Clinical performance characteristics of a laboratory test. A practical approach in the autoimmune laboratory.
BACKGROUND
This review aims to make laboratory professionals and clinicians more familiar with the basic concepts that deal with the clinical performance characteristics of a laboratory test.


BACKGROUND
Basic measures of the clinical performance characteristics of a laboratory test, such as sensitivity, specificity, likelihoods, likelihood ratio, post-test probability, odds, Bayes theorem, and receiver-operator characteristic curve are explained. The concepts are illustrated with examples (anti-CCP antibodies) that are worked out in a spreadsheet.


CONCLUSIONS
This review seeks to provide laboratory professionals and clinicians with a better understanding of the clinical performance characteristics of a laboratory test and of evidence-based laboratory medicine. The manuscript emphasizes a strong link between clinical statistics and evidence-based laboratory medicine.
Bossuyt
Xavier
X
Laboratory Medicine, Immunology, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. xavier.bossuyt@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity