Tests and procedures
Told to have a scan, a blood test or an operation? Here is what it is, how to get ready, what will happen and what comes after, so there are no surprises on the day.
37 tests and procedures
Blood and urine tests
- Blood sugar testsAlso called Fasting sugar, Post-meal sugar, HbA1c, Glucose tolerance testBlood sugar tests measure glucose in your blood. They are used to find prediabetes and diabetes, and to check sugar control in people who already have diabetes. Some need fasting and some do not.
- Complete blood countAlso called CBC, Full blood count, HaemogramA complete blood count is a blood test that counts the red cells, white cells and platelets in a small sample of blood. It helps to find anaemia, infection and other blood problems, and usually needs no special preparation.
- Dengue testsAlso called NS1 antigen, Dengue IgM and IgG, Platelet countDengue tests are blood tests that look for the virus or for the body's response to it, with a blood count that follows the platelets. Which test suits you depends on how many days of fever you have had.
- Kidney function testsAlso called KFT, RFT, Creatinine and urea, eGFRKidney function tests are blood and urine tests that show how well the kidneys filter waste. The main ones are blood creatinine, blood urea, eGFR and a urine test for protein.
- Lipid profileAlso called Cholesterol test, Lipid panelA lipid profile is a blood test that measures cholesterol and triglycerides, the fats in your blood. It helps your doctor judge your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Liver function testsAlso called LFT, SGOT and SGPTLiver function tests are blood tests that measure enzymes and other substances linked to the liver. They help show whether the liver is inflamed or damaged and how well it is working.
- Thyroid function testsAlso called TSH, T3 and T4, Thyroid profileThyroid function tests are blood tests that show whether the thyroid gland is making too little or too much thyroid hormone. TSH is usually the first test, and T4 and T3 are often added.
- Urine testsAlso called Urine routine, Urine culture, UrinalysisA urine test checks a sample of your urine for colour, chemicals, cells and germs. It can point to an infection, kidney trouble, diabetes or stones, and a culture can show which germ is causing an infection.
Scans and X-rays
- CT scanAlso called CAT scan, Computed tomographyA CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to take detailed pictures of the inside of the body, slice by slice. It is quick and painless, but tell the team first if you are or might be pregnant, or have kidney disease, diabetes or allergies.
- DEXA scanAlso called Bone density scan, Bone mineral density testA DEXA scan uses a very low dose of X-rays to measure how dense and strong the bones are, usually at the hip and spine. It is quick and painless, and it is not recommended in pregnancy.
- MammogramAlso called Breast X-ray, MammographyA mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast that can find breast cancer too small to feel. Each breast is pressed briefly between two plates, which can be uncomfortable, and the visit is short.
- MRI scanAlso called Magnetic resonance imagingAn MRI scan uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not X-rays, to make detailed pictures of soft parts such as the brain, spine and joints. It is painless but loud, and metal in the body can make it unsafe, so tell the team first.
- Ultrasound scanAlso called Sonography, USGAn ultrasound scan uses sound waves, not radiation, to make pictures of organs, blood vessels or a baby in the womb. It is usually painless and often takes 10 to 45 minutes.
- X-rayAlso called Radiograph, Chest X-rayAn X-ray uses a small amount of radiation to take a picture of the inside of the body, most often the bones and the chest. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt, but tell the team first if you are or might be pregnant.
Heart tests
- Coronary angiographyAlso called Angiogram, Cath lab testCoronary angiography is an X-ray test that shows the arteries of the heart. A thin tube is passed to the heart through an artery, and a dye shown on X-ray pictures reveals any narrowing or blockage.
- ECGAlso called Electrocardiogram, EKGAn ECG is a quick, painless test that records the heart's electrical signals through sticky patches on the skin. It shows how fast the heart beats and whether the rhythm is steady.
- EchocardiogramAlso called Echo, Heart ultrasoundAn echocardiogram, or echo, is an ultrasound scan of the heart. Sound waves make a moving picture that shows the heart's chambers and valves and how well it pumps, with no radiation.
- Holter monitorAlso called 24-hour ECG, Ambulatory ECGA Holter monitor is a small portable recorder that records your heart's rhythm continuously, usually for 24 to 48 hours, while you go about your day. It can catch rhythm problems that come and go and would be missed on a short ECG.
- Treadmill testAlso called TMT, Stress test, Exercise ECGA treadmill test records your heart with an ECG while you walk on a treadmill and the pace slowly rises. It shows how the heart copes when it has to work harder, and can reveal problems that do not show at rest.
Camera tests
- ColonoscopyAlso called Lower GI endoscopyA colonoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to look inside the whole large bowel. It finds the cause of bleeding or bowel changes, checks for polyps and cancer, and lets small growths be removed during the test.
- EndoscopyAlso called Upper GI endoscopy, Gastroscopy, OGDAn endoscopy, often called a gastroscopy, uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to look at the lining of the food pipe, the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. It finds the cause of indigestion, swallowing trouble and bleeding.
Breathing, nerve and hearing tests
- EEGAlso called Electroencephalogram, Brain wave testAn EEG records the brain's tiny electrical signals through small discs stuck to the scalp. It is painless, and it is mainly used to help find the cause of seizures and to check for some other brain conditions.
- SpirometryAlso called Lung function test, PFTSpirometry is a simple breathing test. You blow out as hard and as fast as you can into a tube, and a machine measures how much air you breathe out and how quickly. It shows how well the lungs are working.
Screening and biopsies
- BiopsyAlso called Tissue sample, FNAC, Core needle biopsyA biopsy takes a small sample of tissue or cells from the body so that a doctor called a pathologist can look at it under a microscope. It is done for many reasons, and a biopsy does not mean you have cancer.
- Pap smear and HPV testAlso called Cervical screening, Pap testA Pap smear and an HPV test check cells taken gently from the cervix, the lower part of the womb. They look for the virus that causes cervical cancer and for early cell changes, so that these can be treated before they turn into cancer.
Operations and procedures
- Angioplasty and stentsAlso called PTCA, Coronary angioplasty, Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), Balloon angioplastyAngioplasty opens a narrowed heart artery with a tiny balloon, and a stent (a small mesh tube) is usually left inside to keep it open. It is done through a thin tube in the wrist or groin, usually with local anaesthetic.
- Caesarean sectionAlso called C-section, Caesarean birth, Caesarean deliveryA caesarean section is an operation to deliver a baby through a cut in the mother's tummy and womb. It may be planned, or done in an emergency when a vaginal birth seems too risky.
- Cataract surgeryAlso called Lens replacement, Phacoemulsification, Cataract removal, Intraocular lens (IOL) implantCataract surgery removes the cloudy lens of the eye and usually replaces it with a clear artificial lens. It is normally a day-care operation under local anaesthetic, so you are awake but feel no pain.
- ChemotherapyAlso called Chemo, Cancer drug treatment, Anticancer medicinesChemotherapy is cancer treatment that uses medicines to kill cancer cells or stop them growing. It is given in cycles, and its side effects vary a great deal from one person and one treatment to another.
- DialysisAlso called Haemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Kidney dialysisDialysis does some of the work of the kidneys when they can no longer clean the blood properly. It is not a cure for kidney failure, and it may be needed for a short time or for the long term.
- Gallbladder removalAlso called Cholecystectomy, Keyhole gallbladder surgery, Laparoscopic cholecystectomyGallbladder removal is an operation to take out the gallbladder, usually through a few small cuts using a camera. It is most often done when gallstones cause pain or other problems.
- Heart bypass surgeryAlso called CABG, Coronary artery bypass graft, Coronary artery bypass grafting, Bypass surgeryHeart bypass surgery uses a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in the body to route blood around a blocked heart artery. It is a major operation under general anaesthetic that eases symptoms and lowers the risk of a heart attack.
- Hernia repairAlso called Hernia operation, Herniorrhaphy, Hernia surgeryHernia repair pushes a hernia back and strengthens the weak spot in the muscle wall, usually with a mesh. It can be done through one cut (open) or a few small ones (keyhole), and most people go home the same day.
- Keyhole surgeryAlso called Laparoscopic surgery, Minimally invasive surgery, LaparoscopyKeyhole surgery is done through a few small cuts instead of one large one. The surgeon passes a thin camera and instruments into the tummy and works from a screen. It usually means less pain and a faster recovery than open surgery.
- Kidney stone treatmentsAlso called Lithotripsy, Ureteroscopy, PCNL, Shock wave lithotripsy, Percutaneous nephrolithotomyMany kidney stones pass on their own, but a stone that is large, blocks urine or causes infection needs treatment. The main options are shock waves, a thin telescope (ureteroscopy) and a keyhole operation through the back (PCNL).
- Knee replacementAlso called Knee arthroplasty, Total knee replacement, Partial knee replacementKnee replacement swaps the worn surfaces of the knee joint for an artificial joint of metal and plastic. It is mainly done for severe arthritis pain when other treatments have not helped, and recovery takes several months.
- RadiotherapyAlso called Radiation therapy, Cobalt, Cancer radiation, External beam radiotherapyRadiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It is usually given by a machine aimed at the cancer, in short, painless sessions on weekdays. Side effects depend on the area treated and vary between people.