title: Point and interval estimation of accuracies of a binary medical diagnostic test following group sequential testing.
abstract: When hypotheses concerning the sensitivity and specificity of a binary medical diagnostic test are simultaneously tested using a group sequential procedure, constructing point and interval estimates of the parameters is challenging because there is no unique way to order sample points in the two-dimensional space. In this paper, upon termination of a group sequential procedure, we compare the bias and mean squared errors of the maximum-likelihood and Rao-Blackwell unbiased estimators of sensitivity and specificity. Confidence intervals (CIs) of the two parameters were constructed using normal approximation and Woodroofe's pivot methods based on maximum-likelihood and Rao-Blackwell unbiased estimates. The coverage probability and the expected length of CIs for the parameters were compared by simulation studies.
authors.affiliation: Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Statistics, Abbott Laboratories, Building AP9A-1, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA. yu.shu@abbott.com
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Aiyi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhaohai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D001699:Biometry; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity