| galactose tolerance test | A liver function test, based on the ability of the liver to convert galactose to glycogen, measured by the rate of excretion of galactose following ingestion or intravenous injection of a known amount; normally, less than 3 g appear in the urine within 5 hours after the ingestion of 40 g. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| vaginal mucification test | A test for progestational activity; stimulation of mucus production by the vaginal epithelium in rats, guinea pigs, or mice by progestogens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| macrophage migration inhibition test | A test which measures the presence of migration-inhibitory factor. Usually peritoneal macrophages are placed in a capillary tube in the presence or absence of supernatants from activated T-cells. If MIF is present, the migration of monocyte/macrophages is reduced. Synonym: macrophage migration inhibition test, migration inhibition test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Valentine's test | The bladder is emptied by passing urine into a series of 3-ounce test tubes, and the contents of the first and the last are examined; the first tube contains the washings from the anterior urethra, the second, material from the bladder, and the last, material from the posterior urethra, prostate, and seminal vesicles. Synonym: Valentine's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radioactive iodide uptake test | A test of thyroid function in which 131I-iodide is given orally; after 24 hours, the amount present in the thyroid gland is measured and compared with normal values. Synonym: radioactive iodide uptake test, RAI test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radioallergosorbent test | An allergy test done on a sample of blood. The aim with rast, as with skin tests, is to check for allergic sensitivity to specific substances. Rast stands for radioallergosorbent test. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Valsalva test | The heart is monitored by ECG, pressure recording, or other methods while the patient performs the Valsalva manoeuvre; the heart becomes smaller in normal persons but may dilate in the patient with impaired myocardial reserve; there is a characteristic complex sequence of cardiocirculatory events, departure from which indicates disease or malfunction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| radioimmunosorbent test | Radioimmunoassay of proteins using antibody coupled to an immunosorbent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| van Deen's test | Glacial acetic acid, gum guaiac solution, and hydrogen peroxide are added to an aqueous suspension of the suspected stain; if occult blood or blood pigment is present, a blue colour develops. Synonym: guaiac test, Schonbein's test, van Deen's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| van den Bergh's test | A test for bile pigments (bilirubin) by reaction with diazotised sulfanilic acid (diazo reaction). (05 Mar 2000) |
| van der Velden's test | A test for free hydrochloric acid, the presence of which turns an added solution of methylene blue from violet to green. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vanillylmandelic acid test | A test for catecholamine-secreting tumours (pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma) performed on a 24-hr urine specimen; it is based on the fact that vanillylmandelic acid is the major urinary metabolite of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Synonym: 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid test, VMA test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Palmer acid test for peptic ulcer | In duodenal ulcer, the administration of acid by duodenal tube causes severe pain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| palmin test | A test of pancreatic efficiency, based upon the fact that the presence of fat in the stomach causes the pylorus to open and admit the pancreatic juice; this splits the palmin so that an examination of the stomach contents, after a test meal containing palmin, will reveal the presence of fatty acids. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Raji cell binding test | <investigation> A test for the detection of soluble IgG antigen complexes. Raji cells are a line of EBV transformed lymphocytes with surface Fc receptors. Complexes are detected by their ability to compete with a radiolabelled aggregated IgG for binding to the cells. (18 Nov 1997) |