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:
“Just as we need to encourage women to test life’s many options, we need to acknowledge real limits of energy and resources. It would be pointless and cruel to prescribe role combination for every woman at each moment of her life. Life has its seasons. There are moments when a woman ought to invest emotionally in many different roles, and other moments when she may need to conserve her psychological energies.”
—Faye J. Crosby (20th century)