A “medical examination” is a procedure or test that seeks information on an individual’s physical or mental impairments or health. When determining if a test or procedure is a medical examination, consider the following:

Does a health care professional administer the test?
Does a health care professional interpret the test?
Is the test designed to reveal a physical or mental health impairment?
Is the test invasive?
Does the test measure an employee’s performance of a task or measure the individual’s physiological responses to performing a task?
Is the test normally given in a medical setting?
Is medical equipment used?

In many cases, a combination of factors is relevant in determining if a test or procedure is a medical examination. In other cases, one factor can be enough to make that determination.

Examples of Medical Examinations

Medical examinations include the following:

Vision tests conducted and analyzed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist;
Blood, urine and breath analyses to check for alcohol use;
Blood, urine, saliva and hair analyses to detect disease or genetic markers for conditions such as sickle cell trait, breast cancer and Huntington’s disease;
Blood pressure screening and cholesterol testing;
Nerve conduction tests that screen for possible nerve damage and susceptibility to injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome;
Range of motion tests that measure muscle strength and motor function;
Pulmonary function tests that measure the lungs’ capacity to hold air and move air in and out;
Psychological tests designed to identify a mental disorder or impairment; and
Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays, computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

When Medical Exams and Inquiries Are Permitted

Medical Examinations and Inquiries Defined

Examples of Medical Examinations

When Medical Exams and Inquiries Are Permitted