Ranking of laboratory tests by consensus analysis.
A new analytical technique (consensus analysis) was devised to assess the performance of laboratory tests that are commonly used to monitor the acute and chronic phases of inflammatory disease. On thirty-one tests carried out monthly for 7 months in seventeen patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the consensus analysis procedure ranked plasma viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in a tie for first place. Measurement of the acute-phase serum protein orosomucoid ranked third. Consensus analysis has the potential to reduce laboratory costs by identifying the most useful tests; it also promises to be helpful in the design of new laboratory tests that are more sensitive and specific.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis