Tuesday, October 17, 2023

What is Diagnostic Testing and Why is it Important?

Picture of a bike

Photo by Dr. Haus

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing is the process of using clinical tests to determine the cause of a disease.  A diagnostic test is used to rule a disease in or out.  Any medical test a patient undergoes is considered part of diagnostic testing.   

 

Some examples of diagnostic tests:

Bloodwork (CBC, Chemistry, etc.)

Radiographs (X-rays)

Ultrasound

Glucose Levels Check

MRI

CT Scan

Urine Test

Infectious Disease Tests

Heartworm Test

Brucellosis Test

Pregnancy Test

COVID Test

And many more!

 🥼

Why is diagnostic testing important?

Diagnostic testing is important to determine what is causing a disease in a patient.  Once we have a diagnosis, we can begin the process of treating the patient.  

Sometimes when we run a diagnostic test, it comes back showing the patient does not have the disease we were testing for.  This is still invaluable as in many cases we need to rule out specific diseases in order to determine what the actual underlying disease is.

 

Dr. Haus's Unsolicited Life Advice:  A negative diagnostic test (demonstrating a patient does NOT have a specific disease) is just as important as diagnostic testings the shows a patient does have a disease.

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