Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

Esophageal manometry is a test that measures how well the esophagus moves food from the mouth to the stomach. A thin, flexible catheter with pressure sensors is passed through the nose into the esophagus while you swallow sips of water. It helps diagnose swallowing problems such as achalasia, esophageal spasms and scleroderma, and takes about 15 minutes.

A C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that measures CRP, a protein the liver releases when there's inflammation. Providers use it to diagnose and monitor infections and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. A normal CRP level is less than 0.9 mg/dL. CRP shows that inflammation is present but not where it is or what's causing it.

Biomarker testing checks a sample of tissue, blood or other fluid for gene changes, proteins or other substances that give information about a cancer. These tumor markers help a provider profile the tumor, pick treatments that are more likely to work, predict how it may behave and check whether treatment is working.

An upper GI series is an imaging test that uses fluoroscopy, a moving form of X-ray, to look inside the esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine. You drink a chalky liquid called barium that coats these organs so they stand out. It's painless and helps find tissue changes, structural problems and swallowing or emptying problems.

A Gleason score is a grading system for prostate cancer. A pathologist looks at prostate tissue from a biopsy under a microscope, grades the two largest cancer areas from 1 to 5, and adds them together. Scores range from 6 (low grade) to 10 (high grade). Lower-grade cancer tends to grow more slowly and is less likely to spread.

Kidney function tests are blood and urine tests that show how well the kidneys work. The two key results are the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR). An eGFR of 100 or higher is typical for adults, and below 60 may point to chronic kidney disease. A uACR below 30 mg/g is typical.

A brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a painless scan that makes clear pictures of the structures inside the head, mainly the brain. It uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer instead of radiation. Providers use it to diagnose and monitor stroke, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and brain aneurysms. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

A heart screening is a group of tests that look for heart disease before you have symptoms. It can include blood tests for cholesterol and blood sugar, an electrocardiogram (EKG), an echocardiogram and a calcium score test. The results show your risk of heart attack and stroke so your provider can plan ways to lower it.

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a blood test that separates the proteins in your blood by size, shape and electrical charge, then measures how much is in each group. Unusually high or low levels can point to conditions such as infection, inflammation, liver or kidney disease, autoimmune disease, malnutrition, MGUS or multiple myeloma. No preparation is needed.

A thyroid biopsy removes a small sample of cells and fluid from your thyroid gland, usually from a nodule, so a specialist can check it for cancer and other problems. Nearly all are fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies guided by ultrasound.

A renal scan, or kidney scan, is a nuclear medicine test that shows how well your kidneys work, as well as their shape, size and position. A small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein, and a special camera follows it through your kidneys.

A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol, a hormone made by your adrenal glands, in your blood, urine or saliva. It checks whether you have too much or too little, which helps providers diagnose conditions like Cushing syndrome, Addison's disease and certain tumors. Because cortisol rises and falls through the day, you may need more than one test.

Neer's test is a quick physical exam to check for shoulder impingement, a painful pinching around the shoulder when you move it. Your provider steadies your shoulder blade, turns your arm so your thumb points down and slowly lifts it. Pain at the top of that movement suggests impingement. The test takes seconds and has no risks.

The Romberg test is a quick physical exam that checks your balance. You stand with your feet together, first with your eyes open and then closed, while a provider watches how much you sway. Losing balance only when your eyes are closed points to a problem with proprioception, your body's sense of its own position. It has no risks.

Videonystagmography (VNG) is a test that checks the vestibular system, the inner ear and brain network that keeps you balanced. You wear goggles with small cameras that record your eye movements while you follow targets and change positions. It looks for nystagmus, a type of involuntary eye movement. The test takes about an hour and is painless.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a painless test that records the brain's electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp. It helps providers diagnose epilepsy and look into symptoms such as confusion, fainting or memory loss. A routine EEG takes 20 to 30 minutes, while other types record for an hour, a full day or longer. Side effects are rare.

A rheumatoid factor (RF) test is a blood test that measures rheumatoid factor, an antibody the immune system can make by mistake that may damage healthy tissue. It helps diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome and lupus. A normal result is less than 20 U/mL. A positive result doesn't diagnose anything on its own.

A lipase blood test measures how much lipase, a digestive enzyme made mostly by the pancreas, is in the blood. A normal level is generally 0 to 160 U/L, though labs vary. A level 3 or more times the top of the normal range may signal acute pancreatitis. You usually need to fast for 8 to 12 hours.

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is an ultrasound test that makes detailed pictures of the heart and upper aorta from inside the body. While you're sedated, a provider guides a thin, flexible tube down the throat into the esophagus, right behind the heart. It can find valve disease, blood clots, infections and aortic aneurysms. You'll need a ride home.

An Apo B (apolipoprotein B-100) test is a blood test that helps estimate the risk of heart and blood vessel disease by counting "bad" cholesterol particles such as LDL and VLDL. A normal level is 66 to 133 mg/dL for males and 60 to 117 mg/dL for females. A level above 130 mg/dL means higher risk.

H. pylori tests check for Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection that is a major cause of stomach ulcers and peptic ulcer disease. The four types are a breath (urea) test, a stool antigen test, a blood antibody test and an upper endoscopy with biopsy.

A kidney ultrasound, also called a renal ultrasound, is an imaging test that uses sound waves to make pictures of your kidneys and bladder. It helps providers find problems such as kidney stones, cysts, blockages, infection and tumors. It is safe, painless and uses no radiation.

An HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) test is a blood test that shows whether the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is in the blood. A confirmed positive result means you have hepatitis B and can pass it to others, while a negative result means you don't have an active infection. No preparation is needed.

A hydrogen breath test is a simple, noninvasive test that measures hydrogen in your breath after you drink a test sugar. It helps diagnose digestive problems such as lactose and other sugar intolerances and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and it can help when providers are evaluating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).