Diagnostic Tests for Pneumonia

Diagnostic Test list for Pneumonia:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Pneumonia includes:

• Physical examination
  • Inspect sputum for color and consistency if possible
  • Blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature
  • Examine lungs noting breath sounds and their intensity and alsothe presence of added sounds. Crackles suggest congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, lung fibrosis or bronchiectasis. Wheezes suggest asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count for evidence of infection
  • ESR may be elevated with any bacterial chest infection, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung abscess or lung cancer
  • Electrolytes
  • Serology for atypical pneumonia organisms - e.g. mycoplasma, Chlamydia, pertussis, Q fever antibodies, Legionella antibodies.
  • Blood cultures if fever is present
  • HIV serology, if indicated
• Sputum tests
  • Sputum microscopy and culture
  • Sputum culture for acid fast bacilli to rule out tuberculosis if suspected
• Lung function tests - can help distinguish between various lung diseases.
• Arterial blood gases - to look for signs of pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax and other lung diseases.
• Radiological investigations
• Chest X-Ray can show signs of pneumonia and many other lung diseases
• CT scan or MRI scan of chest - more sensitive then chest X-Ray, used to further characterize abnormalities found on Chest X-Ray.
• Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy with or without lung biopsy - may detect lung cancer, bronchiectasis, foreign body and chronic fibrotic lung disease. Can also obtain fluid samples for microscopy and culture if person with pneumonia is not improving on treatment.
• Tuberculin skin test - may diagnose tuberculosis, but misleading if previous BCG vaccination.
• Chest x-rays
• Blood tests
• Sputum tests

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Pneumonia causes:

• Lung & Respiratory Health Tests:
  • Asthma-Related Home Test Kits
  • Home Lung Function Test Kits

 » Next page: Glossary

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