Lab tests play an important role in your health care. They help your doctor make a diagnosis or treatment decisions. But they may not provide all of the information that your doctor needs. Your doctor will not usually make a decision or diagnosis based only on the results of a lab test, unless the test results are...

There are no specific tests that can confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. But you may have lab tests to rule out other diseases. Or these tests can find out if you have another disease along with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia may occur along with other joint and muscle (rheumatic) diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis...

Provides links that give tips, like making the most of your appointment and getting better care at lower costs. Also includes links on understanding lab results and deciding whether to get a flu vaccine.

Medical errors are mistakes in health care that could have been prevented. They can occur in hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, doctors' offices, nursing homes, pharmacies, and your home. Errors can involve medicines, surgery, diagnosis, home treatment, equipment, or lab reports. Medical errors may result in injury or...

What are outpatient services? Outpatient services are medical procedures or tests that can be done in a medical center without an overnight stay. Many procedures and tests can be done in a few hours. Outpatient services include: Wellness and prevention, such as counseling and weight-loss programs. Diagnosis, such as lab...

Viral load is a measurement of how much HIV is present in your blood. A sample of blood is taken and sent to a lab for testing. Results are expressed as the number of copies of the virus per milliliter of blood. Each virus is called a "copy" because HIV reproduces by making copies of itself (replicating). The viral load...

A d-dimer test is a blood test that measures a substance that is released when a blood clot breaks up. Doctors order the d-dimer test, along with other lab tests and imaging scans, to help check for blood-clotting problems. A d-dimer test can also be used to check how well a treatment is working.

An at-home genetic test is a test you do you yourself. You can buy the test at a store or online. The test kit will include instructions on how to do it. But in general: You'll collect a sample. This is usually a saliva sample, a swab from inside your cheek, or a blood sample. You might have to go to a local lab to...

A Pap test is a test that looks for changes in the cells of the cervix. During the test, your doctor collects a small sample of cells from the cervix, the lower part of your uterus. The cells are sent to a lab and tested to see if they contain certain changes that could turn into cervical cancer. When your Pap test...

Looks at assessments done to discover problems like depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, learning disabilities, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Covers what is done, including an interview, physical exam, lab tests, and written or verbal tests.

A Pap test is done to look for changes in the cells of the cervix. During a Pap test, a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix is collected by your doctor. The sample is then spread on a slide (Pap smear) or mixed in a liquid fixative (liquid-based cytology) and sent to a lab for examination under a...

What are anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids are substances that are like the hormone testosterone. They are made in a lab. Doctors prescribe them to treat problems such as delayed puberty and problems that cause the body to make very low amounts of testosterone. They can cause puberty to start and can help some boys...

Discusses how to work with your doctor, how to prepare for different types of appointments, and what to do after appointments. Includes questions to ask about recommended tests and treatments.

Discusses the decision about when to start dialysis. Includes what kidney failure is, the treatment for it, and reasons why you might or might not want to start dialysis. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.