In vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests are performed on samples such as blood, tissue or urine. They provide information which can be used to detect the presence of an infection, diagnose a medical condition, or monitor the effects of a therapeutic.
IVD tests are often supplied in a kit format containing everything necessary to rapidly generate a result, with products ranging from simple ELISA or lateral flow assays, through immunohistochemical (IHC) pathology kits, to more complex tests designed to detect DNA or RNA. It is also possible to purchase individual components such as IVD grade antibodies, proteins or cell biology reagents.