Knowra Medical test Medical test A procedure or measurement used to detect, diagnose, monitor, or assess a disease, condition, or bodily function. Its result informs clinical decisions but does not by itself establish every diagnosis.
Sensitivity and specificity : Measures of how well a test identifies people with and without a target condition. These properties describe how often the test gives true positive and true negative results.
Laboratory test : An analysis of a biological specimen performed to measure substances, cells, genes, or microorganisms. It detects disease-related signals in blood, urine, tissue, and other specimens.
Diagnostic testing : Testing used to determine whether a person has a suspected disease or condition. It investigates symptoms or signs that already raise a clinical question.
False positive : A positive test result in someone who does not have the target condition. False positives can trigger anxiety, follow-up procedures, or unnecessary treatment.
Evidence-based medicine : The integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values in healthcare decisions. Test results contribute evidence but must be interpreted alongside clinical context and preferences.
Positive predictive value : The probability that a person with a positive test result has the target condition. It shows how much a positive result means in the population being tested.
Medical imaging : Techniques that create images of internal body structures or processes for clinical assessment. Imaging tests reveal anatomy or function without relying only on a specimen.
Prenatal testing : Testing during pregnancy to assess fetal health, development, or genetic conditions. It applies diagnostic and screening methods to questions about pregnancy and fetal development.
False negative : A negative test result in someone who has the target condition. False negatives can delay diagnosis or give misleading reassurance.
Shared decision-making : A process in which clinicians and patients make healthcare decisions together using evidence and patient preferences. Patients weigh a test’s possible benefits and harms with clinicians.
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