Glossary of Laboratory Tests

Accuracy: How close a test result is to the true value.
Analyte: The specific substance being measured in a lab test.
Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system to fight foreign substances, used in some lab tests.
Antigen: A substance that triggers an immune response, often measured in lab tests.
Assay: A laboratory test or procedure used to analyze a substance.
Automation: The use of machines to perform lab tests, increasing efficiency.
Baseline: A starting point or initial measurement used for comparison in monitoring health.
Biohazard: Biological substances that pose a risk to human health.
Biomarker: A measurable substance in an organism that indicates a physiological state or disease.
Calibration: The process of standardizing lab equipment using known reference materials.
Centrifuge: A machine that spins samples at high speed to separate components.
Clinical Chemistry: The branch of laboratory medicine focused on analyzing bodily fluids.
Control: A sample with a known value used to check the accuracy of a test.
Culture: Growing microorganisms in a lab to identify infections.
Cytology: The study of individual cells, often used in cancer diagnosis.
Diagnosis: The identification of a disease or condition based on tests and symptoms.
Electrolyte: Minerals in the body that carry an electric charge, often measured in blood tests.
Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions, levels of which can be biomarkers.
False Negative: A test result indicating a condition is absent when it is actually present.
False Positive: A test result indicating a condition is present when it is actually absent.
Haematology: The branch of laboratory medicine focused on blood and blood disorders.
Histology: The study of tissues under a microscope, often used in diagnosis.
Hormone: A chemical messenger produced by the body, often measured as a biomarker.
Immunoassay: A test that uses antibodies to detect and measure specific substances.
Incubation: Maintaining samples at a specific temperature for a period to allow reactions.
In vitro: Experiments or tests conducted outside a living organism, such as in a lab.
Lipid Panel: A group of blood tests that measure different types of fats (lipids).
Mean: The average value of a set of data.
Microbiology: The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together, many biomarkers are molecules.
Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence, can be detected through lab tests.
Pathogen: A microorganism that can cause disease, identified in microbiology labs.
pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, important in some lab tests.
Precision: How reproducible a test result is when the same sample is tested multiple times.
Pre-analytical: The steps that occur before a sample is analyzed in the lab.
Proficiency Testing: External quality assessment where labs test unknown samples to check performance.
Quality Control (QC): Procedures to ensure the reliability and accuracy of lab tests.
Qualitative Test: A test that determines if a substance is present or absent.
Quantitative Test: A test that measures the amount of a substance present.
Random Error: Unpredictable variations in test results.
Reagent: A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect or measure another substance.
Reference Interval: The expected range of values for a test result in a healthy population.
Reliability: The overall consistency and dependability of a lab test.
Sample: The specimen (e.g., blood, urine, tissue) collected for laboratory analysis.
Sensitivity: The ability of a test to correctly identify individuals who have a condition.
Specificity: The ability of a test to correctly identify individuals who do not have a condition.
Standard Deviation: A measure of the spread of data around the mean.
Supernatant: The liquid that remains above a solid after centrifugation.
Systematic Error: Consistent deviations in test results, often due to equipment or method issues.
Therapeutic Range: The desired range of drug levels in the blood for effective treatment.
Titration: A lab technique to determine the concentration of a solution.
Toxicology: The study of the effects of poisons and drugs, often involving lab tests.
Turnaround Time: The time it takes from sample collection to the availability of test results.
Urinalysis: The physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine.
Validation: The process of confirming that a lab test performs as intended.
Variant: A form of a gene or microorganism that differs from the typical form, can be identified in labs.
Virology: The study of viruses, often involving specific lab tests for detection.
Whole Blood: Blood in its complete state, containing all cellular components.
Workflow: The sequence of steps involved in processing samples and performing tests in a lab.
Zoonotic: Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, often investigated in labs.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in these articles is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or starting any treatments.

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