An estimated 13 billion lab tests are performed in the U.S. each year. Diagnostic tests are the highest-volume medical activity we experience. And these tests help drive most medical decisions.

Algorithms are used to diagnose kidney and lung disease and to determine which method of childbirth is best for expecting mothers. These equations consider various factors, including your age, test results, and race.

Recent evidence shows that pulse oximeter, a small device that measures oxygen, inaccurately measures low blood oxygen levels in patients with darker skin. Yet, the same device is still used as a standard of care today.

Medicine’s use of race can have the effect of reinforcing false, disproven ideas of race and biology and relying on racist assumptions. The continued use of eGFR means the kidney function of Black patients may appear better than it is, and patients may not get the treatment they need.