Recommended principles and practices for validating clinical molecular pathology tests.
BACKGROUND
The use of DNA- and RNA-based tests continues to grow for applications as varied as inherited disease, infectious disease, cancer, identity testing, human leukocyte antigen typing, and pharmacogenetics. Progress is driven in part by the huge growth in knowledge about the molecular basis of disease coupled with advancements in technologic capabilities. In addition to requirements for clinical utility, every molecular test also may have limitations that must be carefully considered before clinical implementation. Analytic and clinical performance characteristics as well as test limitations are established and documented through the process of test validation.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the established principles of test validation, along with relevant regulations in the United States, in order to provide a rational approach to introducing molecular tests into the clinical laboratory.


METHODS
PubMed review of published literature, published guidelines, and online information from national and international professional organizations.


CONCLUSIONS
These resources and recommendations provide a framework for validating clinical tests.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Lawrence
L
Jennings
Vivianna M
VM
Van Deerlin
Margaret L
ML
Gulley
D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D054928:Validation Studies as Topic