workups

Workup refers to a planned sequence of evaluations, tests, and procedures designed to investigate a problem, establish a diagnosis, or guide subsequent management. The term is common in medicine but also used in other disciplines to denote systematic investigation.

In medical practice, a workup begins with data collection: history and physical examination, followed by targeted laboratory tests, imaging, and sometimes specialist consultations. The goal is to generate a prioritized differential diagnosis and to rule in or out serious conditions. Examples include cardiac workups for chest pain, infectious workups for fever, abdominal pain workups, and preoperative workups to assess fitness for surgery. The scope is guided by presentation, risk factors, and initial findings. Tests are chosen for diagnostic yield, safety, and practicality, and results are interpreted within the pretest probability framework. Documentation typically includes the differential, testing plan, and interpretation of results, with subsequent steps such as treatment, observation, or further evaluation.

In other contexts, workups describe similar investigative processes, such as technical workups in engineering and quality assurance, forensic or environmental investigations, or research data analysis pipelines. The goal across domains is to move from an initial problem statement to an evidence-based conclusion while managing uncertainty and avoiding unnecessary testing.

Limitations include incidental findings, false positives or negatives, and overtesting. A completed workup may lead to a firm diagnosis, a management plan, or the decision to monitor and reassess over time.