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A Directory of Medical Tests

Taking a medical history and performing a physical examination usually provide the information a doctor needs to evaluate a child's health or to understand what's causing an illness. But sometimes, doctors need to order tests to find out more.

Common Tests and What They Involve:

Blood Tests

• Complete Blood Count (CDC)
• Blood Chemistry Test
• Blood Culture
• Lead Test
• Liver Function Test

Pregnancy and Newborn Tests

• Prenatal Tests
• Multiple Marker Test
• Newborn Screening Tests
• Bilirubin Level
• Hearing Screen
  

Radiology Tests

• X-Rays
• Ultrasound
• Computed Tomography (CAT Scan)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging (Upper GI)
• Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)
  

Other Tests

• Throat Culture (Strep Screen)
• Stool Test
• Urine Test
• Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Electrocardiography (EKG)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Biopsies

Blood Tests

Blood tests usually can be done in a doctor's office or in a lab where technicians are trained to take blood. When only a small amount of blood is needed, the sample can sometimes be taken from a baby by sticking a heel and from an older child by sticking a finger with a small needle.

If a larger blood sample is needed, the technician drawing the blood will clean the skin, insert a needle into a vein (usually in the arm or hand), and withdraw blood. In kids, it sometimes takes more than one try. A bandage and a cotton swab will help dry any blood left when the needle is removed.

Blood tests can be scary for kids, so try to be a calming presence during the procedure. Holding your child's hand or offering a stuffed animal or other comforting object can help. Tell your child that it may pinch a little, but that it will be over soon. With younger kids, try singing a song, saying the alphabet, or counting together while the blood is being drawn.

Common blood tests include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC). A Basic blood chemistry tests measure the levels of certain electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, in the blood. Doctors typically order them to look for any sign of kidney dysfunction, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and tissue damage.
• Blood Culture. A lead in the blood at 1 and 2 years of age since young kids are at risk for lead poisoning if they eat or inhale particles of lead-based paint. High lead levels can cause stomach problems and headaches and also have been linked to some developmental problems.
• Liver Function Test. Back to List

Pregnancy and Newborns Tests

State requirements differ regarding tests for newborns and pregnant women, and recommendations by medical experts are often updated. So talk with the doctor if you have questions about what's right for you.

• Prenatal Tests. From ultrasounds to amniocentesis, a wide array of "triple marker" or quadruple screen, this blood test can reveal conditions like Down syndrome by measuring certain hormones and protein levels in the mother's blood. Keep in mind that these are screening tests and only show the possibility of a problem existing — they don't provide definitive diagnoses. However, if results show a potential problem, a doctor will recommend other diagnostic tests.
• Newborn Screening Tests. jaundice is a harmless condition, but if the level of bilirubin gets too high, it can lead to brain damage. A baby who appears jaundiced may have a bilirubin level check, which is done with an instrument placed on the skin or by blood tests.
• Hearing Screen. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies have a Back to List
  

Radiology Tests

• X-Rays. X-rays can help doctors find a variety of conditions, including broken bones and lung infections. X-rays aren't painful, and typically involve just having the child stand, sit, or lie on a table while the X-ray machine takes a picture of the area the doctor is concerned about. The child is sometimes given a special gown or covering to help protect other areas of the body from radiation.
• Ultrasound. Though they're typically associated with pregnancy, doctors order ultrasounds in lots of different cases. For example, ultrasounds can be used to look for collections of fluid in the body, for problems with the kidneys, or to look at a baby's brain. An ultrasound is painless and uses high-frequency sound waves to bounce off organs and create a picture. A special jelly is applied to the skin, and a handheld device is moved over the skin. The sound waves that come back produce an image on a screen. The images seen on most ultrasounds are difficult for the untrained eye to decipher, so a doctor will view the image and interpret it.
• Computed Tomography (CAT scan or CT-Scan). CAT scans are a kind of X-ray, and typically are ordered to look for things such as appendicitis, internal bleeding, or abnormal growths. A scan is not painful, but sometimes can be scary for young kids. A child is asked to lie on a narrow table, which slides into a scanner. A scan may require the use of a contrast material (a dye or other substance) to improve the visibility of certain tissues or blood vessels. The contrast material may be swallowed or given through an IV.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRIs use radio waves and magnetic fields to produce an image. MRIs are often used to look at bones, joints, and the brain. The child is asked to lie on a narrow table and it slides in to the middle of an MRI machine. While MRIs are not painful, they can be noisy and long, making them scary to kids. Often, children need to be sedated for MRIs. Contrast material is sometimes given through an IV in order to get a better picture of certain structures.
• Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging (Upper GI). An upper GI is a study that involves swallowing contrast material while X-rays are taken of the top part of the digestive system. This allows the doctor to see how a child swallows. Upper GI studies are used to evaluate things like difficulty swallowing and Back to List
  

Other Tests

• Throat Culture (Strep Screen). Doctors often order stool tests if there is suspicion of something like an allergy, an infection, or digestive problems. Sometimes it is collected at home by a parent in a special container that the doctor provides. The doctor will also provide instructions on how to get the most useful sample for analysis.
• Urine Test. Doctors order lumbar puncture a small amount of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, the cerebrospinal fluid, is removed and examined. In kids, a lumbar puncture is often done to look for meningitis, an infection of the meninges (the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord). Other reasons to do lumbar punctures include: to remove fluid and relieve pressure with certain types of headaches, to look for other diseases in the central nervous system, or to place chemotherapy medications into the spinal fluid. Spinal taps, which can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis, might be uncomfortable but shouldn't be too painful. Depending on a child's age, maturity, and size, the test may be done while the child is sedated.
• Electroencephalography (EEG). EKGs measure the heart's electrical activity to help evaluate its function and identify any problems. The EKG can help determine the rate and rhythm of heartbeats, the size and position of the heart's chambers, and whether there is any damage present. EKGs can detect abnormal heart rhythms, some congenital heart defects, and heart tissue that isn't getting enough oxygen. It's not a painful procedure — the child must lie down and a series of small electrodes are fixed on the skin with sticky papers on the chest, wrists, and ankles. The patient must sit still and may be asked to hold his or her breath briefly while the heartbeats are recorded.
• Electromyography (EMG). An Back to List
  

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