It begins like this: a bodily abnormality interrupts what appears to be a typical day. Maybe it’s a sharp pain that won’t let up and has you meeting with a medical professional immediately, or maybe it’s something more discreet that you initially shrug off before it gradually evolves into something that raises more of a red flag, the kind that makes you start taking it seriously enough to finally set up an appointment with your doctor. Or, maybe it’s that general series of symptoms we all know and love—fever, cough, chills—that have us reaching for tissues and at-home tests.

All of the above are examples of situations that require diagnostic testing, which allows you and your healthcare provider to know what illness you are suffering from and develop a treatment plan. Diagnostic testing can sound a bit intimidating, but it exists for the opposite purpose. Whether to confirm you don’t have the disease you initially thought you did and are able to put your mind at ease or pinpoint the specifics of your condition, diagnostic tests are designed to shed light on whatever ailment it is that you’re dealing with. And when it all comes down to it, tests might just save your life— while it isn’t feasible to run to your doctor for every little cough and sneeze, reoccurring symptoms should not be ignored. In this type of situation, avoiding the problem completely could make it worse.

“Don’t let the fear of facing the prognosis keep you from finding out the truth,” said family-sports medicine physician Siraj Abdullah, D.O. with Piedmont Physicians at Stadium Drive in Phenix City. “After all, within moderation, it’s much better to be on the cautious side of things than to find out you waited too long to begin any kind of substantial treatment.”

Some of the most common types of diagnostic testing include:

• In-Office testing: Valuable tests for detecting specific sources of infection such as influenza, Covid-19, RSV, etc. They allow your provider to be good stewards of antibiotics and other medicines in your treatment.

• Blood testing: These tests help diagnose a range of chronic conditions, from diabetes and high cholesterol to even rarer conditions. Turnaround time varies based on the complexity of the test, and results can take anywhere from a day to a week after testing occurs to be reported.

• Radiography: Traditional x-rays can reveal acute injuries, chronic bone conditions, or signs of more systemic disease. Some doctor’s offices have these on-site, adding convenience to your visit. Other types of imaging such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound are often requested by your doctor in order for them to see more of a specific area or identify abnormalities not seen on x-ray.

• Endoscopy: Also used for screening, endoscopy allows the specialist to look directly inside your body at the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary tract, to name just a few.

Diagnostic testing can be conveniently completed at many Piedmont locations. To schedule a visit with Primary Care, Urgent Care, or to find a location near you, visit piedmont.org/patient-tools/piedmont-now.