Medical Test Guide For The Healthy Person

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.