Medical tests consume significant resources, yet the responsibility of making requests often falls on the least experienced members of the team. Junior doctors are often ill-prepared for this task during their medical education, leading them to request a large number of tests to ensure all possibilities are considered before a senior colleague takes over the patient’s care.

The book starts by addressing basic questions such as “what is a medical test?” and “why do we perform tests?” It also examines the evaluation of tests from a public health perspective, helping readers determine whether a test should be implemented in clinical practice. By explaining the fundamentals of medical decision-making based on probability thresholds, students will learn to avoid unnecessary testing when the results are unlikely to impact patient care decisions. Additionally, the book explores the advantages and disadvantages of using metrics like sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Real-life examples from various medical and surgical specialties are provided throughout the book, and it concludes with a unique checklist for doctors to consider whenever they request a test.

Written by a clinician specifically for clinicians, this book is an excellent resource for medical students and junior doctors. It equips them with the necessary knowledge to become proficient in requesting tests, ensuring they choose the most appropriate and effective ones. Furthermore, it enhances their ability to interpret test results, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

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