Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are part of healthy digestive systems, but some strains produce poisons called Shiga toxins that can cause severe diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Lab tests can detect these disease-causing E. coli to help diagnose an infection.
Genital and oral herpes are common infections in the United States. Learn more about tests used to diagnose these conditions and how to interpret test results.
Genetic tests for targeted cancer therapy detect mutations (changes) in the DNA of cancer cells. Knowing whether the cancer has a particular mutation can help guide the type of treatment that a person receives. The presence or absence of certain mutations can predict who may benefit from certain drugs and who is not likely to respond.
