[Evaluation of diagnostic methods].
OBJECTIVE
Describe the statistical tools for the evaluation of a diagnostic test.


METHODS
Description of the methods and practical examples based on published data.


RESULTS
The following methods are described: 1) reproducibility of a measurement, both for a qualitative and a quantitative result, 2) comparison of a new diagnostic test to a reference test, 3) comparison of two diagnostic tests, 4) sample size computation.


CONCLUSIONS
The tools required to evaluate diagnostic tests rigorously are available and simple. They should be used more often.
Doyon
F
F
Institut Gustave Roussy, Département de biostatistique et épidémiologie, 39, rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif.
Hill
C
C
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D018401:Sample Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity