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Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests

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Clinical Epidemiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 473))

Abstract

As technology advances, diagnostic tests continue to improve, and each year, we are presented with new alternatives to the standard procedures. Given the plethora of diagnostic alternatives, diagnostic tests must be evaluated to determine their place in the diagnostic armamentarium. Criteria include sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios for positive and negative tests, and receiver operating characteristic curves. The prevalence of disease influences the diagnostic utility of tests, particularly when diseases are rare or very frequent.

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Correspondence to John M. Fardy .

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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Fardy, J.M. (2008). Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests. In: Barrett, B., Parfrey, P. (eds) Clinical Epidemiology. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 473. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-385-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-385-1_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-964-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-385-1

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