| 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) |
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| Bial's test | A test for pentoses with orcinol. Synonym: orcinol test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bile acid tolerance test | A sensitive test of hepatic dysfunction; following oral administration of labelled or unlabelled bile acid, the measured fractional disappearance rate or 10-minute retention is measured. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bile esculin test | A biochemical test used in characterizing group O streptococci, based on the ability of organisms to grow in a medium containing bile and to hydrolyze esculin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bile solubility test | A procedure that differentiates Streptococcus pneumoniae from other alpha-haemolytic streptococci by demonstrating its susceptibility to lysis in the presence of bile. (05 Mar 2000) |
| binaural alternate loudness balance test | A test for recruitment in one ear; the comparison of relative loudness of a series of intensities presented alternately to either ear. Synonym: BALB test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Binet test | A standardised test for the measurement of intelligence consisting of a series of questions, graded according to the intelligence of normal children at different ages, the answers to which indicate the mental age of the person tested; primarily used with children, but also contains norms for adults standardised against adult age levels rather than those of children, as formerly was the case. Synonym: Binet test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Binz' test | A qualitative test for the presence of quinine in the urine; a precipitate is formed on the addition of an aqueous solution of iodine and potassium iodide if quinine is present. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biuret test | A test for the determination of serum proteins, based on the reaction of an alkaline copper reagent with substances containing two or more peptide bonds to produce a violet-blue colour. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blind test | A method of testing in which an independent observer records the results of any test, drug, placebo, or procedure without knowing the identity of the samples or what result might be expected. (05 Mar 2000) |
| block design test | A performance test using coloured blocks which the individual must use to match pictured designs; one of the subtests of the Wechsler intelligence scales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bonney test | Manual deviation of bladder neck during strain or cough to ascertain presence of stress urinary incontinence. Synonym: Bonney test, Marshall-Marchetti test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brain wave test | <investigation> A diagnostic test which measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves) using high sensitive recording equipment attached to the scalp by fine electrodes. Commonly employed in the evaluation of neurological disease (for example seizures, epilepsy, etc.). Acronym: EEG (13 Nov 1997) |
| breath analysis test | A test of hepatic and intestinal absorptive function; aminopyrine labelled with radioactive carbon is administered orally; expired 14CO2 is a measure of aminopyrine absorption and its metabolism in the liver; a measurement of the amount of 14CO2 exhaled after an oral dose of 14C-O-xylose; a measurement of exhaled hydrogen gas following an oral dose of lactose as a test of lactose deficiency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| breath-holding test | A rough index of cardiopulmonary reserve measured by the length of time that a subject can voluntarily stop breathing; normal duration is 30 seconds or more; diminished cardiac or pulmonary reserve is indicated by a duration of 20 seconds or less. (05 Mar 2000) |