Topic
Diagnostic accuracy research, explained
7 open-access diagnostic accuracy studies, each with a flashcard deck and a quiz.
- StEP pain-subtype assessment
A structured interview-plus-exam tool (StEP) was developed and validated to separate neuropathic/radicular from non-neuropathic axial low-back pain.
- How well does CA125 find ovarian cancer in GP care?
In UK primary care, CA125 ≥35 U/ml had high NPV but only about 10% PPV for ovarian cancer, and elevated values also flagged other cancers.
- Smartphone PPG to detect atrial fibrillation
FibriCheck PPG showed ~96% sensitivity and specificity versus cardiologist ECG on analysable traces.
- Rising frailty flags one-year death risk
Rapid monthly rises in the electronic frailty index marked older adults twice as likely to die within a year, with high specificity.
- Diabetes prevalence and risk-score accuracy
Hindustani Surinamese had ~26% diabetes prevalence; a clinical risk score showed moderate-to-good AUCs (~0.74–0.80) across ethnic groups.
- Rapid gram-positive blood culture ID
A microarray panel identified Staphylococcus from positive blood cultures with ~99% sensitivity and specificity versus culture.
- Can a rapid test diagnose sickle cell at the bedside?
Sickle SCAN, a point-of-care immunoassay, was validated against laboratory gold standards for detecting hemoglobin S and related genotypes.