| test | 1. A significant chemical reaction. 2. A reagent. For specific test. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| test anxiety scale | A self-reporting test consisting of items concerning fear and worry about taking tests and physiological activity, such as heart rate, sweating, etc., before, during, and after tests. (12 Dec 1998) |
| test cross | Crossing of an unknown genotype to a recessive homozygote so that the phenotype of the progeny corresponds directly to the chromosomes carried by the parents of unknown genotype. In experimental genetics, a deliberate mating designed to test claims about the pattern of inheritance of one or more traits. Synonym: backcross. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test handle instrument | A root canal instrument the handle of which is similar to a collet chuck and which can be secured in position on the root canal instrument to adjust its effective length. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test injection | Intravenous injection of a few milliliters of radiographic contrast medium to screen for allergic or idiosyncratic responses. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test letter | See: test types. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test meal | Toast and tea, or crackers and tea, or gruel or other bland food, given to stimulate gastric secretion before withdrawing gastric contents for analysis, administration of food containing a substance thought to be responsible for symptoms, such as an allergic reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test object | An object having very fine surface markings, mounted on a slide, used to determine the defining power of the objective lens of a microscope, the target in measurement of the visual field. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test profile | A combination of laboratory tests usually performed by automated methods and designed to evaluate organ systems of patients upon admission to a hospital or clinic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test solution | A solution of some reagent, in definite strength, used in chemical analysis or testing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test tube | A tube of thin glass closed at one end, used in the examination of urine and other chemical operations, for bacterial cultures, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test types | Letters of various sizes used to test visual acuity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| test, fisher's exact | A statistical test of independence much used in medical research. It tests the independence of rows and columns in a 2 x 2 contingency table (with 2 horizontal rows crossing 2 vertical columns creating 4 places for data) based on the exact sampling distribution of the observed frequencies. Hence it is an exact test. Devised by the great british statistician r. A. Fisher (1890-1962). (12 Dec 1998) |
| test, glucose tolerance | After fasting, a specific amount (100 grams) of glucose is given by mouth, and the blood levels of this sugar are measured every hour. Normally, the blood glucose should return to normal within 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The gtt is considered a classic test of carbohydrate metabolism. It is much used in the diagnosis of diabetes. The gtt depends on a number of factors including the ability of the intestine to absorb glucose, the power of the liver to take up and store glucose, the capacity of the pancreas to produce insulin, and the amount of active insulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| test, skin, for allergy | A test done on the skin to identify the allergy substance (allergen) triggering the allergic reaction. A small amount of the suspected allergy substance is placed on the skin. The skin is then gently scratched through the small drop with a special sterile needle. If the skin reddens and, more importantly, swells, then allergy to that substance is probable. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Abbe test plate | <equipment> A long, wedge-shaped coverslip about 0.20 mm thick at one end and 0.10 to 0.12 mm at the other end coated chemically with a silver film on which are ruled horizontal lines. at each variation in thickness of 0.01 mm there are vertical lines. By means of oblique illumination and by focusing on different portions of the plate, it is possible to determine the optimum coverslip thickness for any objective and also, for microscopes with drawtubes, the tube length for best objective performance. The approximate freedom from spherical and chromatic aberrations can also be estimated. Small isolated bits of silver near the edges of the lines form good objects for the star test (05 Aug 1998) |
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| acetone test | A test for ketonuria; the suspected urine is shaken up with a few drops of sodium nitroprusside, and strong ammonia water is then gently poured over the mixture; if acetone is present, a magenta ring forms at the line of contact; tablets containing sodium nitroprusside and alkali are now more commonly used. (05 Mar 2000) |
| achievement test | A standardised test used to measure acquired learning, e.g., competence in a specific subject area such as reading or arithmetic, in contrast to an intelligence test which is a useful index of potential ability or learning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidified serum test | Lysis of the patient's red cells in acidified fresh serum, specific for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Synonym: Ham's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid loading test | <nephrology> This is a test used in the diagnosis of renal tubular acidosis. The patient takes ammonium chloride capsules for 3 days to acidify the blood (lower blood pH). A sample of the urine and the blood is then collected and the results are interpreted. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acid perfusion test | <gastroenterology, investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This investigation requires that the patient swallow 3 tiny tubes into the stomach. A mixture of hydrochloric acid (like stomach acid) and saline are alternatively injected into the tubes. The patient then reports any symptoms they may have. Some patients may vomit. (13 Nov 1997) |
| acid phosphatase test for semen | A screening test for semen by determining acid phosphatase content; because seminal fluid contains high concentrations of acid phosphatase, while other body fluids and extraneous foreign materials have very low concentrations, high values of acid phosphatase on vaginal aspirate or lavage, or on wash fluid from stains, render positive identification of semen, even if the male is aspermic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid reflux test | A test to detect gastroesophageal reflux by monitoring oesophageal pH by an electrode in the distal oesophagus either basally or after acid is instilled into the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH stimulation test | A test for adrenal cortical function; ACTH administered by continuous intravenous infusion, or intramuscularly, evokes an increase in plasma cortisol in normal persons; in adrenal cortical insufficiency, the expected increase in plasma cortisol is limited or nonexistent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACTH suppression test | <investigation> A test that measures the response of the adrenal glands to ACTH. In this case, dexamethasone is given to the patient and then blood cortisol levels are measured. Under normal conditions, cortisol levels should drop in response to dexamethasone. In this test one milligram of dexamethasone is administered in the morning and then the blood is drawn for analysis the following morning. Abnormal test results can indicate Cushing's syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adhesion test | The diagnostic application of the immune adhesion phenomenon. Synonym: erythrocyte adherence test, immune adhesion test, red cell adherence test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Adler's test | A test for blood; the suspected fluid is treated with glacial acetic acid and ether, and the latter is then decanted and treated with hydrogen peroxide and a solution of benzidine in acetic acid; the presence of blood is indicated by a bluish colour turning to purple. Synonym: Adler's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Adson's test | A test for thoracic outlet syndrome; the patient is seated, with head extended and turned to the side of the lesion; with deep inspiration there is a diminution or total loss of radial pulse on the affected side. Not all patients with a positive Adson's test have thoracic outlet syndrome. Synonym: Adson manoeuvre. (05 Mar 2000) |
| agglutination test | <investigation> A serologic test to demonstrate the presence of antibodies in the blood. It is dependent on the clumping of cells, microorganisms, or particles when mixed with specific antiserum. See: agglutination. (04 Jul 1999) |
| AIDS test | <investigation> A test which is performed on a standard venipuncture blood specimen which detects the presence of antibodies to HIV (virus). This test may not be positive for 3 to 6 months after infection with HIV. (27 Sep 1997) |