General wellnessMedical tests & proceduresPreventive care

7 health tests you may not need

Over-testing can add costs and could reduce your quality of care.

Jan, 2026
LearnHealth screenings7 health tests you may not need
Slide 1
Regular ECGs or Stress Tests
Scans for Back Pain
Yearly Pap Smears
Bone Density Scan
Head CT Scan for Injured Kids
Vitamin D Test
Brain Scans for Headaches

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Slide 1

When your healthcare provider orders a medical test, chances are you trust their clinical judgment. But certain tests may be unnecessary—and could even do more harm than good. 

“Besides the extra cost, some tests have risks, such as the radiation from imaging tests,” says Keith Roach, MD, Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine in the division of general medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Other tests could show a false positive result, which can lead to needless worry and invasive follow-up procedures. 

To reduce the burden of over-testing, you may want to get a second opinion regarding tests with higher risks, such as those that use radiation. Beyond that, medical organizations have come up with short lists of common procedures that may not be necessary, such as the following.

Written bySharon Liao.
Medically reviewed byJoanne Perron, MD.March, 2024
Sources: Koh ES + 31
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