Medical Tests Health Article

Medical Tests

Evaluations done to provide information on health and to assist in identification of a condition or diagnosis of disease or injury.

Medical tests are used to provide information to health care providers about a person's health status. Some tests require the collection of a specimen, as in a urine test, blood test, or biopsy. Some tests, such as an ear canal check or assessment of the heart and lung function using a stethoscope, are simple and non-invasive. Others, such as χ rays and ultrasound tests, require a visit to a special laboratory, and may or may not carry risks and side effects.

Health care personnel are required by law to obtain what is referred to as "informed consent" before performing any invasive medical test or procedure. This means that the health care professional must describe the test or procedure that he or she is suggesting the patient undergo, explain the risks posed by the test itself, outline what information the test will yield, and what benefits are expected from the test results. Children are not able to evaluate such information for themselves, so their parents or legal guardians will be responsible for obtaining and evaluating all aspects of the test or procedure and for making the decision to consent to it.

Following the tests, patients (and the parents or guardians of minor children) are entitled to receive a clear, comprehensible explanation of the test results. Legal access to test results varies from state to state, but in general a person's medical records are afforded protection under privacy laws. Many states allow patients to have full access to their own medical records, although in some cases a court order is required. If a doctor is not providing parents with complete and accurate information about their child's condition and treatment, in many cases parents are legally entitled to go to court to get the information they need. However, it is likely that such communication problems would indicate a change of physician would be appropriate.

Tests can give false results in a percentage of cases. Most experts recommend that a test be repeated before any major treatment regimen is begun. When a test result is positive, especially when the condition or disease being tested for is serious, it is appropriate to repeat the test using a different laboratory. Tests are performed by human technicians, using sophisticated equipment in many cases. Opportunities for procedural, specimen-handling, interpretation, and other errors can occur at many points during the process. Therefore, parents should be cautious and diligent in gathering information about any medical tests being performed on their children, and about action being taken based on the results.