laboratory test
noun
variants
or lab test
: a test conducted under controlled scientific conditions in a laboratory or similar setting
… in laboratory tests of acyclovir, herpes strains have mutated to forms resistant to the drug.—Linda Garmon
We've measured the amount of soap in shampoos and used lab tests to determine cleaning action and pH.—Consumer Reports
specifically, medical
: a test (such as a blood test or urinalysis procedure) performed by a medical laboratory on a specimen taken from a patient
Even experienced doctors cannot distinguish "strep" throat from other-caused sore throats without a laboratory test of fluid taken from the throat. —Melva Weber
Those two values are seen with a complete blood count, the lab test that enumerates the number of white and red blood cells. —Paul G. Donahue
laboratory testing
noun
or less commonly lab testing
… it has survived nearly two years of strenuous independent laboratory testing and been certified safe for home and commercial use.
—Harper's
Cite this Entry
“Laboratory test.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory%20test. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
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