Common Acronyms
Common terminology
IVD Test Categories
Testing Workflows
Potpourri
100

The full spelling of "IVD"

In Vitro Diagnostics

100

A sample (e.g., blood, urine, tissue) taken for testing

Specimen

100

Analyzes urine for signs of disease, hydration, and metabolic function.

Urinalysis

100

Performed outside traditional lab setting, typically near patients where healthcare is provided. Allows for a quicker diagnosis & speeds up the treatment decision-making process.

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

100

This is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells

Molecular Biology

200

The full spelling of "NGS"

Next-Generation Sequencing

200

A test or analysis to determine the presence or amount of an analyte

Assay

200

Detects & identifies microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) responsible for infections.

Microbiology

200

This consists of samples sent to a laboratory for analysis. Often required for complex conditions like cancer, HIV and hepatitis

Lab-based tests

200

This analytical tool is useful for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of one or more molecules present in a sample 

Mass Spectrometry

300

The full spelling of "AMR"

Antimicrobial Resistance

300

The ability of a microorganism (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite) to resist the effects of a drug 

Antimicrobial Resistance

300

Uses antibody-antigen reactions to detect and quantify specific proteins, hormones, or infectious agents.

Immunoassays/Immunology

300

This test can help find out which antibiotic will be most effective in treating your infection

Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST)

300

A new technology used for DNA and RNA sequencing and variant/mutation detection

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

400

The full spelling of "PCR"

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

400

The chemical substances used in tests to detect analytes 

Reagents

400

Focuses on the chemical analysis of bodily fluids (usually blood or serum) to evaluate organ function and detect metabolic disorders.

Clinical Chemistry

400

This step is generally performed after culture and could be manual or automated.

Gram Staining

400

Average time after which a culture can be considered definitively negative

72 hours

500

The full spelling of "ELISA"

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
500

The substance or chemical being measured (e.g., glucose, cholesterol)

Analyte

500

This test type uses nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) analysis to detect genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer.

Molecular Diagnostics

500

Process of growing microorganisms from a clinical sample in a controlled environment, to ID the specific pathogen causing infection & determine susceptibility to antimicrobial agents

Culture

500

Specific to Sepsis patient, leading side-effect due to unnecessary empirical antibiotic therapy

Nephrotoxicity

M
e
n
u