Health Exam Tests

Health Measurements by Participant Age and Gender

Physician’s exam - all ages

Blood pressure - ages 8 years and older

Bone density - ages 8 years and older

Condition of teeth - ages 5 years and older

Vision test - ages 12 years and older

Hearing test - ages 12-19 years and 70 years and older

Height, weight, and other body measures - all ages

Ophthalmology exam for eye diseases - ages 40 and older

Breathing tests - ages 6-79 years

Lab Tests on Urine: (6 years and older)

Kidney function tests - ages 6 years and older

Sexually transmitted disease (STD)

Chlamydia and gonorrhea - ages 14-39

Exposure to environmental chemicals - selected persons ages 6 and older 

Pregnancy test - females 12 years and older and girls 8-11 years who have periods

Lab Tests on Blood: (1 year and older)

Anemia - all ages

Total Cholesterol and HDL - ages 6 years and older

Glucose measures - ages 12 years and older

Infectious diseases - ages 2 years and older

Kidney function tests - ages 12 years and older

Lead - 1 year and older

Cadmium - 1 year and older

Mercury - ages 1 and older

Liver function tests - ages 12 years and older

Nutrition status - 1 year and older

Thyroid function test - ages 12 years and older

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)- males ages 40 and older

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)

Genital Herpes - ages 14-49 years

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - ages 18-49 years

Human papillomavirus (HPV) antibody - ages 14-59 years

Exposure to environmental chemicals - selected persons ages 6 and older

Lab Tests on Water

Environmental chemicals - 12 years and older in half of households

Other Lab Tests

Vaginal swabs (self-administered) females ages 14-59 years

Human papillomavirus (HPV) ages 14-59 years

Private Health Interviews

Health status - ages 12 and older

Questions about drug and alcohol use - ages 12 years and older (No drug testing will be done)

Nutrition - all ages

Reproductive health - females ages 12 years and older

Questions about sexual experience - ages 14-69 years

Tobacco use - ages 12 years and older

After the Visit to the NHANES Examination Center

Persons asked about the foods they eat will receive a phone call 3-10 days after their exam for a similar interview, all ages.

Then participants, or an adult for participants 1-15 years old, will be asked about food shopping habits.

Persons who test positive for hepatitis C will be asked to participate in a brief telephone interview 6 months after the exam.  Parents will respond for children.

This page last reviewed October 30, 2007