laboratory test

noun

variants or lab test
: a test conducted under controlled scientific conditions in a laboratory or similar setting
… in laboratory tests of acyclovir, herpes strains have mutated to forms resistant to the drug.Linda Garmon
We've measured the amount of soap in shampoos and used lab tests to determine cleaning action and pH.Consumer Reports
specifically, medical : a test (such as a blood test or urinalysis procedure) performed by a medical laboratory on a specimen taken from a patient
Even experienced doctors cannot distinguish "strep" throat from other-caused sore throats without a laboratory test of fluid taken from the throat. Melva Weber
Those two values are seen with a complete blood count, the lab test that enumerates the number of white and red blood cells. Paul G. Donahue
laboratory testing noun
or less commonly lab testing
… it has survived nearly two years of strenuous independent laboratory testing and been certified safe for home and commercial use. Harper's

Examples of laboratory test in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The agent automatically compiles comprehensive health summaries for doctors, recommends imaging and laboratory tests, and provides clinical decision support—saving time, reducing paperwork, improving diagnostic accuracy, and enhancing the patient experience. Gil Press, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 If data based on a patient’s vital signs, laboratory tests, nurse reports and other factors points to worsening clinical status, the system issues an alert so that the patient can be rapidly evaluated by an in-person clinician. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025 The water main break has been repaired, but the advisory is expected to remain in place until late Tuesday or early Wednesday as officials wait for the results of laboratory tests. Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 15 Mar. 2025 The information available to the voting public focuses typically on the findings of a routine physical exam, resting electrocardiogram and standard laboratory tests. Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for laboratory test

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laboratory test was in 1859

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Cite this Entry

“Laboratory test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory%20test. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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