Which term describes tests ordered by the physician to aid in establishing a diagnosis?

• A. Diagnostic tests
• B. Re-evaluations
• C. Consultations
• D. Admission orders

Answer: (A)

Tests ordered to aid in establishing a diagnosis are called diagnostic tests. These are the objective investigations—such as blood work, imaging studies, or biopsies—that help confirm or rule out potential conditions after the physician has considered the patient’s symptoms, history, and exam findings. Re-evaluations involve reassessing a patient’s status or response to treatment, not initiating tests to determine a diagnosis. Consultations are evaluations by specialists, which may guide management but aren’t the same as the diagnostic tests themselves. Admission orders are instructions for hospital admission that may include tests, medications, or procedures, but the term for the tests used to establish a diagnosis remains diagnostic tests.