List of questionable diagnostic tests explained

This is a list of medical diagnostic tests that are considered questionable, unverified or refuted.^[1]

• Applied kinesiology,^[2] including the Bi-Digital O Ring Test^[3]
• Barnes Basal Temperature Test
• Breast thermography^[4]
• Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid (EPFX)^[5]
• Electrodermal diagnostic devices^{[6] [7]} (e.g. Vega machines, E-meters)
• Genetic tests for "reward deficiency syndrome"^[8]
• Hair analysis^{[9] [10]}
• IgG antibody testing for food intolerances and food allergies^{[7] [11]}
• Live blood analysis^[12]
• Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
• Pendulum dowsing
• Proove Opioid Risk test (POR)
• Provoked urine testing for heavy metal toxicity^[13]
• Radionics
• SPECT scans for diagnosing psychological disorders
• Unvalidated Lyme disease testing, often used to diagnose so-called chronic Lyme disease^[14]
• Unvalidated mycotoxin tests^[15]

See also

• List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
• Quackery
• List of diagnoses characterized as pseudoscience

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dubious diagnostic tests. QuackWatch. Stephen . Barrett . Stephen Barrett. 5 July 2018. 6 May 2018.
2. Bernstein IL, Li JT, Bernstein DI, Hamilton R, Spector SL, Tan R . Allergy diagnostic testing: an updated practice parameter. . Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol . 2008 . 100 . 3 Suppl 3 . S1-148 . 18431959 . 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60305-5. etal.
3. http://www.mpdt.org.nz/decisionsorders/decisions/0289dfindings.pdf Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal of New Zealand findings in re Richard Gorringe and the PMRT/Bi-Digital O-Ring Test
4. Web site: ASA Adjudication on Medical Thermal Imaging Ltd . Advertising Standards Authority . 2013-01-09 . January 5, 2015.
5. Web site: Some Notes on the Quantum Xrroid (QXCI) and William C. Nelson. Stephen . Barrett . Stephen Barrett. 12 July 2009. 2007-02-12. Quackwatch.
6. Web site: Barrett . Stephen . Quack "Electrodiagnostic" Devices . Quackwatch . 8 September 2022 . 14 February 2018.
7. Web site: Alternative Food Allergy Tests to Avoid . Kids with Food Allergies . Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America . 8 September 2022.
8. Web site: Dubious Genetic Testing. Stephen. Barrett. Harriet. Hall. 5 July 2018. 24 November 2008.
9. Seidel . S. . Assessment of Commercial Laboratories Performing Hair Mineral Analysis . JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association . 285 . 67–72 . 2001 . 1 . 10.1001/jama.285.1.67 . 11150111.
10. Web site: Hair Analysis: What Can Your Hair Tell About You?.
11. Web site: The Myth of IgG Food Panel Testing . American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . 8 September 2022.
12. Web site: CLIA regulation of unestablished laboratory tests . . July 2001 . January 26, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170428160641/https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-00-00250.pdf . April 28, 2017 . dead .
13. Web site: How the "Urine Toxic Metals" Test Is Used to Defraud Patients. QuackWatch. 5 July 2018. Stephen . Barrett . Stephen Barrett. 10 June 2017.
14. News: Daley . Beth . Can you trust Lyme Disease tests? . 9 September 2022 . WGBH . 17 June 2014 . en.
15. Kawamoto . M . Page . E. Notes from the field: Use of unvalidated urine mycotoxin tests for the clinical diagnosis of illness--United States, 2014. . MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . 20 February 2015 . 64 . 6 . 157–8 . 25695323 . 4584707 .