In vitro diagnostics

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests are medical tests conducted in a test tube, or more generally in a controlled environment outside a living organism. In vitro means in glass in Latin.

Usage
Common tests include blood tests for glucose, liver enzymes, levels of electrolytes such as calcium, sodium, and potassium, and tests for drugs.

Purposes of testing include protecting the blood supply, monitoring the levels of drugs given and providing information to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. These tests are generally run in hospital pathology laboratories and can in specific instances also be carried out in doctors’ surgeries, in high street pharmacies or by patients themselves.