A diagnostic test is any kind of medical test performed to aid in the diagnosis or detection of disease. For example:
- to diagnose diseases, and preferably sub-classify it regarding, for example, severity and treatability
- to confirm that a person is free from disease
Companion diagnostics have also been developed to preselect patients for specific treatments based on their own biology. Such targeted therapy holds great promise in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
A drug test can be a specific medical test to ascertain the presence of a certain drug in the body (for example, in drug addicts).
Read more about Diagnostic Test: Overview, Psychological Effects of Diagnostic Tests, Interpretation
Famous quotes containing the word test:
“[17th-century] Puritans were the first modern parents. Like many of us, they looked on their treatment of children as a test of their own self-control. Their goal was not to simply to ensure the child’s duty to the family, but to help him or her make personal, individual commitments. They were the first authors to state that children must obey God rather than parents, in case of a clear conflict.”
—C. John Sommerville (20th century)