MEDICAL TEST HEALTH TERMS LEGAL GLOSSARY

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Vaginal Self-Examination: A woman's visual examination of her vulva and vagina. A vaginal self-examination may help you better understand your body, the changes that take place during the menstrual cycle, and any signs that may need medical attention. The best time to perform a vaginal self-examination is between menstrual periods. A vaginal self-examination should not replace a regular pelvic examination by your health professional.

Viral Test: Done to find infection-causing viruses. Viruses are one of the smallest organisms and, unlike bacteria they multiply only within living cells. They can cause disease by destroying or disabling most of the cells they infect, by damaging the body's immune system, changing the genetic material (DNA) of the cells they infect, or causing inflammation that can damage an organ. Viruses cause many types of diseases, such as AIDS, cold sores, chickenpox, measles, flu (influenza), and some types of cancer. A Viral Test is most commonly done to help detect:

• HIV
• Herpes Simplex 
• Chickenpox, which is caused by a form of the herpes virus called varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Viral testing may be done to evaluate whether a person has developed immunity from a previous infection or after receiving the chickenpox vaccine. 
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus
• Epstein-Bar Virus
  

Vision Tests: These tests check many different functions of the eye. The tests measure your ability to see details at near and far distances, check for gaps or defects in your field of vision, and evaluate your ability to see different colors.

• Visual Acuity Tests: The most common tests used to evaluate eyesight. They measure the eye's ability to see details at near and far distances. The tests usually involve reading letters or looking at symbols of different sizes on an eye chart. Usually, each eye is tested individually, and then both eyes are tested together with and without corrective lenses (if you wear them). Several types of visual acuity tests may be used.
• Refraction: A test that measures the eyes' need for corrective lenses (refractive error). It is usually done after a visual acuity test. Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, occur when light rays entering the eye do not focus exactly on the nerve layer (retina) at the back of the eye. This causes blurred vision. Refraction is done as a routine part of an eye examination for people who already wear glasses or contact lenses, but it will also be done if the results of the other visual acuity tests show that your eyesight is below normal and can be corrected by glasses. 
• Visual Field Tests: Used to check for gaps in your range of vision. Your complete visual field is the entire area seen when your gaze is fixed in one direction. The complete visual field is seen by both eyes at the same time, and it includes the central visual field—which detects the highest degree of detail—and the side (peripheral) visual fields. 
• Color Vision Tests: Check your ability to distinguish colors. It is used to screen for color blindness in people with suspected retinal or optic nerve disease or who have a family history of color blindness. The color vision test is also used to screen applicants for jobs in fields where color perception is essential, such as law enforcement, the military, or electronics. Color vision tests only detect a problem; further testing is needed to identify what is causing the problem.
  

DISCLAIMER: The information contained within this personal injury site is of a general nature and is not meant to be a restatement of any rules of law. Your use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should hire an attorney to obtain legal advice for your specific case. 
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