| bronchial provocation tests | Tests involving inhalation of allergens (nebulised or in dust form), nebulised pharmacologically active solutions (e.g., histamine, methacholine), or control solutions, followed by assessment of respiratory function. These tests are used in the diagnosis of asthma. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| caloric tests | Elicitation of a rotatory nystagmus by stimulating the saemicircular canals with water or air which is above or below body temperature. In warm caloric stimulation a rotatory nystagmus is developed toward the side of the stimulated ear; in cold, away from the stimulated side. Absence of nystagmus indicates the labyrinth is not functioning. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carcinogenicity tests | Tests to experimentally measure the tumour-producing/cancer cell-producing potency of an agent by administering the agent (e.g., benzanthracenes) and observing the quantity of tumours or the cell transformation developed over a given period of time. The carcinogenicity value is usually measured as milligrams of agent administered per tumour developed. Though this test differs from the DNA-repair and bacterial microsome mutagenicity tests, researchers often attempt to correlate the finding of carcinogenicity values and mutagenicity values. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pancreatic function tests | Tests based on the biochemistry and physiology of the exocrine pancreas and involving analysis of blood, duodenal contents, feces, or urine for products of pancreatic secretion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gel diffusion precipitin tests | Precipitin test's in which the immune precipitate forms in a gel medium (usually agar) into which one or both reactants have diffused; generally classified in two types, in one dimension, and in two dimensions. Synonym: gel diffusion reactions. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gel diffusion precipitin tests in one dimension | Precipitin test's in which antigen solution and antibody incorporated in agar are layered in tubes, permitting effective diffusion in the vertical dimension; the antibody-containing agar may be overlaid directly with antigen solution (single (gel) diffusion in one dimension). (05 Mar 2000) |
| gel diffusion precipitin tests in two dimensions | Precipitin test's made in a layer of agar that permits radial diffusion, in both of the horizontal dimensions, of one or both reactants. Double (gel) diffusion in two dimensions (Ouchterlony test, technique, or method) incorporates antigen and antibody solutions placed in separate wells in a sheet of plain agar, permitting radial diffusion of both reactants; this method is widely used to determine antigenic relationships; the bands of precipitate that form where the reactants meet in optimal concentration are of three patterns, referred to as reaction of identity, reaction of partial identity (cross-reaction), and reaction of nonidentity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| patch tests | Skin tests in which the sensitiser is applied to a patch of cotton cloth or gauze held in place for approximately 48-72 hours. It is used for the elicitation of a contact hypersensitivity reaction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| respiratory function tests | Measurement of the various processes involved in the act of respiration: inspiration, expiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, lung volume and compliance, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| personality tests | Standardised objective tests designed to facilitate the evaluation of personality. (12 Dec 1998) |
| microbial sensitivity tests | Any tests that demonstrate the relative efficacy of different chemotherapeutic agents against specific microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, viruses). (12 Dec 1998) |
| micronucleus tests | Induction and quantitative measurement of chromosomal damage leading to the formation of micronuclei in cells which have been exposed to genotoxic agents or ionizing radiation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| clinical chemistry tests | Laboratory tests demonstrating the presence of physiologically significant substances in the blood, urine, tissue, and body fluids with application to the diagnosis or therapy of disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| placental function tests | Methods used for the assessment of placental function. (12 Dec 1998) |
| complement fixation tests | Serologic tests based on inactivation of complement by the antigen-antibody complex (stage 1). Binding of free complement can be visualised by addition of a second antigen-antibody system such as red cells and appropriate red cell antibody (haemolysin) requiring complement for its completion (stage 2). Failure of the red cells to lyse indicates that a specific antigen-antibody reaction has taken place in stage 1. If red cells lyse, free complement is present indicating no antigen-antibody reaction occurred in stage 1. (12 Dec 1998) |