title: Nonparametric sequential evaluation of diagnostic biomarkers.
abstract: We consider evaluation and comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers with continuous test outcomes, possibly correlated due to repeated measurements. We develop nonparametric group sequential testing procedures to evaluate and compare the area of biomarkers under their receiver operating characteristic curves, with either independent or paired test outcomes. These procedures rely on the construction of a two-dimensional statistic of Whitehead (Statist. Med. 1999; 18:2271-2286) so that design methods based on Brownian motion can be applied.
authors.affiliation: Biometry and Mathematical Statistics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Department of Health and Human Services, 6100 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852, U.S.A. Liua@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Aiyi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Enrique F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Schisterman
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003933:Diagnosis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012372:ROC Curve; D012107:Research Design; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric