Diagnostic Tests Directory

Cord blood is a sample of blood collected from the umbilical cord at the time of birth.

Computed tomography (CT) a method of body imaging in which a thin x-ray beam rotates around the patient. Small detectors measure the amount of x-rays that make it through the patient or particular area of interest. A computer analyzes the data to construct a cross-sectional image. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor, or printed on film. In addition, three-dimensional models of organs can be created by stacking the individual images, or "slices."

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. ECG is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats as well as the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart (such as a pacemaker). See also stress test and Holter monitor (24h) .

An exercise stress test is a general screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart. The test gives a general sense of how healthy your heart is. During the test, the electrical activity of the heart is measured while you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. This measures the heart's reaction to your body's increased demand for oxygen. (See also sestamibi and thallium stress tests .)

MRI is a non-invasive procedure that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to construct pictures of the body. Unlike conventional radiography and computed tomographic ( CT ) imaging, which make use of potentially harmful radiation ( x-rays ), MRI imaging is based on the magnetic properties of atoms. A powerful magnet generates a magnetic field roughly 10,000 times stronger than the natural background magnetism from the earth. A very small percentage of hydrogen atoms within a human body will align with this field. When focused radio wave pulses are broadcast towards the aligned hydrogen atoms in tissues of interest, they will return a signal. The subtle differences in that signal from various body tissues enables MRI to differentiate organs, and potentially contrast benign and malignant tissue. Any imaging plane (or slice) can be projected, stored in a computer, or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing and bones. However, certain types of metal in the area of interest can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the reconstructed images.

Detailed information on mammography, including how a mammogram is performed, what conditions a mammogram shows, mammography guidelines, and the risk factors for breast cancer

A Pap smear is a microscopic examination of cells scraped from the cervix .

A throat culture is a technique for identifying disease bacteria in material taken from the throat. Most throat cultures are done to rule out infections caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci, which cause strep throat .

Ultrasound involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and systems within the body.

Detailed information on x-ray, including information on how the procedure is performed