Gold Standard Tests

Gold standard test: Stroke

Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) first

Gold standard test: Meningitis

Lumbar puncture / cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

Gold standard test: Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Gold standard test: Seizures

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Gold standard test: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Compression ultrasound

Gold standard test: Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography

Gold standard test: Atrial fibrillation (A-fib)

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Gold standard test: Heart failure

Echocardiogram

Gold standard test: Asthma / chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Spirometry

Gold standard test: Gallstones

Right upper quadrant (RUQ) ultrasound

Gold standard test: Pancreatitis

Lipase

Gold standard test: Colon cancer

Colonoscopy + biopsy

Gold standard test: Thyroid disorder

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) first

Gold standard test: Diabetes

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) / fasting glucose

Gold standard test: Osteoporosis

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

Gold standard test: Gout

Joint aspiration / crystal analysis

Gold standard test: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)

Gold standard test: Lupus

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) screening; anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) / anti-Smith more specific

Gold standard test: Herniated disc

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Gold standard test: Fracture

X-ray first

Gold standard test: Ectopic pregnancy

Transvaginal ultrasound + beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)