Medical Tests/Term Definitions

A-G RATIO is the ratio of albumin to globulin in a blood test.


AORTIC DUPLEX COMPLETE (AORTA, IVC, ILIAC)- an ultrsound of the abdomen to exam the vascular system to look for blockages.

ACUTE- a rapid onset, as in acute infection; a short course (as opposed to a chronic course).

ALBUMIN is one of the two major types of protein in the blood. Manufactured in the liver, albumin decreases in chronic liver disease. It also reflects one's general nutritional status.

BARIATRIC SURGERY- The term "bariatric" refers to the treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery -- also called weight loss surgery

BILE is a complex fluid  created in the liver that flows through the biliary tract into the small intestine to break down foods.

BILIRUBIN derives from the hemoglobin of dead RBCs. Bilirubin is excreted by the liver as part of the bile. Bilirubin causes the yellow color of the skin and eyes (jaundice) which occurs in hepatitis, bile duct obstruction, and other liver disorders.

BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. This tends to rise in dehydration and in kidney or heart failure.

CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDES are fatty substances found in the blood. They are measured to assess risk for coronary heart disease and to follow the effect of dietary manipulations.

CHRONIC- continuing a long time or recurring frequently:

COMMON BILE DUCT- The duct that carries bile from the gallbladder and liver into the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine). The common bile duct is formed by the junction of the cystic duct that comes from the gallbladder and the common hepatic duct that comes from the liver.

COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)--Perhaps the most routine test is the complete blood count (CBC). The CBC examines formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets), and plasma (which is made of water, protein and other substances).

CT SCAN/CAT SCAN (Computerized Axial Tomography)- is an x-ray that uses a computer to show cross-sectional or three-dimensinal images of a bodies organs and structures.

DIFFERENTIAL is a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells and is usually expressed as a percentage of the total WBCs. Multiplying these percents by the total WBCs gives the "absolute" counts.

DRAIN (Surgical Drain)-  is a tube used to remove pus, blood or other fluids from a wound. Drains inserted after surgery are sometimes necessary to drain body fluid which may accumulate and in itself become a focus of infection.

DYSPLASIA refers to an abnormality in pathology development.

EGD- (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy)--Is a surgical exam/test that exams the lining of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum through a small tube with a camera (called an endoscope) inserted into the throat, while the patient is under anesthesia.

ERCP- (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)-- Is a surgical exam/test that exams the lining of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum through a small tube with a camera (called an endoscope) inserted into the throat, while the patient is under anesthesia, along with the use of x-rays, allowing the surgeon to inject dyes into the pancreas and biliary tree, so they can be viewed by x-ray. (If you have had bariatric surgery, this test is not an option).

EXPLORATORY SURGERY- diagnostic technique used by physicians in an effort to predict a disease. Only used when a diagnosis is suspected but x-rays and other tests are unable to confirm a diagnosis, so the doctor opens the affected area and looks manually.

EOSINOPHILS (EOS) are WBCs usually involved in allergic-type reactions.

GASTRIC BYPASS- Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine, so the patient eats less and feels full sooner. Bypassing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed. This leads to weight loss.


GASTRIC EMPTYING TIME SCAN- After patient eats or drinks a meal with radioactive material, a scan is used to monitor the length of time it takes for the meal or drink to empty from the stomach into the intestines.  Is used to determine gastroparesis, or motility issues of the stomach.


GASTRO-PARESIS- The stomach is slow or unable to digest food because of motility issues, causing pain and abdominal distention and gas. Usually caused from damage to the vegus nerve which is irreparable, but there may be other reasons. Patients may develop symptoms hypoglycemia, diabetes due to blood sugar levels dropping and rising from food staying in the stomach for long periods of time.

GALLSTONES - small stones of cholesterol formed in the gall bladder or bile passages.

Gamma GT, SGOT, SGPT, and LDH are liver enzymes found in blood tests. Elevation of these tests is most common in liver disease, but may also rise from injuries, tumors and drug reactions.

GLOBULINS are a mixture of proteins that include immunoglobulins, or antibodies.

GLUCOSE is sugar in the blood, most commonly used to monitor diabetes mellitus.

HEMATOCRIT is the volume of RBCs expressed as a percentage of the total blood volume.

HEMOGLOBIN is a protein that enables RBCs to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The amount of hemoglobin determines how much oxygen the RBCs are capable of carrying to other cells.

HEMORRHAGE (Bleeding) - a large discharge of blood from a blood vessels.


Hida Scan -(Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid Scan) is an imaging machine. Tracks the flow of bile within your liver, to your intestines in your digestive system.

INTERMITTENT- Occurring at irregular intervals; not steady:

Infection - contaminate with a disease-producing substance or agent (such as bacteria).

IRON is an essential component of hemoglobin. The iron screen is useful in identifying iron deficiency, which causes anemia (low red blood cells and hemoglobin).

LAMINA PROPRIA- is a part of the moist lining known as mucous membrane or mucosa, which line different tubes within the body (respitory tract, gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital tract).

LAPROSCOPIC- also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS) or keyhole surgery. Surgery is performed through small incisions, using TV monitors, instead of using a large incision.

LAPAROTOMY (also called Open Surgery)-using a large incision through the abdominal wall.

LYMPHOCYTES (lymphs) are cells found in blood tests that produce antibodies, regulate the immune system, and fight viruses and tumors.

MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are measures of the amount and volume of hemoglobin in the average cell of a blood test.

MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (MCV) is the average volume of the individual red blood cells of a blood test.

MONOCYTES OR MACROPHAGES (MONOS) are WBCs involved in fighting bacterial infections. Found in blood tests.

PAIN SPECIALIST - is a doctor that specializes in managing pain.

PLATELETS are an element of the blood that are important for blood clotting. They are formed in the bone marrow. Too many platelets may cause "sludging" of the blood flow.

RED BLOOD CELLS (RBC). These cells carry oxygen throughout the body.

SEGS, NEUTROPHILS, POLYS (POLYMORPHONUCLEAR CELL) are WBCs involved in fighting bacterial infections found in blood tests.

SODIUM, POTASSIUM, AND CHLORIDE are also known as electrolytes. These are monitored carefully in dehydration, and kidney disease.

UPPER GI/SMALL BLOWEL SERIES—after drinking 16-20 ounces of barium ( a thick drink) that shows up on x-rays, a machine using fluoroscony tracks the barium through the esphogus, stomach and small intestines, so a technician can watch for blockages.

WHITE BLOOD CELLS (WBC). White blood cells or leukocytes defend the body against infection.

(I'm not a doctor, if information is missing or incorrect, please let me know, so I can fix it. Thank you.)