Diagnostika

Diagnostika is a term used in several languages to denote the process and discipline of identifying the nature of a problem through examination and analysis. It spans medicine, engineering, information technology and other fields, and aims to determine a diagnosis, fault, or condition that explains observed data.

In medicine, diagnostika is the systematic process of identifying diseases or injuries. It combines patient history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests such as laboratory studies, imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI), and sometimes genetic analyses. Clinicians consider differential diagnoses, apply diagnostic criteria, and establish a working diagnosis and treatment plan. Diagnostic accuracy is described in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, and uncertainty is acknowledged where appropriate.

In engineering and information technology, diagnostics refers to fault detection and health assessment of systems and components. Methods include sensor monitoring, data analytics, diagnostic software, and root-cause analysis. Automotive, aerospace and industrial domains rely on onboard diagnostics to guide maintenance and prevent failures, while IT uses system and application diagnostics to ensure reliability and performance.

Diagnostic practice has evolved from pattern recognition in antiquity to modern, evidence-based methods aided by laboratory testing, imaging, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. Ethical considerations include informed consent, privacy, accessibility, and the limits of test accuracy.