Lab tests A–Z

Plain-language guides to common lab tests: why they're done, how to get ready, and what the results mean. More are being added.

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24-hour urine test (24-hour urine collection, Urine protein 24-hour)

A

Acetaminophen level (Tylenol level, APAP level)
ACTH stimulation test (Cosyntropin test, Cortrosyn stimulation test)
AFP test (Alpha-fetoprotein, AFP tumor marker)
Albumin test (Serum albumin)
Aldosterone and renin (Aldosterone-to-renin ratio, ARR)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (ALP, Alk phos)
Allergy testing (Skin prick test, Specific IgE blood test)
Alpha-1 antitrypsin test (AAT level, Alpha-1 phenotype)
ALT test (Alanine aminotransferase, SGPT)
Ammonia test (Blood ammonia, NH3)
Amniocentesis and CVS (Amniocentesis, Chorionic villus sampling)
Amylase test (Serum amylase)
ANA test (Antinuclear antibody, FANA)
ANCA test (Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, MPO)
Anion gap (AG)
Anti-dsDNA antibody (Anti-double-stranded DNA)
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (AMH, Egg reserve test)
Antiphospholipid antibody tests (Lupus anticoagulant, Anticardiolipin antibody)
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (ApoB)
Arterial blood gas (ABG) (ABG, Blood gas)
ASO titer (Antistreptolysin O, Anti-DNase B)
AST test (Aspartate aminotransferase, SGOT)

B

Basic metabolic panel (BMP) (BMP, Chem 7)
Bicarbonate (CO2) test (CO2, Total CO2)
Bilirubin test (Total bilirubin, Direct bilirubin)
Blood alcohol test (Blood alcohol content, BAC)
Blood culture (Blood infection test)
Blood glucose test (Fasting blood sugar, FBS)
Blood lead test (Lead level, Lead screening)
Blood type test (ABO and Rh typing, Blood group)
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (BUN, Urea)
BNP and NT-proBNP (B-type natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP)
Bone marrow biopsy (Bone marrow aspiration, Bone marrow test)
BRCA and hereditary cancer genetic testing (BRCA1 and BRCA2, Hereditary cancer panel)

C

C-peptide test (Insulin C-peptide)
C-reactive protein (CRP) (CRP)
C. diff test (Clostridioides difficile test, C. difficile toxin test)
CA 19-9 test (Cancer antigen 19-9)
CA-125 test (Cancer antigen 125)
Calcium test (Serum calcium, Ionized calcium)
Carbon monoxide test (Carboxyhemoglobin, COHb)
CEA test (Carcinoembryonic antigen)
Celiac disease test (tTG-IgA, Tissue transglutaminase antibody)
Chloride test (Serum chloride, Cl)
CMV test (Cytomegalovirus antibody, CMV PCR)
Complement C3 and C4 (C3, C4)
Complete blood count (CBC) (CBC, Full blood count)
Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) (CMP, Chem 14)
Coombs test (Direct antiglobulin test, DAT)
Copper and ceruloplasmin tests (Ceruloplasmin, Serum copper)
Cortisol test (Serum cortisol, Morning cortisol)
COVID-19 and flu tests (Rapid antigen test, PCR test)
Creatine kinase (CK) (CK, CPK)
Creatinine and eGFR (eGFR, Kidney function test)
Cystatin C (Cystatin C eGFR)

D

D-dimer test (Fibrin degradation fragment)
Dexamethasone suppression test (DST, Overnight dexamethasone test)
DHEA-S test (DHEA sulfate, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate)
Digoxin level (Serum digoxin)

E

Eosinophil count (Eosinophils, Absolute eosinophil count)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (ESR, Sed rate)
Erythropoietin (EPO) test (EPO level)
Estradiol test (E2, Estrogen test)

F

Factor V Leiden test (Factor V Leiden mutation, Inherited clotting tests)
Fecal calprotectin (Stool calprotectin)
Fecal elastase (Pancreatic elastase)
Ferritin (Serum ferritin, Iron stores test)
Fibrinogen test (Factor I)
Folate test (Folic acid test, Serum folate)
Food sensitivity (IgG) tests (IgG food panel, Food intolerance test)
Free T4 test (Free thyroxine, FT4)
Fructosamine test (Glycated albumin)
FSH and LH tests (Follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone)

G

G6PD test (G6PD deficiency test)
Genetic carrier screening (Carrier test, Expanded carrier screening)
GGT test (Gamma-glutamyl transferase, Gamma GT)
Globulin test (Serum globulin, A/G ratio)
Glucose tolerance test (Oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT)
Group B strep test (GBS test)

H

H. pylori test (Helicobacter pylori test, Urea breath test)
Haptoglobin test (Serum haptoglobin)
HDL cholesterol (HDL, Good cholesterol)
Heavy metals test (Mercury test, Arsenic test)
Hematocrit test (Hct, Packed cell volume)
Hemochromatosis gene test (HFE) (HFE mutation test, C282Y test)
Hemoglobin A1C (A1C, HbA1c)
Hemoglobin electrophoresis (Sickle cell test, Hemoglobinopathy evaluation)
Hemoglobin test (Hgb, Hb)
Hepatitis A test (HAV antibody, Hepatitis A IgM)
Hepatitis B tests (HBsAg, Hepatitis B surface antigen)
Hepatitis C test (HCV antibody test, HCV RNA test)
Herpes test (HSV PCR, Herpes swab)
High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP, Cardiac CRP)
HIV test (HIV antigen/antibody test, 4th generation HIV test)
HIV viral load and CD4 count (HIV RNA, CD4 count)
HLA-B27 test (HLA-B27 antigen)
Home blood sugar monitoring (Glucose meter, Fingerstick blood sugar)
Home ovulation test (LH surge test, Ovulation predictor kit)
Homocysteine test (Total homocysteine)
Hydrogen breath test (Lactose intolerance test, SIBO breath test)

I

IGF-1 test (Insulin-like growth factor 1, Somatomedin C)
Immunity tests (titers) (Titer test, Measles immunity test)
Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) (Quantitative immunoglobulins, Antibody levels)
Insulin level (Fasting insulin, Serum insulin)
Iron panel (Serum iron, TIBC)

J

JAK2 mutation test (JAK2 V617F)
Joint fluid analysis (Arthrocentesis, Synovial fluid analysis)

K

Ketone test (Beta-hydroxybutyrate, Urine ketones)
Kidney stone analysis (Stone analysis, Calculus analysis)
KOH prep and fungal culture (KOH test, Skin scraping)

L

Lactate test (Lactic acid)
LDH test (Lactate dehydrogenase)
LDL cholesterol (LDL, Bad cholesterol)
Lipase test (Serum lipase)
Lipid panel (Cholesterol test, Lipid profile)
Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a), Lipoprotein little a)
Lithium level (Serum lithium)
Liver fibrosis tests (FIB-4) (FIB-4, Liver scarring score)
Liver function tests (LFTs, Liver panel)
Lyme disease test (Lyme antibody test, Lyme Western blot)
Lymphocyte count (Lymphocytes, Absolute lymphocyte count)

M

Magnesium test (Serum magnesium, Mg)
Malaria and travel fever tests (Malaria smear, Rapid malaria test)
MCH and MCHC (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, MCHC)
MCV (mean corpuscular volume) (MCV, Red cell size)
Metanephrines test (Plasma metanephrines, Urine metanephrines)
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) (MMA test)
Mono test (Monospot, Heterophile antibody test)
Monocyte count (Monocytes)
MPV (mean platelet volume) (MPV)

N

Neutrophil count (Absolute neutrophil count, ANC)
Newborn screening (Heel prick test, Newborn blood spot test)

O

Osmolality test (Serum osmolality, Urine osmolality)
Ova and parasites test (O&P, Stool parasite test)

P

Pap test and HPV test (Pap smear, Cervical cancer screening)
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) (PTH, Intact PTH)
Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (aPTT, Activated partial thromboplastin time)
Patch testing (Contact allergy test, Skin patch test)
Peripheral blood smear (Blood smear, Manual differential)
Phosphorus test (Phosphate, Serum phosphorus)
Pinworm tape test (Scotch tape test, Pinworm test)
Platelet count (PLT, Thrombocyte count)
Potassium test (Serum potassium, K)
Pregnancy test (hCG) (hCG test, Beta hCG)
Prenatal cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) (NIPT, Cell-free DNA test)
Prenatal quad screen (Quad marker screen, Second-trimester screen)
Procalcitonin (PCT)
Progesterone test (Day 21 progesterone, Serum progesterone)
Prolactin test (PRL)
Protein C, protein S, and antithrombin (Thrombophilia panel, Clotting disorder tests)
PSA test (Prostate-specific antigen)
PT and INR (Prothrombin time, INR)
Pulse oximetry (oxygen level) (Pulse ox, Oxygen saturation)

R

RDW (red cell distribution width) (RDW)
Reticulocyte count (Retic count)
Rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP (RF, Anti-CCP)
RSV test (Respiratory syncytial virus test, Respiratory viral panel)

S

Seizure medicine levels (Phenytoin level, Valproic acid level)
Semen analysis (Sperm count, Sperm analysis)
Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) (SPEP, Protein electrophoresis)
SHBG test (Sex hormone-binding globulin)
Sodium test (Serum sodium, Na)
Spinal fluid analysis (CSF analysis, Lumbar puncture)
Sputum culture (Sputum test, AFB smear)
STI testing (STD test, Chlamydia and gonorrhea test)
Stool culture and GI panel (Stool PCR panel, GI pathogen panel)
Stool test for colon cancer (FIT) (FIT, Fecal immunochemical test)
Strep test (Rapid strep test, Throat culture)
Sweat chloride test (Sweat test, Cystic fibrosis test)
Syphilis test (RPR, VDRL)

T

T3 test (Total T3, Free T3)
Testosterone test (Total testosterone, Free testosterone)
Thiamine (vitamin B1) test (Vitamin B1 test)
Thyroglobulin test (Tg)
Thyroid antibody tests (TPO antibodies, Thyroid peroxidase antibodies)
Tick-borne disease tests (Rocky Mountain spotted fever test, Ehrlichia test)
Total IgE (Immunoglobulin E)
Total protein test (Serum protein, Albumin/globulin ratio)
Toxoplasmosis test (Toxoplasma antibody test)
Triglycerides test (TG, Triglyceride level)
Troponin test (Cardiac troponin, High-sensitivity troponin)
Tryptase test (Serum tryptase)
TSH test (Thyroid-stimulating hormone, Thyrotropin)
Tuberculosis (TB) test (TB skin test, PPD)

U

Uric acid test (Serum urate)
Urinalysis (Urine test, UA)
Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR, Microalbumin test)
Urine culture (Urine culture and sensitivity, C&S)
Urine drug screen (Drug test, Tox screen)
Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR, Spot urine protein)

V

Vaginal infection test (Wet mount, Vaginitis panel)
Vitamin B12 test (Cobalamin test, B12 level)
Vitamin B6 test (Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, PLP)
Vitamin D test (25-hydroxy vitamin D, 25(OH)D)
Von Willebrand panel (VWF antigen, VWF activity)

Lab tests A–Z

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A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Z

By type of test

Blood counts

Cancer screening

Diabetes and blood sugar

Heart and cholesterol

Infection tests

Inflammation and immune

Iron and vitamins

Kidney, liver, and chemistry

Medicine levels and drug tests

Pregnancy and fertility

Thyroid and hormones

Urine tests