title: Optimizing Feedlot Diagnostic Testing Strategies Using Test Characteristics, Disease Prevalence, and Relative Costs of Misdiagnosis.
abstract: Diagnostic tests are commonly used by feedlot practitioners and range from clinical observations to more advanced physiologic testing. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, estimated prevalence in the population, and the costs of misdiagnoses need to be considered when selecting a diagnostic test strategy and interpreting results. This article describes methods for evaluating diagnostic strategies using economic outcomes to evaluate the most appropriate strategy for the expected situation. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and expected prevalence influence the likelihood of misdiagnosis in a given population, and the estimated direct economic impact can be used to quantify differences among diagnostic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Education, Kansas State University, Mosier Hall J 118, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Miles E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Theurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Mosier Hall Q 211, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. Electronic address: bwhite@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Center for Outcomes Research and Education, Kansas State University, Coles Hall 309, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Renter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary*; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Diagnostic tests; Economics; Epidemiology; Production medicine