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Nurses and tech friends, this is the third batch of the most important Nursing laboratory test that every nurse enthusiast should know by heart. It is not only the doctors and medical technologists that must know these tests but the nurses as well. For tech lovers, it also does not hurt to know something about this.

1. Guthrie test – test for phenylalanine levels to diagnose PKU
2. Nitrazine test – test for acidity / alkalinity; red for acid and blue for alkaline
3. Fern test – microscopic exam to determine rupture of membrane (ROM), (+) if there’s NaCl fern-like crystal seen
4. Post-coital test – done within 1-2 days of presumed ovulation, a test for fertility; determine the number and motility of sperm
5. Beutler test – like Guthrie test but this is to screen for galactosemia
6. Scotch tape test – done before bowel movement early in the morning to detect pinworms
7. Patch test – introduce an allergen into the skin to detect allergies (refer to the picture)
8. Tensilon test – a test for myasthenia gravis to determine whether it is myasthenic / cholinergic crisis by administering Edrophonium (Tensilon); if symptoms intensify, it is cholinergic
9. Voice test – examiner stand 1-2 feet away and let the patient block 1 ear; the examiner whispers a statement and asks the patient to repeat it. Each ear is tested separately
10. Serum trough and peak level – to know the effectiveness of gentamicin by getting a sample 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the 3^rd dose is given
11. Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test – specific for syphilis
12. (RAIU) radio active iodine uptake test – if increased then hyperthyroidism; if decreased then hypothyroidism
13. ANA (anti-nucleic antibody test), then Coomb’s test then Complement test – most definitive tests for SLE
14. Glucose tolerance test – NPO (nothing per orem or nothing taken per mouth) during pre-procedure, drink high CHO (carbohydrate) substance then take the patient’s glucose level an hour after. An increase means impaired glucose tolerance if negative DM (diabetes mellitus)
15. Non-stress test – an evaluation of fetal heart rate response to natural contractile activity
16. Ishihara color test -  numerous plates with colored dots and pattern; if unable to read pattern then suggestive of color blindness (Blue, Green, Red for adults while Red, Orange, Yellow for elderly)
17. Bjernum tangent plate – to test central vision, if lost central vision then suggestive of macular degeneration
18. AIMS(Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) – used to assess tardive dyskinesia
19. Tine (prick) test – usually the first test done to detect TB, done before PPD, there’s a disk with tuberculin antigen used to puncture the skin
20. Tissue culture test – to test for the virus present
21. Sensitivity test – tests for bacteria present for prescription of antibiotics
22. Trendelenburg test – raise legs to inspect for varicosities
23. Anti-nuclear antibody test – test also used in rheumatoid arthritis

Maximize tech to your advantage by learning all these important Nursing laboratory tests only here in this site. Enjoy!