title: The interpretation of laboratory results.
abstract: This article outlines the concepts of epidemiologic sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and agreement of tests. These features are important when selecting a test and when interpreting test results. The application of tests to aggregates (herds) of animals and methods to assess the etiologic importance of factors (for example, agents) are introduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*