Summarizing Studies of Diagnostic Test Performance

Summarizing studies of diagnostic test performance.

In this issue of Clinical Chemistry, Brown et al. (1 ) report a metaanalysis of studies of the test characteristics of the latex turbidimetric D-dimer test for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. In this editorial, we will discuss the importance of conducting systematic reviews of diagnostic evidence and their contribution to the practice of evidence-based laboratory medicine. Evidence-based p...

Studies of diagnostic test accuracy

Definition of a diagnostic test accuracy study? o A diagnostic test accuracy study evaluates the accuracy of index test in correctly distinguishing between those with disease and those without disease compared to gold standard test. o Gold standard test is also called criterion test or reference test. o For a diagnostic test to be accurate, it should be both valid (accuracy) and reliable (preci...

Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies

Evaluation of Rapid Diagnostic Test Performance

Rapid diagnostic tests are used for the determination of binary qualitative results not only uniquely in nonhospital-based but also in hospital-based tests. Principally, in developing countries, rapid diagnostic tests are the primary option since tests to be used in medical laboratories are discarded due to the higher cost. The test’s performance is evaluated to assure that the chance of result...

Performance of methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy with few studies or sparse data

Hierarchical models such as the bivariate and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) models are recommended for meta-analysis of test accuracy studies. These models are challenging to fit when there are few studies and/or sparse data (for example zero cells in contingency tables due to studies reporting 100% sensitivity or specificity); the models may not converge, or gi...