Diagnostic Tests Directory

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

Computed tomography (CT) an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the body.

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 screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart. The test gives a general sense of how healthy your heart is. See thallium and sestamibi stress tests.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive way to take pictures of the body. Unlike x-rays and computed tomographic (CT) scans, which use radiation, MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The MRI scanner contains the magnet. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is about 10 thousand times greater than the earth's. The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms in the body to line up in a certain way (similar to how the needle on a compass moves when you hold it near a magnet. When radio waves are sent toward the lined-up hydrogen atoms, they bounce back, and a computer records the signal. Different types of tissues send back different signals. For example, healthy tissue sends back a slightly different signal than cancerous tissue. Single MRI images are called slices. The images can be stored on a computer or printed on film. MRI can easily be performed through clothing. However, because the magnet is very, very strong, certain types of metal can cause significant errors, called artifacts, in the 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 an examination under the microscope 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