| Barany's caloric test | A test for vestibular function, made by irrigating the external auditory meatus with either hot or cold water; this normally causes stimulation of the vestibular apparatus, resulting in nystagmus and past-pointing; in vestibular disease, the response may be reduced or absent. Synonym: caloric test, nystagmus test. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| baseline test | <investigation> Test which measures an organs normal level of functioning. Used to determine if any changes in organ function occur following treatment. (16 Dec 1997) |
| basophil degranulation test | An in vitro test used in the diagnosis of allergies including drug hypersensitivity. The allergen is added to the patient's white blood cells and the subsequent histamine release is measured. (12 Dec 1998) |
| BEI test | An obsolete test for thyroid function, applicable in patients who have received large amounts of iodine or iodised products. Synonym: BEI test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| belt test | An obsolete test: firm upward pressure on the lower part of the abdomen will remove the feeling of discomfort in cases of enteroptosia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bender gestalt test | <psychology> A psychological test used by neurologists and clinical psychologists to measure a person's ability to visually copy a set of geometric designs. It consists of nine geometric designs on cards. The subject is asked to redraw them from memory after each one is presented individually. It is useful for measuring visuospatial and visuomotor coordination to detect brain damage. Synonym: Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test. (14 Aug 2000) |
| Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test | <psychology> A psychological test used by neurologists and clinical psychologists to measure a person's ability to visually copy a set of geometric designs. It consists of nine geometric designs on cards. The subject is asked to redraw them from memory after each one is presented individually. It is useful for measuring visuospatial and visuomotor coordination to detect brain damage. Synonym: Bender Visual Motor Gestalt test. (14 Aug 2000) |
| Benedict's test for glucose | <biochemistry> A copper-reduction test for glucose in the urine, which involves thiocyanate in addition to copper sulfate for qualitative or quantitative use. (14 Aug 2000) |
| bentiromide test | A test of pancreatic exocrine function that does not require duodenal intubation: orally administered bentiromide is cleaved by chymotrypsin within the lumen of the small intestine, releasing p-aminobenzoic acid which is absorbed and excreted in the urine; diminished urinary excretion of p-aminobenzoic acid suggests pancreatic insufficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bentonite flocculation test | A flocculation test for rheumatoid arthritis in which sensitised bentonite particles are added to inactivated serum; the test is positive if half of the particles are clumped while the other half remain in suspension. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benzidine 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) |
| Bernstein test | <investigation> A test used to diagnosis gastrooesophageal reflux disease. This test is performed in a doctor's office or lab and 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. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Berson test | A test of thyroid clearance of 131I from the plasma by the thyroid gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Betke-Kleihauer test | A slide test for the presence of foetal red blood cells among those of the mother; haemoglobins other than Hb F are eluted from the red blood cells on an air-dried blood film by a buffer of pH 3.3. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bettendorff's test | A test for arsenic; after mixing the suspected fluid with hydrochloric acid a solution of stannous chloride is added; when a piece of tin foil is then added, a brown precipitate forms. (05 Mar 2000) |