Dear All,
I am working on the subject "diagnostic tests" and the idea of the
"goldstandart". Now I sometimes cannot find out to "what" sensitivity and
specivity of a diagnostic test relate to. What I mean is the following: When
you perform a test say to find out if somebody has a flu virus, what should
the test measure ?
1. How many people with a positive result will get ill and have a flu ?
(sensitivity and specivity relate to the outcome "Illness" yes or no), or
2. In how many cases with a positive test result can the flu virus be
isolated (Goldstandart ?)
As i see it sensitivity and specivity in both cases may be very different,
but also the two cases may be of different clinical value, as many people
whith a positive test in 2. may not become ill at all.
How is this problem handled and can somebody help me with literature
concerning this problem, specially what is the "Goldstandart" in 1 ?
Thanks a lot for responses.
With best regards,
Dr. Klazien Matter-Walstra
_________________________________________
Stiftung Paracelsus heute
Ilgenweidstrasse 3
CH-8840 Einsiedeln, Switzerland
tel +41(0)55 4188195, fax +41(0)554188196
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.paracelsus-heute.ch
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|