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Article: 10 questions about lab tests.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- August 16, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. How many kinds of lab tests are there?
A. More than 500 established medical tests and diagnostic procedures are available to help physicians diagnose diseases and patients choose the best treatment options. An estimated one out of every three health-care dollars is spent on testing procedures, ranging from pap smears to heart catheterizations.
Q. What are the most common tests?
A. Those analyzing blood, urine, tissue, cells, stool and sputum. These include biopsies, cancer screens, cholesterol and blood-sugar-level tests, strep and viral cultures.
Q. What determines how long it takes to get results of tests?
A. Samples may ...