Objective assessment of diagnostic tests

Abstract

The whole point of a diagnostic test is to use it to make a diagnosis,thus the obvious need is to know how accurately aparticular diagnostic test detects patients with or without adisease. In order to know it, a clinician or a researcher shouldhave a basic understanding of the principles of objective appraisalof diagnostic tests. In this short review, the authorpresents the most common biostatistical methodology forassessment of the validity of diagnostic tests. Definitions andinterpretations of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negativepredictive values are also provided together with how theyare calculated.