Diagnostic tests are medical tests doctors use to learn more information. Diagnostic tests can help determine whether a person has a disease, but they can also cause uncertainty and incorrect diagnoses if the results are inaccurate or are improperly interpreted.
X rays are an example of diagnostic tests.
History
Doctors historically identified diseases by their symptoms. Technological advances have allowed doctors to perform diagnostic tests. Some of the most important inventions were the compound microscope, in the 16th century; the stethoscope, in 1816; the clinical thermometer, in 1866; and the X ray, in 1895.
Examples
Some diagnostic tests are simple and routine, such as measuring blood pressure, taking a patient's pulse, or testing reflexes. Some require complicated equipment, such as X rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computer aided tomography (CAT) scans. Other tests are more invasive, such as biopsies and lumbar punctures (spinal taps).
Terminology
Diagnostic tests sometimes produce erroneous results. A result that incorrectly identifies a person as having a disease the person does not have is called a false-positive result. A result that incorrectly identifies a person who has a disease as not having it is called a false-negative result.
Benefits
Diagnostic testing helps doctors diagnose diseases and conditions. Identifying diseases early often increases a patient's chance of survival.
Drawbacks
Diagnostic tests can be very expensive, can delay proper treatment or induce improper treatment and can cause anxiety.
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