Stopping $_REQUEST array to give warnings

Hello, I'm currently trying to code the new PHP way, so register_globals=OFF, but if I try to do things like $test = $_REQUEST["test"]; and the variable test is unknown you receive a warning Warning: Undefined index: test in c:\webserver\test.php What is the new 'proper' way to import a variable in a script without being sure it was passed? (adding a @ to the beginning of the line is not proper you must agree) Thanks, Michael