Diagnostics
Tests and diagnostic tools that help assess health status before symptoms appear.
4.8VO2 max
The maximum amount of oxygen the body can take up during exercise — one of the strongest, well-documented predictors of lifespan, measurable in a sports diagnostics lab.
4.5DEXA scan
The gold standard for measuring bone mineral density and one of the most accurate ways to assess body composition — more precise than popular bioimpedance scales.
4.6Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC)
A non-invasive CT scan that directly measures the amount of calcification in the coronary arteries — one of the strongest available predictors of a future heart attack in people without symptoms.
4.6CT Scan (Computed Tomography)
Computed tomography is an imaging test that uses a rotating X-ray beam and computer reconstruction to produce cross-sectional images of the body — faster and more versatile than a plain X-ray, but carrying a meaningfully higher radiation dose worth understanding before deciding on the test.
4.7MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves, not ionizing radiation, to produce images with exceptionally high soft-tissue contrast — brain, spinal cord, joints, and internal organs — at the cost of a much longer scan time than CT.
4.6Ultrasound (Sonography)
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves, not radiation, to image organs in real time — it's safe, widely available, and inexpensive, though image quality depends heavily on the operator's experience and the patient's anatomy.
4.5X-Ray (Radiography)
An X-ray is the oldest and still fastest-available medical imaging method — a single, flat projection of X-radiation that can assess bones, lungs, and select chest or abdominal structures within seconds, at a low radiation dose compared with CT.
4.6Colonoscopy
An endoscopic examination of the entire large intestine that lets doctors find and immediately remove polyps before they can turn into cancer — the only widely available screening test that combines diagnosis and treatment in a single procedure.
4.5Gastroscopy (Upper GI Endoscopy)
An endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum that provides a direct view of the upper gastrointestinal lining, allowing tissue sampling and therapeutic procedures within the same session.
4.7Mammography
An X-ray examination of the breast that is the primary method for screening detection of breast cancer at an early, asymptomatic stage — the only imaging test with mortality reduction documented in randomized clinical trials.
4.6Pap Smear (Cervical Cytology)
A microscopic examination of cells collected from the cervix that can detect precancerous changes years before cancer could develop — one of the most effective screening tests in oncology, responsible for a dramatic drop in cervical cancer mortality wherever it's performed systematically.
4.6Resting ECG
The resting electrocardiogram is the simplest and fastest test of the heart's electrical activity — a few-minute, painless recording of 12 leads that can be the first sign of arrhythmia, ischemia, or a conduction disorder, though a normal result doesn't rule out structural or paroxysmal heart disease.
4.7Echocardiography (Cardiac Echo)
Echocardiography is a real-time ultrasound test of the heart that — unlike an ECG, which only assesses electrical activity — shows chamber structure, valve function, and the strength of the heart muscle's contraction, with no radiation exposure.
4.6Exercise Stress Test
An exercise stress test monitors the heart's electrical activity, blood pressure, and symptoms during gradually increasing physical exertion on a treadmill or stationary bike, revealing heart muscle ischemia that remains invisible on a resting ECG.
4.6Holter ECG and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Holter ECG and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) are two distinct ambulatory tests that record — respectively — an electrocardiographic trace or blood pressure values during everyday life over 24 hours or longer, catching disturbances invisible on a single office measurement.
4.6Spirometry
Spirometry is the basic, non-invasive lung function test that measures the volume and speed of airflow during breathing — the foundation for diagnosing asthma, COPD, and other respiratory conditions and for tracking their course over time.
4.7Polysomnography (Sleep Study)
Polysomnography (PSG) is a comprehensive test that simultaneously records brain activity, eye movements, muscle tone, airflow, respiratory effort, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm throughout a full night's sleep — the gold standard for diagnosing breathing disorders and assessing sleep architecture.
4.6Vascular Doppler Ultrasound
Vascular Doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves and the Doppler effect to assess blood flow in arteries and veins — the basic tool for diagnosing venous thrombosis, arterial atherosclerosis, and other vascular diseases.
4.6Angiography and CT Angiography
Classic (catheter) angiography and computed tomography angiography (CT angiography) are two methods for precisely imaging the inside of blood vessels after contrast injection — the first invasive and allowing treatment in the same procedure, the second non-invasive and performed on an outpatient basis.
4.6Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a tissue or cell sample for examination under a microscope — the only method that gives a definitive histopathological diagnosis for lesions whose nature can't be settled by imaging alone. It covers a broad family of techniques, from a thin needle to a surgical procedure, chosen individually based on the location and type of the suspected lesion.
4.6Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive test that records the brain's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the scalp. It's the primary tool for diagnosing epilepsy and distinguishing seizures from other causes of loss of consciousness, though a single normal recording never rules out disease on its own.
4.7Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a functional test assessing how the body handles a standardized dose of glucose over time — from a fasting measurement, through drinking a 75 g glucose solution, to serial blood draws over the following hours. Unlike a single fasting glucose measurement or HbA1c, it reveals early, dynamic disturbances in glucose tolerance.
4.6Liver Elastography (FibroScan)
Liver elastography (FibroScan) is a non-invasive ultrasound-based test measuring the stiffness of liver tissue, an indirect indicator of the degree of liver fibrosis. Unlike a biopsy, it doesn't require puncturing the organ, the result is available immediately, and the test can be safely repeated to monitor disease progression over time.