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Is bone mineral densitometry considered a quantitative or qualitative test?

User Zuza
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Final answer:

Bone mineral densitometry, like DEXA, is a quantitative test as it provides numerical data on bone density by measuring the absorption of X-ray beams through the body.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bone mineral densitometry, specifically dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), is considered a quantitative test. This test measures bone density by directing two low-dose X-ray beams through the body and determining the amount of energy absorbed from the beams, which varies based on the body's content of bone, lean tissue mass, and fat mass. Quantitative tests yield numerical data, and in the case of DEXA, these numbers are obtained using standard mathematical formulas to accurately estimate bone and fat content.

User Cornelia
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