This encyclopedia examines more than 125 of the most important and commonly performed medical tests, providing readers with information about how and why they are performed and how each test contributes to monitoring health and diagnosing and treating medical conditions.

• Improves readers' understanding of the role medical tests play in the diagnosis of a wide range of medical conditions and the ways that tests work together to create a detailed picture of an individual's health

• Provides a concise explanation of more than 125 tests following a standardized format, covering topics such as each test's history, current usage, and reliability

• Includes real-world scenarios that illustrate the complex nature of medical testing and how doctors use tests as just one of many tools to diagnose and treat patients

• Explains in plain language the science behind each test and its place in the overall diagnostic processd