| anoxaemia test | A test for coronary insufficiency; the patient breathes a mixture of 10% oxygen and 90% nitrogen; if anginal pain or electrocardiographic abnormalities are induced, the test is positive. Synonym: hypoxaemia test. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| anterior drawer test | <investigation> This test is performed with the patient lying on their back with there knee in 90 degrees of flexion with the foot resting firmly on the table. The examiner grasps the top portion of the shin with both hands, positioning the thumbs on either tibial condyle. Stabilising the foot the examiner places pressure slowly on the proximal tibia by moving the shin toward the examiner. Abnormal looseness and movement forward indicates a significant anterior cruciate ligament injury. (27 Sep 1997) |
| antibiotic sensitivity test | The in vitro testing of bacterial cultures with antibiotics to determine susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotic therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody-coated bacteria test, urinary | Fluorescent antibody technique for visualizing antibody-bacteria complexes in urine. The presence or absence of antibody-coated bacteria in urine correlates with localization of urinary tract infection in the kidney or bladder, respectively. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antiglobulin test | Haemagglutination test in which coombs' reagent (antiglobulin, or anti-human globulin rabbit immune serum) is added to detect incomplete (non-agglutinating, univalent, blocking) antibodies coating erythrocytes. The direct test is applied to red cells which have been coated with antibody in vivo (e.g., in haemolytic disease of newborn, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and transfusion reactions). The indirect test is applied to serum to detect the presence of antibody (e.g., in detection of incompatibility in cross-matching tests, detection and identification of irregular antibodies, and in detection of antibodies not identifiable by other means). (12 Dec 1998) |
| antithrombin test | A procedure for estimating the inhibitory effect of a defibrinated specimen of plasma on the action of thrombin in converting fibrinogen to fibrin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aptitude test | An occupation-oriented intelligence test used to evaluate a person's abilities, talents, and skills; particularly valuable in vocational counseling. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Apt test | A test for identifying foetal blood by the addition of sodium hydroxide and water to a specimen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Aschheim-Zondek test | An obsolete test for pregnancy; repeated injections of small quantities of urine voided during the first months of pregnancy produce in infantile mice, within 100 hours, minute intrafollicular ovarian haemorrhages, and the development of lutein cells. Synonym: A.-Z. Test, Zondek-Aschheim test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Ascoli's test | A precipitin test for anthrax using a tissue extract and anthrax antiserum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ascorbate-cyanide test | A test for glucose-6-phosphate-deficient red blood cells; blood is incubated with sodium cyanide and ascorbate; the hydrogen peroxide generated is free to oxidise haemoglobin to methemoglobin, since cyanide inhibits catalase; a brown colour is produced more rapidly in glucose 6-phosphate-deficient cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aspergillus antigen skin test | <investigation> An antigen, prepared from aspergillus, is injected into the skin. In 48 to 72 hours the site is read as positive or negative. A positive skin test (inflammation at the test site) indicates prior exposure to aspergillus and therefore a risk for developing aspergillosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| association test | A word (stimulus word) is spoken to the subject, who is to reply immediately with another word (reaction word) suggested by the first; used as a diagnostic aid in psychiatry and psychology, clues being given by the length of time (association time) between the stimulus and reaction words, and also by the nature of the reaction words. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Astwood's test | A test for the assay of oestrogenic substances; immature female rats (25 to 49 g) are injected subcutaneously with the hormone and killed after 6 hours, when the increase in uterine weight (due largely to imbibation of water) is taken as the criterion of oestrogenic activity. Synonym: Astwood's test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atropine test | If an injection of atropine relieves bradycardia, the condition is due to action of the vagus; if it does not, the condition may be due to an affection of the heart itself. Synonym: atropine test. (05 Mar 2000) |