What Are All Those Tests For?
There are hundreds of tests and procedures a doctor may prescribe to help diagnose illness. If you've ever left your doctor's office with prescriptions for a variety of tests, this guide will help you understand what they are for.
Procedure: Biopsy
Body Area Tested: Any tissue in the body
Description: Examination of tissue sample under a microscope to detect cancer or other abnormalities
Procedure: Blood tests
Body Area Tested: Blood sample taken from arm
Description: Measures substances in the blood to evaluate organ function, drug effectiveness and mineral content, among others
Procedure: Bronchoscopy
Body Area Tested: Airways or lungs
Description: Used to diagnose the cause of airway problems such as chronic cough or bleeding, remove obstructions or collect tissue
Procedure: Cardiac catheterization
Body Area Tested: Heart
Description: Study of heart function or structure or to detect blockages; an invasive procedure performed under local anesthetic
Procedure: Colonoscopy
Body Area Tested: Large intestine
Description: Inspects for tumors, polyps, bleeding and other abnormalities
Procedure: Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan)
Body Area Tested: Any body part
Description: Any body part Computer-enhanced X-ray to detect structural abnormalities
Procedure: Electrocardiography (ECG)
Body Area Tested: Heart
Description: Study of the heart's electrical activity
Procedure: Electroencephalography (EEG)
Body Area Tested: Brain
Description: Study of brain's electrical function; for diagnosing strokes
Procedure: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Body Area Tested: Any body part
Description: Powerful magnets used to produce highly defined images of any structural abnormality
Procedure: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Body Area Tested: Brain
Description: Study of brain's electrical function; for diagnosing strokes
Procedure: Occult blood test
Body Area Tested: Stool
Description: Tests for blood in stool
Procedure: Pulmonary function test
Body Area Tested: Lungs
Description: Tests capacity of lungs for holding air, moving air in and out and exchanging oxygen
Procedure: Stress test
Body Area Tested: Heart
Description: Noninvasive procedure to test heart function under exertion
Procedure: Ultrasound
Body Area Tested: Any body part
Description: Uses sound waves to detect structural or functional abnormalities
Procedure: Urinalysis
Body Area Tested: Urine
Description: Chemical analysis to detect protein, sugar levels and blood cells in the urine, which may indicate presence of disease
Call or Go Online for Outpatient Scheduling
The Lourdes Health System now offers two easy and convenient ways to schedule your outpatient procedure at our hospitals.
- By Phone. Call 1-877-APPT-LHS (1-877-277-8547) to schedule all your outpatient procedure appointments at one time. No more calling multiple extensions or getting transferred from line to line. The hours of operation are: weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon.
- Online. Visit the Lourdes Health System Web site at www.lourdesnet.org. Click on the "For Patients" section, and then "Schedule Your Outpatient Testing and Appointments," to go to our easy-to-follow online appointment request form.
Many services are available for centralized scheduling, including:
At Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden--Antenatal Consultation Unit, Audiology, Cardiac Rehab, EEG, Heart Failure Center, Heart Station, Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Cardiac Clinic, Physical Therapy, Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, and Speech Therapy.
At Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro--EEG, Heart Station, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Sleep Lab and Speech Therapy.
