title: A computer program for rapid generation of receiver operating characteristic curves and likelihood ratios in the evaluation of diagnostic tests.
abstract: We describe a MUMPS program to facilitate the evaluation of the diagnostic effectiveness and efficiency of laboratory tests using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and likelihood ratios (LR). Test results from a population with and without a disease are stored into retrievable, editable data bases. Either single or a combination (less than or equal to 9) of different test data files can be accessed to generate tables of calculated frequency distribution, sensitivity, l-specificity and LR at variable decision thresholds. The program also calculates the area under the ROC curve, confidence intervals and SE. The selection of the optimum cut-off value is assisted by graphical plots of frequency distribution, ROC and decision level curves as illustrated by using some 'cardiac' enzyme tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital (University of Western Ontario), London, Canada.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Pellar
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000592:standards; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase