Tests Give Late Results(09/04/2008, Reuters Health)
- Blood Sugar Test May Also Aid Diabetes Detection(08/07/2008, HealthDay)
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Scientists Develop Sensitive Salivary Sensor(08/01/2008, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- More News on Laboratory Tests
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Reference Ranges & What They Mean: The "Normal" or Reference Range(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Prevention/Screening
- Screening Tests for Adults (Ages 30-49)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Screening Tests for Young Adults (Ages 19-29)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Coping
- Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Test Preparation: Your Role(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Tips on Blood Testing(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Specific Conditions
- Basic Blood Tests(Nemours Foundation)
- Blood Culture(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Complete Blood Count(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Electrolytes Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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JAMA Patient Page: Frozen Section Biopsy(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF
Also available in Spanish
- Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)(Nemours Foundation)
- Stool Tests(Nemours Foundation)
- Testing in the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory(American Heart Association)
- Urine Tests(Nemours Foundation)
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Related Issues
- Helping You Identify Quality Laboratory Services(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
- Home-Use Tests(Center for Devices and Radiological Health)
- How Reliable Is Laboratory Testing?(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Lab Oversight: A Building Block of Trust(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Pathologist(American Society for Clinical Pathology) - Links to PDF
- Reference Ranges & What They Mean(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Where Lab Tests Are Performed(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematologic Tests(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinalysis(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematologic Tests
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Research
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Point-of-Care Diagnostic Testing(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
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Salivary Diagnostics(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
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Point-of-Care Diagnostic Testing
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: (R)Evolution of the annual physical.
- Article: Anemia in the long-term care setting: routine screening and differential...
- Article: Routine eye exams. What the doctor sees.
- Laboratory Tests -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary(Center for Devices and Radiological Health)
- Index of Glossary Terms(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Directories
- Accredited Laboratory Directory(College of American Pathologists)
- Laboratory Directory-GeneReviews(University of Washington)
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Children
- Screening Tests for Children (Ages 2 to 12)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Screening Tests for Infants(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Screening Tests for Newborns(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Tips to Help Children through Their Medical Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Teenagers
- Screening Tests for Teens (Ages 13-18)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Women
- Screening Tests during Pregnancy(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Seniors
- Screening Tests for Adults (50 and Up)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Tips to Help the Elderly through Their Medical Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Date last updated: 17 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 13 June 2008 |