What preoperative test is indicated for all female patients?

• A. Pregnancy test
• B. Cardiac stress test
• C. Chest X-ray
• D. Urinalysis

Answer: (A)

Screening for pregnancy before surgery is essential because pregnancy status changes perioperative management and fetal safety. Knowing whether a patient is pregnant informs anesthesia choices, medication use, and exposure to imaging or radiation, and it guides timing—elective procedures may be postponed and planning adjusted if pregnancy is detected. If pregnancy is confirmed, appropriate obstetric considerations come into play and the care team can minimize fetal risk.

The other tests aren’t automatically required for every female patient. Cardiac stress testing is indicated only when there are risk factors or symptoms suggesting possible coronary disease. A chest X-ray is performed only with specific clinical indications. A urinalysis is common in preoperative workups but is not universally required for all female patients. Therefore, the test indicated for all female patients is the pregnancy test.