Diagnostic Tests: What They Check and Why They Matter
Diagnostic tests help doctors find out what’s happening inside your body. This guide explains common tests in simple language: what each one checks and what to expect.
Got a test report or a doctor’s test advice? Ask ANYA on WhatsApp to understand the terms, in your own language, any time.
Heart Tests
| Test | What it checks | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| ECG (electrocardiogram), also called EKG | The heart’s electrical activity and rhythm | Small sticky pads are placed on your chest, arms and legs. It’s quick and painless. |
| Echocardiogram | The heart’s structure, valves and pumping, using ultrasound | A gel and a probe are moved over your chest. It’s painless. |
| Treadmill stress test (cardiovascular stress test) | How the heart works during exercise | You walk on a treadmill while connected to an ECG |
Ultrasound (Sonography)
A sonography test (ultra sonography or sonogram) uses sound waves to create images of organs such as the liver, kidneys, uterus and, during pregnancy, the baby. It doesn’t use radiation.
Colour Doppler sonography is a type of ultrasound that shows blood flow through vessels. Some abdominal scans need a full bladder or fasting, so the lab will tell you how to prepare.
Tests for Infections
| Test | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Sputum test | Phlegm is tested for infections such as TB or pneumonia |
| Dengue tests | Blood tests that detect dengue virus or antibodies |
| Typhidot test | A blood test used to help detect typhoid |
| C-reactive protein (CRP) | A blood marker that rises with inflammation or infection |
Organ, Bone and Nerve Tests
| Test | What it checks |
|---|---|
| Kidney function tests (for chronic kidney disease diagnosis) | Blood and urine tests that show how well the kidneys filter waste |
| Bone densitometry test | Bone strength, used to diagnose osteoporosis |
| Nerve conduction study | How well electrical signals travel through nerves, for example in neuropathy |
| Barium esophagram | X-ray images of the food pipe after swallowing a barium drink |
Common Blood Tests
Blood work checks many things at once. Common tests include a complete blood count (CBC), blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol (lipid profile), thyroid and kidney and liver function.
Preparing for a Test
- Ask whether you need to fast, and for how long
- Tell your doctor about any medicines you take
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing for scans
- Carry previous reports for comparison
Test costs vary between labs and cities.
Understanding Your Results
Test results should always be interpreted by your doctor, along with your symptoms and history. One abnormal value doesn’t always mean a problem, and a normal result doesn’t always rule one out.
How ANYA Helps
ANYA, Lupin’s free AI health assistant, explains medical tests and terms 24/7 on WhatsApp.
Try asking: “What is an echocardiogram?” or “Do I need to fast before a blood test?”
ANYA provides health information, not diagnosis or interpretation of personal results.
Frequently Asked Questions
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) records the heart’s electrical activity to check its rhythm. It is quick and painless.
An ECG checks the heart’s electrical activity. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to show the heart’s structure and pumping.
A test that checks how your heart works during exercise, while you walk on a treadmill connected to an ECG.
Yes. Sonography uses sound waves, not radiation, and is commonly used during pregnancy.
It checks phlegm for infections such as tuberculosis or pneumonia.
Blood tests that detect the dengue virus or the body’s antibodies to it. Your doctor will advise which test and when.
C-reactive protein rises when there’s inflammation or infection in the body. Your doctor interprets it with other findings.
A scan that measures bone strength and helps diagnose osteoporosis.
