MEDICAL TEST GUIDE FOR THE HEALTHY PERSON

In the United States, more than 10 billion medical tests are performed each year. That works out to an average of more than 40 such tests per American annually.

With the exception of life-threatening emergencies, physicians are not allowed to order medical tests without your permission. Doctors have a legal obligation to explain the potential consequences of refusing to have a recommended test, but legally you must first be asked.

This chart is a guide to the basic medical procedures for healthy adults and the frequency with which they should be performed. The less-than-healthy individual may need other tests on other schedules. AGES 18-40 Type of Test: Physical exam Purpose of Test: Spots disorders Frequency of Test: Every 5 years Type of Test: Blood pressure Purpose of Test: Checks hypertension Frequency of Test: Every 2-3 years Type of Test: Vision Purpose of Test: Vision disorders Frequency of Test: Every 5 years; corrective lens wearers 2-3 years Type of Test: Tuberculin test Purpose of Test: Tuberculosis Frequency of Test: Every 5 years until 35; if high-risk every 1-2 years Type of Test: Colonoscopy Purpose of Test: Colon cancer Frequency of Test: Every 10 years or more if cancer in family history Type of Test: Glaucoma test Purpose of Test: Glaucoma Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Urinalysis Purpose of Test: Kidney disease Frequency of Test: Every 5-10 years Type of Test: Hematocrit Purpose of Test: Anemia Frequency of Test: Men: 8-10 years; Women: 3-5 years Type of Test: Blood glucose Purpose of Test: Diabetes Frequency of Test: Every 8-10 years Type of Test: Cholesterol Purpose of Test: Heart disease risk Frequency of Test: Every 5-10 years Type of Test: Hearing test Purpose of Test: Hearing impairment Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Test for blood in stool Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Sigmoidoscopy Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: N/A MEN ONLY: Type of Test: Testicular self-exam Purpose of Test: Testicular cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly WOMEN ONLY: Type of Test: Pap smear Purpose of Test: Cervical cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years if 2 have been normal Type of Test: Breast self-exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly Type of Test: Breast exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Mammography Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Once between age 35-39 Type of Test: Rubella Purpose of Test: Immunity to rubella (German measles) Frequency of Test: Only once AGES 41-50 Type of Test: Physical exam Purpose of Test: Spots disorders Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Blood pressure Purpose of Test: Checks hypertension Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Vision Purpose of Test: Vision disorders Frequency of Test: Every 3 years; corrective lens wearers 2-3 years Type of Test: Tuberculin test Purpose of Test: Tuberculosis Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Colonoscopy Purpose of Test: Colon cancer Frequency of Test: Every 5 years or more if in family Type of Test: Glaucoma test Purpose of Test: Glaucoma Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Urinalysis Purpose of Test: Kidney disease Frequency of Test: Every 5-10 years Type of Test: Hematocrit Purpose of Test: Anemia Frequency of Test: Men: 8-10 years; Women: 3-5 years Type of Test: Blood glucose Purpose of Test: Diabetes Frequency of Test: Every 8-10 years Type of Test: Cholesterol Purpose of Test: Heart disease risk Frequency of Test: Every 3-5 years Type of Test: Hearing test Purpose of Test: Hearing impairment Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Test for blood in stool Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Sigmoidoscopy Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: N/A MEN ONLY: Type of Test: Testicular self-exam Purpose of Test: Testicular cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly WOMEN ONLY: Type of Test: Pap smear Purpose of Test: Cervical cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years if 2 have been normal Type of Test: Breast self-exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly Type of Test: Breast exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Mammography Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Rubella Purpose of Test: Immunity to rubella (German measles) Frequency of Test: N/A AGES 51-60 Type of Test: Physical exam Purpose of Test: Spots disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Blood pressure Purpose of Test: Checks hypertension Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Vision Purpose of Test: Vision disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years; corrective lens wearers 1-2 years Type of Test: Tuberculin test Purpose of Test: Tuberculosis Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Colonoscopy Purpose of Test: Colon cancer Frequency of Test: Every 3 years or more if in family Type of Test: Glaucoma test Purpose of Test: Glaucoma Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Urinalysis Purpose of Test: Kidney disease Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Hematocrit Purpose of Test: Anemia Frequency of Test: Men: 3-5 years; Women: 3-5 years Type of Test: Blood glucose Purpose of Test: Diabetes Frequency of Test: Every 8-10 years Type of Test: Cholesterol Purpose of Test: Heart disease risk Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Hearing test Purpose of Test: Hearing impairment Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Test for blood in stool Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every year Type of Test: Sigmoidoscopy Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every 3 years MEN ONLY: Type of Test: Testicular self-exam Purpose of Test: Testicular cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly WOMEN ONLY: Type of Test: Pap smear Purpose of Test: Cervical cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years if 2 have been normal Type of Test: Breast self-exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly Type of Test: Breast exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Mammography Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Rubella Purpose of Test: Immunity to rubella (German measles) Frequency of Test: N/A AGES 61-70 Type of Test: Physical exam Purpose of Test: Spots disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Blood pressure Purpose of Test: Checks hypertension Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Vision Purpose of Test: Vision disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years; corrective lens wearers 1-2 years Type of Test: Tuberculin test Purpose of Test: Tuberculosis Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Colonoscopy Purpose of Test: Colon cancer Frequency of Test: Every 3 years or more if in family Type of Test: Glaucoma test Purpose of Test: Glaucoma Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Urinalysis Purpose of Test: Kidney disease Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Hematocrit Purpose of Test: Anemia Frequency of Test: Men: 3-5 years; Women: 3-5 years Type of Test: Blood glucose Purpose of Test: Diabetes Frequency of Test: Every 8-10 years Type of Test: Cholesterol Purpose of Test: Heart disease risk Frequency of Test: Every 3 years Type of Test: Hearing test Purpose of Test: Hearing impairment Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Test for blood in stool Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every year Type of Test: Sigmoidoscopy Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years MEN ONLY: Type of Test: Testicular self-exam Purpose of Test: Testicular cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly WOMEN ONLY: Type of Test: Pap smear Purpose of Test: Cervical cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years if 2 have been normal Type of Test: Breast self-exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly Type of Test: Breast exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Mammography Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Rubella Purpose of Test: Immunity to rubella (German measles) Frequency of Test: N/A AGES 71-80 Type of Test: Physical exam Purpose of Test: Spots disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Blood pressure Purpose of Test: Checks hypertension Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Vision Purpose of Test: Vision disorders Frequency of Test: Every 2 years; corrective lens wearers 1-2 years Type of Test: Tuberculin test Purpose of Test: Tuberculosis Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Colonoscopy Purpose of Test: Colon cancer Frequency of Test: Every 3 years or more if in family Type of Test: Glaucoma test Purpose of Test: Glaucoma Frequency of Test: Every year Type of Test: Urinalysis Purpose of Test: Kidney disease Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Hematocrit Purpose of Test: Anemia Frequency of Test: Men: 3-5 years; Women: 3-5 years Type of Test: Blood glucose Purpose of Test: Diabetes Frequency of Test: Every 8-10 years Type of Test: Cholesterol Purpose of Test: Heart disease risk Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Hearing test Purpose of Test: Hearing impairment Frequency of Test: Every 2 years Type of Test: Test for blood in stool Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every year Type of Test: Sigmoidoscopy Purpose of Test: Bowel cancer Frequency of Test: Every 2 years MEN ONLY: Type of Test: Testicular self-exam Purpose of Test: Testicular cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly WOMEN ONLY: Type of Test: Pap smear Purpose of Test: Cervical cancer Frequency of Test: N/A Type of Test: Breast self-exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Monthly Type of Test: Breast exam Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Mammography Purpose of Test: Breast cancer Frequency of Test: Every 1-2 years Type of Test: Rubella Purpose of Test: Immunity to rubella (German measles) Frequency of Test: N/A Source: Rufus Moore, Jr. M.D.; Gregory A. Nelson, M.D.