Medical Tests—Complete A to Z Guide (With 100+ Tests)

Introduction

Medical tests are the most important things for disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention. Without them, it’s difficult to diagnose any disease; getting tests done is necessary. Through these tests, doctors can understand the internal functions of your body, such as blood count, organ health, hormones, and infections.
In this master guide, we have divided all medical tests into 5 major categories:

1. Blood Tests
2. Urine & Stool Tests
3. Imaging & Radiology Tests
4. Hormonal & Endocrine/Metabolic Tests
5. Biopsy, Genetic & Specialized Tests
   In the categories given below, the name and purpose of each test are mentioned. If you want detailed information about a specific test, click here to Read Full Blood Tests Guide.

1. Blood Tests (Performed from samples)

Blood tests are the most common and effective way to diagnose any disease. They detect infections, organ function, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic diseases.

General Blood Panel

· CBC (Complete Blood Count): Checks the count of blood cells.

· ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): Detects inflammation.

· CRP (C-Reactive Protein): Marker of active infection or inflammation.

· Blood Grouping & Cross-Matching: Necessary for blood transfusion.

Liver & Metabolic Tests

· LFT (Liver Function Test): Bilirubin, SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and Albumin levels.

· Serum Ammonia: Checks ammonia level in liver disease.

· Serum Copper & Ceruloplasmin: Detection of Wilson’s disease.

· Serum Albumin & Total Protein: Checks nutrition & liver health.

Kidney & Electrolyte Tests

· KFT (Kidney Function Test): Urea, Creatinine, Uric acid.

· Electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, and Bicarbonate.

· Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus: For bone & muscle health.

Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome

· Blood Sugar (Fasting, PP, Random): Diabetes screening (Do you know you can test Blood Sugar at home with a simple Glucometer?)

· HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin): 3-month sugar control.

· Insulin & C-Peptide: Checks insulin production.

Vitamins & Minerals

· Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Folate: Detect deficiencies.

· Iron Studies: Serum Iron, Ferritin, TIBC, Transferrin.

Cardiac Markers

· Troponin I & T: Heart attack detection.

· CK-MB: Marker of cardiac muscle damage.

· BNP / NT-proBNP: Marker for heart failure.

Infectious Disease Panels

· Dengue NS1, IgM, IgG

· Malaria Parasite & Antigen

· Typhoid (Widal, Typhidot)

· HIV I & II

· Hepatitis B (HBsAg), HCV Antibody

· COVID-19 Antigen / PCR (Do you know you can test COVID-19 at home with a simple COVID-19 kit?)

Autoimmune & Allergy Tests

· ANA, Anti-dsDNA: Detect autoimmune disease.

· Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Anti-CCP: Checks for arthritis.

· Serum IgE: For allergy.

Tumor Markers (Cancer)

· AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein): Liver cancer.

· PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen): Prostate cancer.

· CA-125: Ovarian cancer.

· CEA (colon cancer), CA 19-9 (pancreatic cancer).

Blood Gases & Others

· Arterial Blood Gas (ABG): Oxygen & CO₂ level.

· Lactate: Marker for sepsis or tissue hypoxia.

· Homocysteine: Cardiac risk factor.

➡️ Read Full Blood Tests Guide →

2. Urine & Stool Tests

Urine & stool tests detect infections, kidney diseases, digestive problems, and GI tract issues.

Urine Tests

· Routine Urine Test: Physical, chemical & microscopy.

· Urine Culture & Sensitivity: Detection of bacterial infection.

· Microalbuminuria: Early marker of kidney disease (Do you know you can test Microalbuminuria at home with a simple urine dipstick kit?)

· 24-hour Urine Protein: Checks kidney function.

· Urine Pregnancy Test (hCG): Pregnancy detection (Do you know you can test Pregnancy at home with a simple Pregnancy kit?)

· Drug Screening (Toxicology): Drug levels in urine (Do you know you can do Drug Screening at home with a simple Drug Screening kit?)

Stool Tests

· Stool Routine & Microscopy: Parasites or infections.

· Stool Occult Blood (FOBT): To detect GI bleeding.

· Stool Culture & Sensitivity: Bacterial infection.

· Stool for Ova & Parasites: Worm infestation.

· Fecal Calprotectin: Marker for inflammatory bowel disease.

➡️ Read Full Urine & Stool Tests Guide →

3. Imaging & Radiology Tests

Imaging tests provide images of the body’s organs, which are useful for diagnosis and treatment.

Basic Imaging

· X-ray (Chest, Bones, Abdomen)

· Ultrasound (Abdomen, Pelvis, Doppler)

Advanced Imaging

· CT Scan (Plain & Contrast)

· MRI (Brain, Spine, Joints, Abdomen)

· PET Scan (Cancer staging)

· Mammography (Breast screening)

· Bone Densitometry (DEXA)

Cardiac Imaging

· Echocardiography (Heart)

· ECG (Electrocardiogram)

· Treadmill Stress Test (TMT)

Special Imaging

· Barium Studies (Meal, Enema)

· IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram)

· HSG (Hysterosalpingography)

➡️ Read Full Imaging & Radiology Tests Guide →

4. Hormonal & Endocrine/Metabolic Tests

Thyroid

· TSH, Free T3, Free T4

· Thyroid Antibodies (Anti-TPO, Anti-Tg)

Reproductive Hormones

· FSH, LH

· Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone

· Prolactin

· AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)

Adrenal & Pituitary

· Cortisol (Morning/Evening)

· ACTH

· Growth Hormone (GH, IGF-1)

Calcium & Bone

· PTH (Parathyroid Hormone)

· Vitamin D (also in Blood Panel)

➡️ Read Full Hormonal Tests Guide →

5. Biopsy, Genetic & Specialized Tests

· Tissue Biopsy (Liver, Kidney, Skin, Lymph Node)

· FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology)

· Bone Marrow Aspiration & Biopsy

· Pap Smear (Cervical Screening)

· Genetic Testing (DNA, Chromosome, BRCA1/2)

· Newborn Screening (PKU, Congenital Hypothyroidism)

· Drug Level Monitoring (Lithium, Phenytoin)

· Flow Cytometry (Leukemia diagnosis)

· Immunofixation Electrophoresis (Multiple Myeloma)

➡️ Read Full Specialized Tests Guide →

Conclusion

Getting medical tests done on time is very important for the early diagnosis of diseases. By clicking on ➡️ Read Full Blood Tests Guide →, you will get details about each test—including normal values, preparation, and procedure.