Skip to main content
Update Location

My Location

Update your location to show providers, locations, and services closest to you.

Enter a zip code
Or
Select a campus/region
(352) 733-0111

Noninvasive

Definition

The term noninvasive can refer to diseases, procedures, or devices.

  • Noninvasive diseases usually do not spread to or damage other organs and tissues.
  • Noninvasive procedures do not involve tools that break the skin or physically enter the body. Examples include x-rays, a standard eye exam, CT scan, MRI, ECG, and Holter monitoring.
  • Noninvasive devices include hearing aids, external splints, and casts.

Noninvasive is the opposite of invasive.

Gallery

Noninvasive test
A noninvasive test is a procedure that does not involve tools that break the skin or physically enter the body.

References

Taber's Medical Dictionary Online website. www.tabers.com/tabersonline. Accessed April 26, 2021.

Last reviewed January 16, 2021 by Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

Related specialties

Clinical Trials: Noninvasive

UF Health research scientists make medicine better every day. They discover new ways to help people by running clinical trials. When you join a clinical trial, you can get advanced medical care. Sometimes years before it's available everywhere. You can also help make medicine better for everyone else. If you'd like to learn more about clinical trials, visit our clinical trials page. Or click one of the links below:

News and Patient Stories: Noninvasive

More Noninvasive stories

Latest podcast episodes

Listen to more Health in a Heartbeat episodes